Montessori Mindset: A Conversation with Catholic Montessori Institute on Merging Faith & Pedagogy

How do we harmonize the deep traditions of the Catholic faith with the brilliance of Montessori education? In this episode of the Montessori Mindset, host Melissa Rohan sits down with Joanne Schultzenberg, Executive Director of the Catholic Montessori Institute at the University of Mary.

Together, they explore how the Institute is becoming a national hub for fellowship, professional training, and spiritual renewal. Whether you are a Montessori guide, a parent, or a member of the clergy, this conversation offers a roadmap for integrating the "Education of the Human Potential" with a life of faith.

In This Episode, We Cover:
The providential "origin story" of the Institute.

The launch of a centralized portal for schools, parents, and clergy.

Details on the first-ever AMI primary training cohort at a Catholic university.

Vocational renewal through summer retreats and prayer.

Integrating the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) into Montessori formation.

📍 Episode Timestamps

00:09 – Introduction to Joanne Schultzenberg
01:55 – The providential origin story of the Catholic Montessori Institute
06:39 – Building a centralized hub for schools, parents, and clergy
09:40 – Establishing a national job board for Montessori guides
11:47 – The spiritual focus of the Catholic Montessori Conference
14:50 – Details on the AMI primary training cohort
21:54 – What to expect during summer in-person training
23:18 – Summer Retreat (June 9–11): Silence, prayer, and renewal
25:51 – The role of Father Nick Schneider as spiritual guide
28:06 – Integrating the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
36:54 – Future visions: Podcasts and European pilgrimages
39:10 – How to connect, join the portal, and register

🔗 Resource Links
The Catholic Montessori Institute (Main Page):
https://online.umary.edu/catholic-montessori-institute

Catholic Montessori Training Information:
https://online.umary.edu/catholic-montessori-institute/catholic-montessori-training-mary

Master of Education in Catholic Montessori:
https://online.umary.edu/academics/masters-doctoral-programs/master-education-catholic-montessori

Summer Retreat (June 9–11):
https://online.umary.edu/catholic-montessori-institute/catholic-montessori-training-mary/catholic-montessori-retreat

National Catholic Montessori Hub:
https://www.umary.edu/academics/schools/liffrig-family-school-education-and-behavioral-sciences/national-catholic


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https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/waterfront-academy

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Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:09

Welcome back to the Montessori Mindset, a podcast by Waterfront Academy. I'm your host, Melissa Rohan. There is a beautiful growing movement at the intersection of faith and pedagogy, one that seeks to see the child not just as a student, but as a person ordered toward God. For years, many of us Catholic Montessorians would have dreamed of a hub where these two rich traditions could truly coexist and thrive. Today, that dream has a home at the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota. I am thrilled to welcome Joanne Schultzenberg, the executive director of the Catholic Montessori Institute. Joanne is a seasoned Montessori guide and leader who, in a truly providential way, helped launch the world's first uh Catholic Montessori Institute at a faithfully Catholic university. This summer marks a historic milestone as they welcome their inaugural cohort for the first ever AMI primary training hosted at UMary. We're going to talk about that training, the Institute's role as a national center for fellowship and job postings, and their upcoming summer retreat. Joanne, it is such a joy to have you here.

