The Institute for Catholic Formation
Introducing formation for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Level One, Part One. August 2025.
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is an approach to faith formation based on the educational principles of Maria Montessori and has spread to over 37 countries throughout the world. This catechetical model for children ages 3-12 is a reflective-based program of faith formation that helps a child to further develop his/her relationship with God in a developmentally appropriate way. It is rooted in Sacred Scripture, the Liturgy, and the educational philosophy of Maria Montessori.
The cost of formation is covered by a generous grant from Lilly Foundation for those in the Diocese of Bridgeport and discounted for everyone else.
I am interested in:
Discover the many ways the Institute for Catholic Formation can help you learn, grow, and share your faith. Choose from one of our featured links or just browse the site to enter the journey from encounter to discipleship.
Becoming Catholic
Becoming a Catechist
Eucharistic Miracles
Funeral Norms and Resources
Getting Married
Serving as a New Reader or EMHC
Upcoming Events
Young Adult Events and Resources
A person is said to be fully initiated in the Catholic Church when s/he has received the three sacraments of Christian initiation, Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. This is achieved through a process of preparation called the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults.
We are grateful to all our catechists and want to offer them support, resources, and formation. To make sure the young people and adults in our communities are served by those who are well-formed, all those who wish to serve their parishes as catechists are required to enter into ongoing formation.
For those who are already enrolled in LEAD, please use the log in button.
The Diocese of Bridgeport invites you to experience the Eucharistic Miracles Display, an international exhibition designed and created by Blessed Carlo Acutis.
From the beginning of the Church, Christian funeral rites and burial have been an important spiritual and pastoral practice. These resources are designed to introduce you to the revised funeral norms for the Diocese of Bridgeport, help a family plan a funeral, and discover related resources.
Because Christian marriage is a sacrament, the Catholic Church wants couples to be well-prepared. In the Diocese of Bridgeport, some parishes offer their own formation. Others depend on the diocese. The diocesan marriage formation program offers preparation to help couples develop a better understanding of the sacrament; to evaluate and deepen their readiness to live a married life, and to gain insights into themselves as individuals and as a couple.
Updated resources for Natural Family Planning are now available online. Read about the recommended methods and where you can find more information.
For those who are already enrolled in Marriage Formation, please use the LEAD log in button.
Liturgical ministry is an excellent opportunity to fulfill your baptismal call of service to one another. An engaging liturgical celebration utilize the talents and gifts that God has given this community to the fullest extent. Whether participation is through “behind the scenes” preparation and planning or through a public role of service within the Mass, such as reader or Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion (EMHC), your participation brings life to our celebrations.
For those who are already enrolled in LEAD, please use the log in button.
Find all the great events and learning opportunities offered by the Institute for parish leaders, clergy, parents, and liturgical ministers. Sort by category, save the events to your calendars, sign up for our newsletter, and view previous webinars - all in one convenient place.
To address this challenge of keeping young adults connected, the Diocesan Young Adult Council has launched Catholic203. Aptly named after the area code of Fairfield County, Catholic203 serves as a central hub connecting Catholic young adults with the communities that serve them.
On this page, we offer links to upcoming events, suggestions for your own formation, and more.
Become the First Witness You are Called to Be
Become the First Witness you are called to be with weekly guidance delivered to your inbox, courtesy of your friends at the Diocese of Bridgeport.
Learn More
Start With Sunday
Prepare Your Children for Sunday Mass
Get readings, animated videos, and fun activities delivered to your inbox weekly.
Learn More
What's New at the Institute
How to use LEAD™
With LEAD™, the learning management system custom-built for the Church, the Diocese of Bridgeport and your parish offer on-demand enrichment courses, Zoom sessions, and in-person workshops to help you grow as a disciple of Christ.
About the Institute
Through a combination of online learning, face-to-face workshops, and independent study, the Institute offers creative opportunities for ministry personnel to learn more about the Catholic faith and discover new ways to shape the next generation of disciples in Fairfield County.
The ONE
Learn about Most Reverend Frank J. Caggiano's vision of Ecclesial Renewal through a culture of “evangelizing catechesis” in the Diocese of Bridgeport.
True Love That Lasts
What if you could grow the enjoyment and love between you and your spouse by asking one simple question each day? Join the True Love That Lasts Movement and enjoy its benefits - each and every day.
Catholic Chat
Introducing Catholic Chat - an AI web app for you and your family so you can engage with the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Ask it a question, ask it to give you a quiz. Ask anything about the teachings of the Catholic Church and see what happens.
Conversations on Race
Updated resources. Take a look at these great webinars and the resources curate to help in our journey to end the sin of racism.
The Family Bible Challenge
St. Jerome said, "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ." What if we told you that your family could engage in Scripture in a way that never bores. Sign up for the FBC and receive a reflection every Sunday and a quiz every Thursday.
Laudato Si
After five years, what has your family or parish done to implement the Holy Father's challenge to care for creation? Learn more at our Laudato Si page.
The Face of Prayer
The Face of Prayer has shared more than 20 million prayers to date. Signing up is easy: text the word pray to 55778 and receive a new invitation to pray ever afternoon around 3 pm. Pause and pray. Every day.
The Catholic Bridge
Are you interested in participating in a diocesan-wide mentorship program? The Catholic Bridge is an opportunity for Catholic professionals in Fairfield County to share their skills and experience with Young Adults seeking life and career guidance.
Preparing Myself for Mass
How do I quiet my soul, clear my conscience, and prepare myself to worship with friends and family? Check out these great resources about how to prepare oneself for Mass and receiving the Eucharist.
New General Directory
The new Directory for Catechesis presents fundamental theological-pastoral principles for the ministry of catechesis while responding to current social conditions and cultural forces that shape the church’s communication of the Faith.
Guidelines for End of Life Decisions
We have a rich tradition of respecting life from the moment of conception to natural death. Let us surprise you with the Truth about what the Church teaches.
Fratelli Tutti
Pope Francis asks for recognition of the dignity of each person, in order to build a more just world. In his third encyclical, “Fratelli Tutti,” meaning “Brothers and Sisters All,” the pope compiles and categorizes the main proposals of the social discourses of his pontificate, in Rome and during his trips.
From The Field
Learn from musicians and ministers, confessors and counselors, parents and partners in ministry - all eager to share their thoughts and advice for how to improve our shared adventure of missionary discipleship.
