Retirement Party
Save the date— June 29, 2025, at 12:00 pm in the Church Hall, after the 11:00 am Mass at Saint Patrick Church, we’ll celebrate Kim Ward’s retirement and honor her legacy of vocation to the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) with light refreshments and cake.
Do you have a photo of Kim you’d like to share with us for a slide show? Or would you like to volunteer to help with the party? Please email us.
Catechist Commissioning
Several CGS catechists will be commissioned at the 11:00 am Mass. Please join us to pray over them!
Kim Ward and the children celebrate the Feast of Pentecost in the atrium
Dear Community,
To everything, there is a season. The time has come for me to retire as the coordinator of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd at Saint Patrick Church.
In 1997, I was asked: “Will you help start a faith formation program?” This question, from Dr. Steph Terril, Pastoral Assistant for Faith Formation at the time, came with a statement: “If you say YES, it will change your life.” After getting over my irritation (my life was wonderful as it was!) and with the full support of my husband, I said yes. Within weeks, I was in Portland, Oregon, for my first weekend formation course in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. What followed were countless trainings, retreats, and workshops, for which I am eternally grateful.
Dr. Steph Terril demonstrating the Epiclesis in the atrium for the children
Reflections from the Children
What keeps a catechist of the Good Shepherd in the atrium? Simply put, the children. I have untold numbers of examples. Here are just three.
Jacob
Jacob, age 8, and a group of children were pondering the meaning of “Passover” and the new words Jesus gave at the Last Supper. When Jacob and the others connected the concept of the blood on the doorposts (so the angel would “pass over” those homes and spare those children from death) with the words of Jesus: “Take and eat; this is my Body. Take and drink; this is my blood,” Jacob stood up and, in a loud voice, said: “God freed the children through the blood on the doorposts, and Jesus freed us through His blood!”
Patrick in prayer with the model altar in the atrium
Patrick
And then there is Patrick, age 4, who was content and peaceful, sitting with the altar in prayer. Week after week, he set the altar and sat there, sometimes moving the pieces reverently but mostly just by himself in silence.
Giorgie, “reading” the bible in the atrium prayer corner
Georgie
Giorgie, age 3, paged through the Bible with the utmost care and couldn’t read yet, somehow intuits that this book is special and elevated above all other books. With the Holy Spirit as the only true teacher, what more does a child need?
First “seedplanting” meeting in 1997 with Fr. Seamus Laverty behind Rosalie Gallagher, Steph Terril, Kim Ward, and Demetra Schwieger
Forever Changed
So, yes, the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd has changed my life in all good ways. As Fr. Pedro Arrupe’s prayer says, “Fall in love, stay in love; it will determine everything.” This work has determined everything.
My husband and I have three children, all grown now. All are married with their children and live their faith fully. Being a grandparent is the best possible blessing! One of our sons is in formation to become a CGS catechist. Our granddaughter is involved in a seminal toddler atrium in Renton. (We hope to see one at Saint Patrick!)
Lacie Vierra, incoming CGS Coordinator, in the atrium prayer corner with the children
New Leadership
As I retire from this role, I could not be more thrilled that God has raised up a beautiful leader: Lacie Vierra will take the helm on July 1, 2025. She came to us during the pandemic and has been a faithful servant ever since. Lacie is more than equipped and capable to guide CGS to the next generation with fresh ideas and new leadership, with the support of her family.
As I step down, I am grateful for the journey and the community that has supported me. I look forward to seeing the continued growth and blessings under Lacie’s leadership. And here I would be remiss not to mention the faithful volunteers who have stepped up to take the formation course and put what they have learned to work. The Holy Spirit touched each one of their hearts to answer the call. I have been humbled and blessed by these volunteers, these “daily” saints.
Going forward, I would like to ask for only one thing from the community: that you support Lacie as you have supported me. For starters, please consider becoming an assistant or catechist. And if that feels like a bold ask, please consider learning about CGS and seeing how you might become involved, even if it means not becoming a catechist. We have ongoing needs for repairing materials and other daily duties. However, if you take the CGS formation, know that the courses are like a retreat. You might be surprised at your delight in engaging in the work.
Also, give the children in your life the gift of the atrium. You won’t be sorry. While it might seem like “one more thing” to the adult, it is a gift of peace and contemplation that will stand the test of time with your child and give them an encounter with the One who calls them by name and leads them home.
In deep gratitude and with our Good Shepherd’s love,
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Coordinator
Her Story
We moved to Tacoma in 1994 in Fr. Dan Weber’s era. We were delighted to welcome our new pastor, Fr. Seamus Laverty. He hired Dr. Steph Terril as Pastoral Assistant to Faith Formation right away. She asked me to lead Children’s Liturgy of Word (because I was a teacher and told her I wanted to help out). CLOW never really felt like a fit for me. In early 1997, she learned about the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS), went to Portland to meet Linda Kaiel, and asked me to learn about it. She gave me the 32 Points of Reflection document and asked me to pray about it with my husband, Todd. We did that (and my dearest friends prayed too), and by March 1997, I was at my first weekend training in Portland, Oregon, for CGS with my youngest son Brian, who was still nursing.
Stay tuned for more COMING SOON!
♱
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) is a Montessori-based faith formation approach for children ages 3-12. Children and adults listen to God together in a retreat-like setting called the atrium.
To learn more about CGS, visit the Atrium at Saint Patrick Church, serve as or train to be a catechist, email Kim Ward, CGS Coordinator, or call 253-274-4108.
For more information, visit the national CGS Association and the local consortium website, The Sheepfold.
