MAPS-CGS -- Meet the 2006 Cohort
Sue Jett
Sue came to Aquinas with an undergraduate degree in elementary education and several years of K- 4th grade teaching experience at her parish. For the past five years, she has been involved in Level I and Level II catechesis at her parish, St. Peter's, in Beaufort, South Carolina.
"Although this is only the end of my first full year of coursework in the MAPS-CGS cohort at Aquinas, I feel confident that this program will continue to provide the opportunity to seek understanding through faith and reason and further strengthen my capacity to serve my vocation. The cohort experience gives catechists a professional community in which we can use our shared experiences to enter into the conversation of theology and perhaps even further it along by using a new language that the children's voices have introduced to us. My experience thus far has given me more security in my faith to go further into the truth and open myself to more that God wants to reveal to me. This work has allowed me to see further evidence of the awesome ways that the divine action in the world is working through our human setting, and it is my hope that I can share all that I am learning through a concrete and creative commitment of service to others."
Diane Olsen
Diane first fell in love with the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd seventeen years ago when her youngest of six children was still an infant. For the past eight years, she has served as the coordinator of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for Holy Trinity parish in Lenexa, KS. She is also a formation leader for the National Association.
"It is a joy and a gift to myself to allow time in my life for reading and study. MAPS-CGS exposes me to systems of thinking and theology, great philosophies, historical roots of current teaching and practices in the Church and the world. Time for thought and reflection is a gift I give to myself. This time allows me to grow in knowledge and understanding, to become better at writing, to learn the vocabulary of the biblical scholar, the theologian, the philosopher. I can use what I learn to become a better Christian. I can use what I learn to be more engaged in liturgy. I can become a better listener and an active contributor to the life of the Church in my community and in the world.
"These skills allow me to serve the children in the atrium with greater understanding and knowledge. I began these studies hoping it would help me in my ministry as a CGS catechist. Now I begin to see this program can help me in my vocation as wife, mother and Christian as well. Studying my faith will affect all aspects of my life; it is a rich and meaningful experience
"CGS has helped me grow in my understanding of liturgy, symbol, God's plan and my place in it. I learned many wonderful and valuable things from CGS as a catechist and a formation leader. MAPS-CGS helps me put what I learned from CGS into a broad, ordered format, a more structured way of thinking that translates into my ability to better articulate my thoughts and to speak even more essentially to the children, and to adults.
"It is a joy to be in this cohort with other CGS catechists. I love the diverse backgrounds we bring to this study, as well as the deep relationship we feel toward each other because of our bond through CGS. We are already united by our atrium experiences with the children. We understand each other on deep and essential levels. We come already knowing the value of silence, the love of the Good Shepherd, the energy and beauty of the life of the True Vine. We are good listeners, value what each other have to say, and know how to enjoy each other. Our conversations online and our classroom experiences are rich with learning. It is a wonderful experience to study together!"
Mary Mirrione
Mary Mirrione is the Coordinator of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for St. Anne's Parish in Gilbert, Arizona, where over six hundred children are served in several bi-lingual atria. Mary is a long-time member of the National Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and served for a number of years on the association's board.
"The MAPS program at Aquinas Institute is a great gift to my work in CGS. As a catechist I am learning how deeply rooted and grounded our work is in the life of the church. This lifts out for me the great gift the child is to our church. As a formation leader, I find that my work with adults is richer and fuller. When I read Sofia's writings with participants, things jump off of the page that I had not noticed before.
"Additionally, the master's program has enhanced my ability to communicate with ecclesial leaders about the Catechesis, which has been a real need in my position as Director of Catechesis for my parish. I am now able to meet the professional standards for ongoing education and development desired by my diocese and called for in Characteristics of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd charter.
"Cohort learning is a way of living as community and it has strengthened many of the friendships I have within the CGS family. Our weekends together include time for study, communal prayer, spiritual formation, and shared joy. So many have asked when we would have an adult atrium, the MAPS program at Aquinas is it! Rejoice with me!"