SPEAKER_00 1:47

Thank you so much. Thank you. It's an honor. I'm very humbled to be here. So thank you for inviting me. Yeah, yeah. So can you tell us a little bit about how all this started? So I actually started my Montessori journey in 2004. That was the first time I'd ever any heard anything about Dr. Montessori. And uh I began as an upper elementary guide, took my training, and then became a guide. And um over time, through you know, the last 20 years or so, uh, I had just kind of these inklings in my heart of, you know, it would be really good to have some connections to Catholic Montessorians. Uh, because often we can feel kind of siloed and just like I can pick things from the Montessori community, but just yeah, knowing uh if there's anything that's uh yeah, how can I find those resources? How can I be connected? And um, when I'd go to different conferences, there just always felt like something was missing. And so I would put in that own my own faith element of getting to mass and connecting with the area, you know, priest or parish um during my weekends of at conferences. And but it just it always felt like something was missing from the actual conferences. And so I was at a wedding with Monsignor Shea. Um, well, even before that, I guess I should say I was um uh the University of Mary hired my husband and I to be the directors of the Rome campus back in 2012. And um, while I was there, they needed a an uh uh adjunct to teach a Montessori uh course over there uh because of course the foundings of Dr. Montessori were in Rome. And so I happened to um have that ability because I had also done some training uh through another institution for Montessori, and um so I already had some of that experience in my back pocket and um discerned that that would be a great gift to be able to be over there in Rome to do that. And so while I was over there, I spent many opportunities taking students from the University of Mary to the different to the first Casa dei Bambini, um, to meeting different Montessorians over in Italy, and that was such a profound, beautiful experience. Um, and from that, things just continued. Uh, I helped to start another Catholic Montessori school in North Dakota in Mandan, um Christ the King. So they were a traditional Catholic school looking uh for something different because their school was going to close if they didn't do something different. And so this kind of transformed that. Um, so from that, then I continued my conversations with Monsignor, and I was at a wedding and um several years back now, and uh I happened to have this moment, I was seated at his table. Praise be to God, I was seated at his table, and I just said, Monsignor, uh, I feel like now is the moment to launch something so amazing to bring the Catholic Montessori community together. Um I just I really felt convicted that this was what we needed uh to continue this movement in such a beautiful way and to truly go back to her roots, to her Catholic faith and how she implemented all of this, you know, the scripture, everything in her writings. Um it's just it's amazing. And so from that, um, we then discerned that this was the moment to launch this. And last year on January 6th, which is a very important day, um, not only being Epiphany, but also the uh the anniversary of Dr. Montessori implementing the first Casa dei Bambini. Um, from that, we launched the Catholic Montessori Institute, which now houses the training and uh all the things we'll talk about here today.

SPEAKER_01 5:54

So wow, that is a story. I love that. I I had no idea I had some ideas on some of it, but I had no idea of just how divine you know God is in all of this. And absolutely it's so beautiful. Yes. So and I want to just echo how important it is to have a place for Catholic Montessorians where we can have that ability to talk and um and connect and um and grow and learn from each other as well. So um so tell us a little bit about that, about the um the training center, but also the centralized hub that you guys are creating for Catholic Montessorians.

SPEAKER_00 6:39

Yeah. So I'll um yeah, I'll focus on the hub for now. So this was one of the most immediate needs. We uh throughout this process in discernment of what the Catholic Montessori community would need, um, one of the first things I started with was I thought a conference, a Catholic Montessori conference would bring some people together. And after the first experience of having that, and that was even before the institute was in, you know, uh installed, launched, uh when we had that opportunity to come together from people across the country, it was so beautiful to have this network starting to grow. And from that, uh you know, we had lots of discussions about what it is that the Catholic Montessori community needed. And one of them being a hub, a place where we can all gather together, you know, online or in, you know, in these different meetings and podcasts and different things, but to have just a place to find Catholic Montessori schools, to find people that are looking to connect even the catechists, you know, all of our community with catechists of the Good Shepherd, uh, those people also having a home, um, and to connect even with parents to bring them in. So, really, this hub is for everyone because we want it to be a resource place where people can find connections, get expertise from, you know, people who've been in the field for for some time, have the experience of even running a school. Um, I currently do that as well as uh head of school. And so just having all those insights to help one another to help this movement to grow. Uh, because I think oftentimes people are afraid, they don't know what it means, they don't know how to implement it. You know, there's just a lot of questions. And so um, this hub supports all of that. So there's a place where in the portal, which is on our website, and we'll get to more of that information soon. But at the University of Mary, there is a Catholic Montessori Institute webpage, and that has access to the portal on it with a button that you just click and go on in, and you can sign yourself up, and then we help to facilitate on our end. You know, if you are even a clergy member, those because clergy members are needing to support this network, we need them, their support. And so uh to even have a place for them to connect on how they're implementing these things in their parishes or schools and and so forth. Um, so there's places for clergy, parents, guides, upper elementary, you know, everybody, um, infant toddler, uh, catechist. So it's it's a great place that just allows educators to really share their resources, participate in discussions because soon we'll offer monthly uh meetings where people of each uh different group can meet and share their ideas um and have different topics to study and that sort of thing. Um, and to support just each other professionally and spiritually. Um yeah, and just have also I would add to add a national job board, or international for that matter, uh for people to who are looking for guides or you know, heads of school, um, just to have a place for them to also find that that's our our job boards up and running already. Um and then just really our ultimate goal is is strengthening our network so that no one feels you know isolated anymore and they're supported and connected um through this rich, rich opportunity.

