Our Lady of Good Help began with a desire to build a community of CGS catechists to share ideas, to collaborate on works for the child and to offer local and affordable catechist formation while focusing on the goal of expanding CGS across parishes of the Inland Northwest.

At a Level I formation in early 2020, Sister Christiana Marie met Mary Larson.  Sister and Mary spent the next two years supporting each other in building materials, assisting the children in the Atrium and encouraging each other to go farther in formation.  Since that initial meeting, Mary has completed Level II and Level III formation and Sister Christiana Marie has been recognized as a Level I CGSUSA Formation Leader.  As their friendship developed, so did further discussion and prayer in answer to the question “how can we support others in this beautiful work for the child and Our Father?”  Our Lady of Good Help CGS is the answer to that question - the fruit of prayer and listening.

Why Our Lady of Good Help? and Who is Our Lady of Good Help?  When we were initially discussing the idea of a regional association of catechists, many patrons were proposed. Sister and Mary each have a particular devotion to the Blessed Mother and naturally gravitated toward her.

Several months prior, on a visit to Wisconsin, Mary and her sister, Lora, visited the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help, (Our Lady of Champion) in Champion, WI the only approved Marian apparition site in the United States. In 1859, Our Lady appeared to a young girl, Adele and tasked her to, "Gather the children in this wild country and teach them what they need to know for their salvation." The words, "catechize my children;" resonated with Mary and she shared this experience with Sister Christiana Marie. 

After much prayer and reflection, the naming honor for our group of catechists was chosen as Our Lady of Good Help CGS and our purpose defined:  To support the children of the Atrium in their walk with Jesus.