Holy Trinity Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Est THE SEED

November 23, 1999, At Holy Trinity, the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd began through the work of three mothers in our parish. In their desire to offer their children “something more” in religious education, they came across this Catechesis and began teaching their children, using this method and the materials unique to it, in the basement of one of their homes. They gathered there once a week, with their own children, and learned about God and their faith together. One of the beauties of this Catechesis is that the Holy Spirit is acknowledged as the ONLY teacher during the time of meeting, and adult and child learn together whatever the Spirit desires to teach. After a year of gathering and beginning to make the materials used in this program, the women approached Father Ray and about starting a pilot program for the parish. A room for the atrium (the meeting space) was given them in the basement of the gymnasium. Through word of mouth, slowly, more mothers and children became involved. This Catechesis is designed to serve children ages 3-12, and great effort was made to serve as many children as possible. Members of the parish started to go for training in this method, and more materials were made. The preschool and kindergarten teachers of Holy Trinity School became aware of this work, and decided to incorporate it as best they could into their established programs. More children and their parents became involved, more people went for training, more meeting space was needed. Father Ray had read several books on the Catechesis, and the goal was set that one day the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd would be the only religious formation offered at the parish for children 3-12 years. Our meeting space has doubled in size this year, and we are currently serving over 300 children. Some children attend Holy Trinity, some attend public school, some are home-schooled; yet the parents of these children have decided to place them in this program also. Why? Many parents tell us they can see a change in their children. More peace, more joy, more interest in the life of Jesus and their relationship with him. The children seem to evangelize the parents in some cases. The classroom we witness signs of profound growth in the spiritual lives of the children, and we give thanks to God for this gift Pflumm Rd. - Lenexa, KS Phone: Fax: Holy Trinity Catholic Church o pen wide the doors to Christ

Holy Trinity Catechesis of the Good Shepherd was originally in the basement of Julie Baltuska. In 1996, it was moved out of Mrs. Baltuska’s basement and was moved into the Holy Trinity Activities Center Basement. In the summer of 1997, they had their first training session, Part 1, at Holy Trinity. During Part 1 of training, the participants decided to make gifts for each other that would be given to each other during the Part 2 session Pflumm Rd. - Lenexa, KS Phone: Fax: Early Years

Early Years Pflumm Rd. - Lenexa, KS Phone: Fax:

The gifts made during Part 1 would be something small to be used in an atrium. During the winter Sister Sheila made a gift for each participant. This gift was a picture of a sheep with its master and on the picture are the words, “ The Lord is my Shepherd”. In 1997 they had 6-9 classes that were ran by Greg Kerbawy. Also in 1997, Holy Trinity 4 year old children came to the atrium from Holy Trinity Children’s center Pflumm Rd. - Lenexa, KS Phone: Fax: Early Years

Early Years Pflumm Rd. - Lenexa, KS Phone: Fax:

The kids that came from Holt Trinity Children’s Center were directed and led by Angie Barrick, a catechist in the training class of With 4 year olds, 6-9 classes and 3-6 classes there were over 100 children coming to the atrium each week Pflumm Rd. - Lenexa, KS Phone: Fax: Early Years

Moving In Pflumm Rd. - Lenexa, KS Phone: Fax:

During the summer of 1998 the atrium was moved to the 3rd floor of the Children’s Center. These rooms were previously apartments for nuns in residence and later offices for Catholic Charities. The atrium was a small room and an adjoining large room. There were two former bedrooms used for 6-9 and materials. There was so much more room and we had more children enrolled because we had Holy Trinity kindergartners, preschool children, and after school and Saturday morning classes Pflumm Rd. - Lenexa, KS Phone: Fax: Moving In

