FAITH FORMATION
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Level 1 Training
CGS Level 1 training will be offered during the 2026-2027 school year at St. Nicholas Catholic Church parish in O'Fallon, Illinois. Please see the attached PDF flier below for details and registration information.To see how CGS Level 1 training aligns with catechist/teacher Religion Certification, please view this document.
GENERAL
Five Catholic school music teachers - Liz Foor, Academy of the Sacred Heart; Samantha Kaatmann, Sts. Joachim and Ann; Brett Klaus, St. Patrick; Whitney Martin, Most Sacred Heart; and Molly Seller, St. Gabriel the Archangel - have been selected to participate in a very special opportunity with musicians of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra on Friday April 24, 2026. SLSO Community Concert: Extra Credit will provide the teachers with the opportunity to rehearse and perform a concert side-by-side on stage at Powell Symphony Hall with SLSO musicians under the direction of Conductor Samuel Hollister. The concert is free and open to the public and tickets are available here. We hope that many students, parents, teachers, and administrators from our schools will be able to attend this special concert at Powell Hall to applaud these teachers' performance.
Bicentennial Photo Contest:
Christ's Light Among Us
The "Christ’s Light Among Us" Photo Contest.has been launched as part of the continued celebration of the Archdiocese's Bicentennial. Entries may be submitted in one of two age categories:
- Youth (18 & under, primarily cell phone photography)
- General (all ages, DSL, mirrorless, or high-quality phone photography).
- Please note that Archdiocese employees are not eligible.
- Christ’s Light in the Everyday: Where His love is lived and shared
- Sacred Spaces: Where beauty draws us closer to Him
Learn more at archstl200.org/photoco.
Inspire Your Students: The American Heroes Student Art Contest
Task: One 2D artwork and a 200-word artist statement.
Deadline: Friday, May 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
This year the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence (Semiquincentennial) and you can help your students make their mark on history! Sponsored by Freedom 250 and the National Endowment for the Humanities, the American Heroes Student Art Contest invites students in grades 3–12 to create original 2D artwork inspired by the 250 notable Americans to be honored in the National Garden of American Heroes. 168 first-place winners (representing all 56 states and territories) will receive a travel allowance to Washington, DC for an exclusive exhibition and ceremony.
For more information and how to enter the contest, please visit Freedom 250: American Heroes Student Art Contest.
RESOURCES
Jubilant Marriages Parishioner Tool Kit
This month's Jubilant Marriages tool kit includes content to help introduce children to the Holy Matrimony Role Model for kids, showing children and teens that friendship with Jesus and Mary can lead to miracles - like the couple at Cana experienced!
COMMUNITY EVENTS
The Bach Society of Saint Louis is proud to present their Education Concert on Friday, April 17th at 10:00am at First Baptist Church of Ferguson. Get a peek behind the curtain during this FREE Education Concert, specifically programmed for middle and high school students. Enjoy a range of musical tastes from musical theatre to classical favorites and hear directly from The Bach Society’s Young Artists on how their passion for music continues to shape their lives – on stage and beyond. Students will walk away inspired to find out for themselves how music contributes to a fulfilling life, no matter their chosen career.
School Group Registration Link
(Once registered, schools will receive a classroom resource deck to help prepare students for the concert.)
School Group Registration Link
(Once registered, schools will receive a classroom resource deck to help prepare students for the concert.)
Bring Shakespeare to your school this spring with Stages on the Sound. "Othello" is ideal for grades 6-8, exploring the timeless themes of jealousy, deception, love, and betrayal while connecting students to classic literature and modern social issues. Dates are booking for performances through April 24. Tickets start at just $5 per student.
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