HEARTLAND REGION
CATECHESIS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD
An association of catechists nurturing the religious potential of the child in and around Wichita, Kansas
LEVEL I COURSE
FOR CLERGY
and seminarians in formation
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To present the methodology and guiding principles of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for the 3 to 6-year-old child.
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To explore the religious nature and the most vital religious needs of the 3 to 6-year-old child.
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To meditate on the Biblical and Liturgical themes presented to the 3 to 6-year-old child.
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To enrich pastoral practices by beginning to observe and learn from the child, to listen to the Scriptures with the child, and to deepen your own enjoyment of God.
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To offer guidelines and assistance in preparing the 3-6 Atrium environment, and in making the catechist’s album and catechetical materials.
Course Objectives
Course #1-2091
Dan Teller earned a Masters in Montessori Education from Xavier University in 1984 and has been involved in Montessori education almost continually ever since. After teaching at a public Montessori school for 11 years, Dan served as a parochial school principal for three years before founding Queen of Angels Montessori School in 1998. Dan served as a principal, teacher, and catechist at the school (now named Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori, serving children ages 3-14) until retiring in 2022.
Dan began his formation in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in 1998. He is trained as a catechist at Level I, II, and III in CGS and has worked at all three levels of atria for 24 years. He began work as a formation leader around 15 years ago and has enjoyed training future CGS catechists at all three levels. Dan had the opportunity to serve as an American representative on the CGS International Consiglio for 10 years in the early 2000’s.
Dan is married to Maureen and they reside in Cincinnati, Ohio. They have seven children and two grandchildren.
FORMATION
LEADER
Dan Teller
Mandie DeVries
FORMATION
LEADER
Mandie began her journey with CGS in 2004. She and her husband, Matt, who is also a trained CGS catechist, have six children and both tutor at St. Thomas Classical Academy, an independent Catholic hybrid school. She received national recognition as a Formation Leader in Level I in 2015. She is trained and actively serving in all three levels of CGS, as well as receiving certification in Seminal Infant Toddler Formation in March of 2018. In 2020, she earned a Masters in Theology with a certificate in Systematic Theology from St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology. She and her family attend the Basilica of St. John in Des Moines, Iowa.
Mary Mirrione
National Director
CGSUSA
SPECIAL
GUEST
Mary Mirrione began working with the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in 1992. She and a team of catechists and parents built atria at St Anne’s in Gilbert, Arizona for their 1800 children.
She has been a formation leader since 1997 serving as such at home and abroad. She also worked with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal in Honduras and Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity throughout the States as well as in Manila, Philippines, Western Europe and Kolkata, India. She is a consultant for the USCCB Subcommittee on the Catechism. Since 2010, she serves as the National Director for the United States Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.