Mary Luann Larson
In the last year and a half since the founding of Our Lady of Good Help CGS, I have had the opportunity and joy to wander across Idaho, Washington and Montana to guide budding CGS Catechists in the arrangement of Atria. My first joy is in meeting the Catechists who are eager to share the fruit of their efforts in Ecclesiastic thrifting, contemplative arts-n-crafts, and prayerful Tetris laminating (how can I arrange this to maximize the use of the plastic sheet). They are excited to (with all humility) show off their efforts. I also find joy in seeing their excitement and interpretation of the works from the materials manual.
…And then I break their hearts.
Well, not always but I do feel a sense of remorse when I see something that does not reflect the essentiality called for in the Materials Manual and have to ask them to modify it. In evaluating an atrium with the purpose of hosting a formation, we strive to keep a balance between the reality of the community we are called into, and the ideal called for by the Materials Manual. We do this because we have found that persons attending formation will use their formation environment as their bellwether against which they will build their own and measure their success. With this in mind, the Formation Leader enters the space and considers each material with the question “does this serve?” Homogeneity with a higher purpose.
Then I use all my space planning and organizational skills from years of moving and remodeling to tweak the atrium to a prayerful environment for children to encounter the Good Shepherd. And then I arrange it again. And ask for help from more seasoned Catechists. And I arrange it again.
It makes for a long day however it is a restful day, when I can stand at the door, fall to my knees and see the new Atrium at the level of three-year-old who first enters and recognizes that this space, this place of prayer is for him…and Him.
Side note: thank you, most humbly, to those of you who have endured my visit, survived and hopefully, thrived
As other catechists embark on building an atrium, what advice can you offer or is there a heart break you want to share?
Continue the discussion at the the 2024 OLGH CGS Annual Conference
Mary Larson is a founding member of Our Lady of Good Help CGS and serves as President of the board. Mary currently serves children in Levels I, II, and III at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Coeur d’Alene, ID and as a Level II and III catechist at the St. Philomena Atrium at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes in Spokane, WA
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