In the summer of 1999 the remaining 3 rd floor space was given to the CGS except for the priest’s apartment at the east end of the building. Walls were removed to give us additional space to fit our needs. We were growing again The atria now included rooms for two 3-6, one 6-9, one 9-12 plus a work room and office. Diane Olsen was hired as the coordinator of the program. The 9-12 space was small with an old adjoining kitchen and an adjoining dining room, but it worked Pflumm Rd. - Lenexa, KS Phone: Fax : Growing Like a Seed

Growing Like a Seed Pflumm Rd. - Lenexa, KS Phone: Fax:

More than 300 children came to the atrium during the school year. The first 6-9 training at Holy Trinity started in the summer of Trainers were Rich and Judy Main. The training continued on seven Saturdays during the school year. The trainers were Greg Kerbawy and Marilee Quinn. The Mains came back for the completion of this training in the summer of In the summer of 2000 we began preparation for a second 6-9 space Pflumm Rd. - Lenexa, KS Phone: Fax : Growing Like a Seed

Old kitchen cabinets from Susan Blowey of Good Shepherd Parish became shelves for materials. The workroom now was a second 6-9 space. It was wonderful to add our 2 nd 6-9. Father Bala Swamy gave us one of the bedrooms from his apartment next door to the atrium. During the summer a door was cut through. Now we could spread out. Time to arrange the furniture again Pflumm Rd. - Lenexa, KS Phone: Fax: Growing Like a Seed

In 2000 the first grade classes from Holy Trinity started coming for atrium. Each class was divided up into two groups using both 6-9’s. They came once a week on one of three days. The second grade classes from Holy Trinity School began coming to the atrium as they had in first grade. On one of three days each week a first grade class and at a different time a second grade class was coming to atrium Pflumm Rd. - Lenexa, KS Phone: Fax: Growing Like a Seed

Growing Like a Seed Pflumm Rd. - Lenexa, KS Phone: Fax:

Besides the 4 year old preschool we now have 3 and 5 year old children from pre-school and daycare. There were children using the atrium each week. Jeanne Wichman was hired to share some of the coordinator duties with Diane. During the summer of 2003, the first Holy Trinity 9-12 training began. It met again in the fall and was completed in two sessions during the summer of Pflumm Rd. - Lenexa, KS Phone: Fax: Growing Like a Seed

The trainers were Donna Turner and Rebekah Rojcewcz. In 2007 a woman’s Bible study formerly held at Holy Cross, began at Holy Trinity on Thursday mornings. Their 3-12 children came to the atrium during the study. Including these children there were almost 600 children coming to the atrium each week Pflumm Rd. - Lenexa, KS Phone: Fax: Growing Like a Seed

In April of 2008 we moved into the Father Quigley Faith Formation Center. It was built next to our building. It became home to the new Early Education Center and the third home for CGS at Holy Trinity. After 10 years we moved into the Father Quigley Center. We left five atria built in former apartments with every piece of space in use. We were included in the 2 nd floor of the new building with a wing dedicated to CGS 9150 Pflumm Rd. - Lenexa, KS Phone: Fax: A New Home 2008

A New Home Pflumm Rd. - Lenexa, KS Phone: Fax:

A New Home 2008 We now have seven atria with a large gathering space that is used by classes for meeting and trainings. There are now three 3-6, two 6-9, and two 9-12 spaces. The new 3-6 is furnished with the materials of Lois Adams who was in the first 3-6 training at HT. After her death her family donated them to HT so that all Lois’ lovingly made materials will continue to be used to nurture the love for Jesus in the 3-6 year old children Pflumm Rd. - Lenexa, KS Phone: Fax:

A New Home Pflumm Rd. - Lenexa, KS Phone: Fax:

Expanding Borders 2008 Annabelle Wasserman was the first Holy Trinity training class of She took the Catechesis to San Lucas, Guatemala a few years after her training and in 2007 she began offering an atrium class in Spanish at Holy Trinity Pflumm Rd. - Lenexa, KS Phone: Fax:

Expanding Borders Pflumm Rd. - Lenexa, KS Phone: Fax: