Summer 2014 - Formation Courses and Refreshing Atriums

What a summer it has been!

At our local parish, we have

• hosted a CGS Overview, 
• hosted a CGS Open House, 
• started two formation courses, 
• updated 2 level 2 atriums 
• and 2 level 1 atriums, 
• and I think I glanced into level 3 from time to time (we did get new shelves in there, shifted some shelves back to create more space and I did try to start to update a few minor materials.... yeah. Time to spend a solid day in ONLY level 3!). 

Formation Courses

We have started two formation courses at my local parish this past summer, and I couldn't be more excited about working with these fantastic people!

In Level 2, we have school teachers, volunteer catechists and one out-of-parish catechist. With this small group, we have more than half completed our formation course, worked on lots of materials and -----------------------------

Our level 1 course, we have had just Day 1 thus far - all the background, some early EPL, early nomenclature (liturgical colors and altar 1), toured the atrium, and generally gave everyone that beautiful glassy-eyed look of "wow there is so much here!" For those of you in the course reading this, I promise! It does come together! Actually, everyone seems to have left that (hot!) day pretty excited about the atrium. We have homeschoolers, volunteer catechists, paid catechists, in and out of the parish participants. We even one gentleman joining us, which is fantastic! More men (fathers, grandfathers, godfathers, priests, seminarians, brothers, etc.) should come to this work. Because the initial levels are for the younger children, men tend to shy away. The last official level is level 3, for 9-12 year olds; but that work can easily move into middle and high school - and this is the most perfect age for men to be in the atrium with the children - both for the boys AND for the girls.

I hope the next time we offer level 1, we can get our local priest in the formation. He is fully supportive of the program - so now he just needs to join us! His mother is joining us - a lady I just love to be around!

I will get photos up soon of our refreshed atrium spaces. They are SO beautiful!