CGS Formation: Level 2B
Catechist Intensive Residential Formation Course
Level 2, Part B
for Catechists working with children ages 6 – 9
Aquinas College – Nashville, TN
July 5-11, 2026
What is Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS)?
CGS is a Montessori-based Catholic faith formation program where children can grow in their relationship with God through a deep engagement in Scripture and liturgy. CGS is based on the belief that God and the child are already in relationship. Our work as adults is to provide a place for the child and God to come together and grow.
Course Description
The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) Level 2 Formation, Part B is an intensive, residential course that completes Level 2 formation for those called to accompany children ages 6–9 in their relationship with God. Building upon the foundations laid in Level 2, Part A, this course deepens the catechist’s understanding of Scripture, liturgy, and moral formation as experienced by the elementary-aged child.
Rooted in the biblical narrative of salvation history and the child’s growing capacity for abstraction, this formation invites participants into sustained contemplation of God’s plan of love. Through presentations, prayerful engagement with Scripture, hands-on work with materials, and communal reflection, participants continue to refine both their theological understanding and their posture as catechists.
As a week-long residential experience, Level 2, Part B is intentionally structured to foster immersion, silence, and community life. Living onsite, sharing meals, and participating fully in the daily rhythm of the course allows participants to step away from ordinary responsibilities and enter more deeply into the spirit of the atrium. Overnight accommodations and all meals are provided to support this shared life of prayer, study, and reflection.
Completion of Level 2, Part B, together with Part A, fulfills the requirements for Level 2 CGS formation. Successful completion of this course will result in a certificate from the National Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.
Training will be conducted in the Holy Child Atria, in the Aquinas Center on the Aquinas College campus in Nashville, TN. Evening on-site material making sessions are included in the course. Check-in is from 2-4pm on Sunday, July 5; departure after lunch on Saturday, July 11. A preliminary schedule, subject to change, is available to provide a sense of the flow of the week-long training.
Course Objectives
By the end of Level 2, Part B formation, participants will:
- Deepen their understanding of the spiritual characteristics and developmental capacities of the child ages 6–9
- Contemplate key moments in salvation history and God’s plan of love as presented to the elementary-aged child
- Reflect more fully on the child’s growing moral and social awareness in light of Scripture and liturgy
- Become familiar with the purpose, theological grounding, and use of the core Level 2, Part B atrium materials
- Strengthen their ability to observe the child and discern how to respond to the child’s religious needs with humility and restraint
- Continue forming an interior disposition of the catechist marked by attentiveness, wonder, and trust in the work of the Holy Spirit
- Integrate Level 2 themes more coherently in preparation for work in a Level 2 atrium
Formation Leader
Formation Leader: Sister Maria Teresita, O.P.
Sister Maria Teresita is a Dominican Sister of St. Cecilia. She currently serves as an upper-elementary guide at St. Philip Learning Center, a Catholic Montessori homeschool enrichment program in Franklin, TN, a catechist for Levels 2 and 3 in a parish setting, and a formation leader for CGS Levels 1 and 2.
Sister holds an AMI diploma at the Elementary level, a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies (Aquinas College, Nashville), and a M.A. in Montessori Education (Loyola University, Maryland). She has enjoyed nearly 20 years serving children as a classroom teacher in both conventional and Montessori settings and 14 years as a catechist of the Good Shepherd in all three atria levels.
Sister began her Montessori journey as a child in a Montessori school where she developed a deep love for learning. She is a convert to the Catholic faith and delights in every opportunity to “listen to God with children.”
Residential Immersion & Participation Expectations
This formation is intentionally designed as a fully immersive residential experience. Participants are expected to stay onsite for the duration of the course.
Living, praying, learning, and sharing meals together creates a depth of formation that cannot be replicated in a commuter model. Many participants find that the informal conversations, shared silence, and unstructured time together are among the most formative aspects of the week.
For this reason, requests to attend as a day student or commuter will be strongly discouraged. While we understand that local participants may be interested in commuting, we ask applicants to carefully consider the purpose and spirit of CGS formation before requesting an exception.
In rare and exceptional circumstances, limited commuter participation may be considered, but priority will be given to those able to fully participate in the residential experience.
Meals & Lodging
All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner), as well as snacks, will be provided, beginning with dinner on Sunday, July 5 and concluding with lunch on Saturday, July 11. Overnight accommodations (six nights) are provided at the beautiful on-site Siena Hall Conference Center. Each participant will be provided a private spacious bedroom and a Jack-and-Jill bathroom shared with one other attendee.
Registration
Registration for part B of this Level 2 course is $1,450.00per participant. Registration includes course tuition, materials, all meals, and overnight accommodations.
Space in this formation course is limited to 24* participants. To secure a place in the course, please complete the online registration form and submit payment. Registration may also be submitted by mail; see course brochure for registration form. Payment may be made via check mailed to Aquinas College (4210 Harding Pike, Nashville TN 37205) or via online credit card payment.
A nonrefundable deposit of $300 is due with registration. Balance will be due by June 1, 2026. Cancellations before June 15 will receive a full refund, less the $300 deposit.
* Note that a minimum of 12 participants is required for the course to be offered. If this minimum is not reached by June 1, all tuition, including deposits, will be refunded.
If the cost of registration presents a financial hardship, partial scholarships may be available. Contact cgs@aquinascollege.edu for more information.
Questions?
For questions or more information, contact us