SPEAKER_01 10:18

Yes, I I I wholeheartedly feel that love. Um when we're when we meet, um, I was I was talking to somebody the other day how um when I met with you guys, because I'm on the steering committee specifically for the retreat, uh not for the re for the uh conference in the fall, and I was talking to somebody two days ago, and I said it just feels like a warm hug. And it felt like that also at the conference because I do feel so isolated, and it is so nice not to feel that way and to be among peers that have that are are like-minded and light-hearted.

SPEAKER_00 11:01

It's just the same language and the same space, you know, yes.

SPEAKER_01 11:07

Yes. It's it was so beautiful. So I think that like for the Catholic Montessorians who are listening to this, I really cannot, I can't say it's stronger. Like you need to be a part of it. Say that with as much enthusiasm as possible. Um so tell us a little bit about the Montessori conference. This so you just had your second one, and like I said, we are planning the third. And um what's the atmosphere like when you're there? Um I guess I kind of I'm just so excited. I kind of jumped into it. But like, yeah, can you talk a little bit about that?

SPEAKER_00 11:46

Absolutely. So the conference really comes from uh a strong desire, again, for me, for connection. And um I grew up with my father actually going to many different Catholic conferences, and I already had this vision of something big, that this is really a bigger movement than I even know. Um yeah, I can't fathom it all at this moment. But the atmosphere when people attend, I think is just this incredible, joy-filled community, um, and but deeply reflective at the same time. Because the different workshops, the different speakers that we have, and you know, presenters in different workshops, they really come with such a deep gift to be able to share their faith through the opportunity of sharing Montessori in the environment, you know, and so for us to make that connection of in my work as head of school, here are the different things that I could do or the different resources I could have. And not only that, all of you that are sitting in the room with me at this moment, we can talk about those, you know, intricacies of that role. Um, so I think it's really just uh a shared uh uh the ability to have a shared understanding that we're not simply discussing, you know, educational techniques, but rather we're talking about the formation of the human person and the spiritual life of the child, which is this gift that we have uh to be able to share. I would say many of the participants really describe the conference as both intellectually stimulating and spiritually renewing. Um there's something there's such a deep discussion about Montessori philosophy, the child development, uh, you know, theology, what is Catholic Montessori, you know, um, and and just the role of the church in education. Uh, that's those are really the topics that we kind of talk, you know, go through and and what that conference is about. Um, but there's also time for prayer, for mass, for fellowship, um, which is important for me to have in that uh realm as well, just to have those opportunities for us to gather together, to pray together, um, to encourage one another, and and just to realize that we're part of something much bigger, you know, we're part of this huge vineyard, really. Um, and growing this movement recognizes the profound spiritual dignity and capacity of a child. So I, you know, all those pieces, just coming together, having this opportunity to um be filled with joy. Um, I think one of our participants last year, who was from Portugal, you know, made the mention that this is like the new Bethlehem. And I just I get goosebumps thinking about that because truly I feel like this work is so important and we need to lean on one another. And this is the perfect opportunity to come and just and to lean and to glean information from one another. Um, and and I see it growing and the excitement growing for this.

SPEAKER_01 14:47

So yeah, I agree. Um, I'm looking forward to what who what's it what's to come because as you said, this is international now, and it's it and I'm it's very exciting. Um, so an other exciting things include your first uh cohort of primary uh in your training center. So tell us a little bit about this and uh yeah, just please let us know how this happened. And I as I understand it, it's AMI. And so talk about why that's important. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 15:23

Yes. So AMI, for those who are listening that may not know the Association Montessori International Community, which was founded by Dr. Maria Montessori um herself, just really to preserve the integrity of her work. Um, so when we talk about this Montessori formation, AMI really is, you know, kind of it's recognized internationally and um it's very beautiful. And so with her work, we are partnering with um Southwest Institute for Montessori Studies for this first cohort to really launch this well. Um, and uh the AMI training really gives us uh this opportunity to receive rigorous, internationally recognized training that's faithful to Dr. Montessori's original vision. Um we are going beyond that and implementing the Catholic piece. So uh there will be a course on human anthropology and how Dr. Montessori's work really tailored to you know the training itself, how how all of that came together. Um, and this Catholic Montessori piece is so essential. And so we want guides who are looking or people who are looking, catechists even who are looking for the to expand their knowledge to understand this method deeply, not as a set of activities, but as a profound philosophy of education. Um, I know some people often think, oh, we can just uh you know, can you just record your presentation and then we give that live to everyone? And um that's not the case. It's there's much more. There's much more fruit there. Uh we want uh to offer this AMI formation within a Catholic university setting. So we're creating something very unique uh with the hope of you know academic excellence, Montessori pedagogy, and Catholic all of anthropology all coming together. And this training is a hybrid model in which there's an online portion and there's an in-person portion. And so the online uh will be starting May 12th through the 30th. So we really need people who are interested to uh, you know, uh start your registration process soon. And that's all on our website uh that you can access that as well through the Catholic Montessori Institute. Uh the in-person session will start in July. So that gives people who are in the classroom now or catechists some time to get, you know, their their things in place to be able to come. And during that summer experience while they're in there, you can expect some intellectual uh demands along with spiritual enrichment uh through that. So students will participate in that AMI primary training, um, which will include lectures, material presentations, you know, observation practice, all of that. Um very hands-on, requires deep concentration and reflection. Um this is hosted by the University of Mary, and the site that we are doing the work in is Christ the King in Mandan. So that school I mentioned that I helped to get off the ground in Montessori is now becoming um the site where we'll have it. But all the housing and meals will be on campus. We're gonna create really a strong sense of community, which I can't say from my own training I felt. You know, certainly you're together with those people all day, but the faith component wasn't there. And so you'll receive that beautiful Catholic opportunity to that will be transformative through mass, spiritual direction, formation, um, and and just being in a Catholic setting that is true to Dr. Montessori's work. Uh, and that continues throughout the course of next year. So it will end next summer. Uh, so it's a great opportunity. We really want people to get the word out, sign up, come and be a part of that first cohort.

SPEAKER_01 19:17

So exciting. Me personally, I've never taken the primary training, so I can't talk about it from it from experience. But I can say this that I've talked to others who've other Catholic Montessorians who have taken the training, and they kind of feel a little gypped that they don't get that real, you know, the one reading Dr. Montessori's actual words, right?

SPEAKER_00 19:40

Right. Right.

SPEAKER_01 19:41

Right. So that I think is a real blessing that you're gonna be able to do that. And you kind of it sounds like to me, which is something that I think is just so beautiful, is that you're gonna be able to do this in living in a in a community, which we're meant to do, and we're going to and you're going to be able to do it prayerfully and faithfully. And I just think that that's such a beautiful thing. What a blessing for this new crop of um Catholic Montessorians that can come out of this, and um, and I can say as a head of school that like that would be huge for me to see on a resume because I would do everything and anything to get those kinds of teachers, yes, because I wouldn't have to worry about other stuff, yes, yes, absolutely, yes, stuff, right?

SPEAKER_00 20:40

Amen. Yes, yes, no, we're really set out to develop the whole person, you know, through truth, booby beauty, and goodness, just um offering that opportunity to bring in those spiritual components that are so important. Like you said, as I head at school and myself too, I it's so important for me to know A, that you're on the same page in your faith and that you can lead in the classroom, and that you have this amazing background um coming from our program. So we have sign up.

SPEAKER_01 21:11

Yeah, I just finished reading the Montessori method um as a as part of the podcast. I had finished it at the end of last month. And um, and I that's one of the things that I the feedback that I'm getting is people are like, I never read that. You know, these are Montessorians. I never read that. I didn't know that. Where did you get that? Right, you know, and so I think this is very valuable. So I also love that you told me that you're telling the audience, one, that this is going to be at Christ the K. Okay, two, that you're gonna be at the on campus at University of Mary. That is huge. These are really great things. So, um, for the summer part of it, tell us a little bit more what that's gonna look like.

SPEAKER_00 21:54

Yeah. So again, those dates will be July 7th through the 17th. Um, transportation. Will be provided from the University to Christ the King each day. There will be a meet, you know, meals will be provided as well as part of this cohort for those that sign up for, you know, to live on campus and all of that. And so they will start with daily mass. There will be daily mass, there'll be uh time for prayer throughout the day. They'll also then be um, we're hoping to add in like evening prayer together. You know, that's important as well. Um, but not only that, just the fruitful discussions that we can have as Catholic Montessorians um throughout that program. Um, and you'll be learning how to do more reflections, um, bringing in the catechesis of the good shepherd as well. That will be a part of the training. Uh, you know, all of those pieces. There's much more, but time for personal prayer, um, opportunities to really connect, um, informing the child and uh yeah, how we can help their souls um get to heaven. So uh that's just kind of a little a little snippet of what they'll experience.

