Catechesis of the Good Shepherd: "He Calls Me Joy" – Deacon Kelly & Maureen Stone - 07/27/2026

What Is Catechesis of the Good Shepherd? Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) is a religious formation approach for children built on Scripture and liturgy, delivered in an environment of silence, wonder, and prayer rather than a typical textbook or workbook setting. Instead of a classroom, children learn in an "atrium," using hands-on materials suited to their developmental stage — an approach rooted in the educational philosophy of Maria Montessori, one of Italy's first female physicians and the founder of the Montessori method. Levels & Training Infant/Toddler (from infancy to age 3) Level 1 (ages 3–6) Level 2 (ages 6–9) Level 3 (ages 9–12) Becoming a trained assistant or catechist involves roughly 90 hours of formation, often spread across a retreat-style schedule. Upcoming Training at St. John the Apostle, Norwalk A new Level 1 training begins Friday, September 11, with long-weekend sessions (Friday evening through Sunday) in September, October, and November, resuming in January and February. The training is led by formation leader Ginger Peterson. A special tuition rate is available for St. John the Apostle parishioners, and the scholarship application deadline is August 25. How to Learn More Contact the parish office at St. John the Apostle in Norwalk, or reach Deacon Kelly and Maureen Stone directly by email (see Flags section for a note on the email address). More on CGS trainings across Iowa is available through the Shepherd's Staff association below. St. John the Apostle (Norwalk): https://www.stjohnsnorwalk.org/ Catechesis of the Good Shepherd of Iowa (Shepherd's Staff): https://cgsiowa.weebly.com/ #CatechesisOfTheGoodShepherd #CatholicParenting #FaithFormation #CatholicKids #Montessori #IowaCatholicRadio #CatholicPodcast Episode Contributors   Search Keywords   Credits: Produced, Edited, and Mixed by Ayden Pugh, Alexia Baker, and Brady Grimm. ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Catholic Morning Show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss an episode — and if this one was worth your time, please leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating. It takes ten seconds and it's the single best way to help more people find the show. 🎧 LISTEN LIVE Catch The Catholic Morning Show live, weekday mornings on Iowa Catholic Radio. Listen Live · Program Schedule · Our Stations LINKSYou can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Tiktok! More on our website.If you would like to support Iowa Catholic Radio you can donate Here! More from Iowa Catholic Radio:Sunday Dive with Katie PatrizioMan Up! with Joe StopulosCatholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie NelsonThe Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud MarrBe Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce RiebeBe Not Afraid en Español con el P. Fabián MoncadaMaking it Personal with Bishop William JoensenFaith and Family Finance with Gregory WaddleThe Great Men of the Bible with Joe Stopulos Liturgy & DevotionsThe Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick SmithThe Daily Mass from St. Francis of AssisiThe Daily Mass from St. Pius XThe Daily Mass from St. TheresaSunday Mass from the Basilica of Saint JohnWant to support your favorite show? Click Here Iowa Catholic Radio - Connecting People to Christ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.