Greetings from Nashville!

I am writing from the CGSUSA National Formation Leader's Conference in Nashville, Tennessee right now. It is so inspiring to be here with 99 other formation leaders from around the country and even around the world who are committed to gathering to celebrate our shared work and to grow together in unity and love for the Good Shepherd. Today was the first full day (of three full days) and it felt like a week.

So many things are going through my head and heart right now, but full sentences are beyond me after such a full day, so I'll make a "bullet blog" instead. Maybe someday I'll unpack it all:

• The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few. God needs willing servants who are experienced in this work to serve the missions and the poor (but get your rabies shot first).
• Unity is not an optional part of the Christian message, it is a command from our Lord, too. CGS has a unique place in ecumenical dialogue in that we share a common work and a certain unity that reaches for a fuller healing of division precisely because of our great love for each other. (This was especially powerful coming from a Catholic Bishop). Our common love for the child, as well as our shared religious experience with children, also helps us cut through to the most essential elements of our faith which do unite us.
• Struggle and suffering are necessary parts of development and maturity. To eliminate the struggle is to eliminate growth. It is important to live in the tension as much as possible.
• Nashville Dominicans are amazing (there are four of them here).
• The Holy Spirit moves where He will. Therefore, I will not be surprised if I'm doing CGS on the moon in ten years. 
• tHeART of the Child exhibit is amazing and should be brought around the world for people to see the amazingly rich theological reflections which children (with time & space for contemplation) can create!
• Adolescent CGS is a dire need and on the hearts of so many moms and catechists. The international council (Consiglio) will be speaking about it at their next meeting.

That's all for now. 

God Bless!

A Monastic Experience

After our first summer experiencing CGS formation at the beautiful Conception Abbey and Seminary College, we wondered why we ever have formation courses anywhere else! The tempo of monastic life, the spontaneous movement from prayer to work and back to prayer, and the beauty of our surroundings melded together into an enriching, faith experience.

As monks crept in and out of the formation room to observe this new thing that was taking place on their grounds, we enjoyed the fruit of our labor: the first atrium ever set up at Conception.

Our welcome was so warm, the reception of the monks and guests as well as Abbot Benedict, that we are thrilled to be invited again to offer a Level I Complete Formation Course beginning Summer 2019.

Check out some of these pictures from our last course! We have one weekend remaining (Thurs-Sun before Thanksgiving and there are limited auditing spots available if you want to join us!

We loaded up the van (with collapsible shelving!)

I guess this is the before picture

Participants joined the monks for prayer for Vespers each day

We hung these signs to help the curious know what was going on!

Demystifying materials making is a special gift offered to the participants. :)

The Formation Team! Ms. Lynn (materials specialist), me, and Ms. Maureen, my assistant!

It is always a special blessing to hang out with the monks!

Our first weekend we had a seminarian sit in with us the whole time!

Talk about surprise blessings, I was able to take my daughter and two other girls to Conception the next week for a First Communion retreat!

 

What Makes a House a House?

Just a little tidbit I learned this spring: Gianna always said that a house isn't a house if it doesn't have a table. Use your discretion and watch the children carefully, but you may want to add a table to your Annunciation materials, your Visitation materials, the Merchant's House, the Found Coin (Level II), and maybe other works as well!

According to Lynn (my catechist friend who is especially blessed in materials making), these little tables can be very expensive, so you may want to make them yourself!

Christ has Died, Christ is Risen

I remember the day that I learned I was supposed to say "Christ has died, Christ is Risen" as I light the candles during the Altar presentation. I thought I completely missed this important point in training and have been doing it for several years now. Humility, humility.

Well, as part of the growing "closet of humility" in my understanding of CGS, I will again add this practice. While you may at some point say those words while lighting candles, it is not a practice that you should feel compelled to do. It isn't really connected to the direct aim of the presentation and Rebekah R. was surprised when she was asked about the practice as she had never done it or heard of it (she studied with Sofia!) She said that this isn't a liturgical presentation, it is a nomenclature presentation, so it doesn't seem appropriate to say it every time. It isn't inappropriate, it just doesn't seem necessary.

So there you go!

How it all began in Sofia's words...

I'm beginning to use these treasures in my courses and didn't want you all to miss out.

A Special Treat

You can find treasures and videos on the National Website! 

I hope you are a member!!

Why is the stole worn under the chasuble?

Someone asked me in a course about this, as sometimes priests wear the stole outside the chasuble. Is this incorrect? Why must it be worn under?

I shared the joke that a priest friend told me that wearing the stole on the outside of the chasuble is like wearing your underwear outside your pants, but last weekend I learned a better reason.

The priest who was teaching his congregation about vesting prayers and the vestments taught that the stole represents the authority of the priest/bishop. The chasuble is final garment donned and is worn only at Eucharistic celebrations. The chasuble represents LOVE. Over all of these things (and especially the exercise of authority represented by the stole), we "put on love" (cf: Colossians 3:4). The deacon wears the stole over his shoulder (like a waiter with a towel on his shoulder) to represent his service.

This does not mean that you need to change your album page, but for your information!

So there you go!