Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a holistic, Montessori-based approach to religious education for young children. Children are invited to join us in a specially prepared room, called the atrium, which helps them engage in a deeper relationship with Jesus through the use of specially crafted, hands-on materials. 

CGS is open to ALL children in PreK 3, PreK 4, and Kindergarten, regardless of where they attend school. Children must be 3 years old by September 1st and must be fully potty trained.

For the 2026-2027 school year, CGS will offer two sessions: 
Sunday mornings from 9:30-10:30 am following the schedule of the Traditional Program, as well as Thursdays from 3-4 pm.

Please note that space is very limited for both sessions, so registration is on a first come, first served basis. Once a session reaches capacity, registration will close.

The Family Program enables parents and children grow in their life of faith together as a family. Parents and children meet at St. James on the second Sunday of every month from 12:15 - 1:30 pm. After enjoying a meal together, parents meet together in the Gathering Space for the parent session while the children attend class. Between meetings, parents teach their children the Catholic Faith at home. This year, we will study Volume 2 of A Family of Faith's family-based catechetical program, Exploring the Sacraments. In addition to our monthly sessions, families come together for special family Masses, which are followed by opportunities for community and fellowship!

Our traditional (classroom model) Faith Formation program for Grades Kindergarten through 6th Grade meets on Sunday mornings from 9:30 - 10:45 am at St. James School. In our Traditional Program, students explore their Catholic faith through textbook activities, arts and crafts, scripture study, video lessons, and more, all while growing closer to Christ and their peers! The program utilizes the highly-acclaimed Word of Life curriculum by The Augustine Institute and Ignatius Press. In addition to our sessions, families come together through special family Masses, which are followed by fun opportunities for community and fellowship.

Seventh and Eighth graders embark upon their journey to Confirmation by way of our engaging, community-based Confirmation Preparation Program entitled Quo Vadis, Latin for "Where are you going?" Each 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month, the students will come together at the St. James campus from 6 - 8 p.m. for Mass, fun, fellowship, and a deep dive into their Catholic faith through use of the Chosen curriculum by Ascension Press. The evening will include dynamic video lessons, interactive learning experiences, and small and large group discussion.