SPEAKER_01 23:04

Yeah, I I think that's wonderful. And um, so looking at because I I think there's like some questions. I don't think I'm the only one that's had these questions because I've heard from some other people, is like, can the summer retreat, can you tell us a little bit about what that's going to be? Because that's also very exciting. And I think that's before so that's it, it's in June.

SPEAKER_00 23:27

It is, it's June 9th for the 11th. Yep. So that's also hosted at the University of Mary. And I have to tell you, during the summer, especially June, it is gorgeous up at the University of Mary. So, I mean, you were there in the fall, and you know, it was a little colder, but this is like the best time to be up there uh in the summer. And so um, this retreat is going to be offered by Father Nick Schneider, and he is uh kind of our spiritual guide on all of this work as we move through uh these different activities and opportunities. Um, so the Summer Retreat is going to be an opportunity for Montessorians, those currently practicing, um, as well as, you know, we'll open it up to catechists, but it's really for people who have been practicing and need this time to kind of reflect, you know, renew their souls and fill them with this opportunity for connection, but silence as well. Um, so community and silence, kind of a little, a little bit of a mix of that. Um, this opportunity will help us to look at our vocation, and which really just requires a lot of, as you know, Melissa, patience, humility, um, and spiritual attentiveness to each child. And so this is such a great opportunity to look and receive rather than to give, to be cared for and to have that space for, like I said, prayer, reflection, silence, and renewal. Um, participants will really experience kind of a spiritual mini-conference, if you will, of that time for personal prayer reflection. But Father Shenar will be giving us lots of talks throughout the two and a half days uh for us to reflect on in our practice. Um really it comes down to, you know, we're caring for souls in our leadership and in our roles in the classroom. And so this is a sense, let's come and get renewed and restored so that we know why we're doing what we're doing and can hear God loud and clear in our vocations uh as missionaries in this vineyard.

SPEAKER_01 25:35

So yeah, and I want to just say that I have gotten uh a couple of opportunities now to um get to know a little bit um about Father Nick Schneider. And I want to say what a blessing he is. I I so uh here's uh my little bit of uh impression because I I can't wait to get to know him more. I've only I think this is like third time now I've gotten a chance to hear from him. Um, but one, he is a wealth like of nudge on Dr. Montessori. I mean, wow. I like to find a priest who gets it to that degree, to like the little tiny nth degrees of things, like he he he is saying things that I have yet to learn, and I'm like, wow, I did not know that. That's exciting, you know. Yeah, and then the other thing is this uh just a couple weeks ago, or when when did we meet? Was it a month, a week ago, uh two weeks ago?

SPEAKER_00 26:40

Yes, two weeks ago, maybe he meant I know time passes.

SPEAKER_01 26:45

What a kind and generous soul he is. I mean, he said something that just touched my heart, and I just I have to say that what a blessing to have him as part of this as the spiritual guide uh on this uh adventure endeavor. Um and so that is I I just I needed to take a moment and space to to really say that.

SPEAKER_00 27:11

Oh, I'm glad. I'm glad you did. I've been I've known Father Stranger for many, many years. Matter of fact, we went to college together. And I have to say, I've learned so much from him over the years. Uh, he really is a wealth of knowledge, uh, Dr. Montessori. But also, obviously, in his role as a priest, the spiritual life. I mean, he knows how to connect the two better than any one of us. Uh, and I think that's why it's so amazing that he's able to give this gift to us to provide a retreat uh for us to reflect, because he's also in the classroom, you know, he's in a school, he's teaching as well and guiding students. Uh, and that's so important for our work to be, you know, integrated in that and and to know what's you know going on, what children are doing and how they learn and grow. But not only that, how we take care of ourselves and our spiritual lives.

SPEAKER_01 28:01

Yeah, no, I think that's wonderful. So um, we talked a little bit about the uh the summer retreat. Can you just for anybody who doesn't know, I feel like there's I feel like some for people who know, this is gonna be like a nothing, but for people who don't know, this is gonna be an everything, right? Yes, absolutely. Yep. Can you talk about the um catechesis of the good shepherd? Because you mentioned that this is gonna be part of the training. And I think that like if you don't know what it is, then you don't you it's not gonna meet it's not gonna meet anything, it's just gonna slip right by. But if you have an understanding, you're like, oh, right.

SPEAKER_00 28:43

Like I yeah, oh yes, yes, absolutely. Yeah, please. Yes, so the catechesis of the good shepherd really hones in on the religious component of Dr. Montessori's work, and so this really breaks down everything in the church to a child-centered opportunity to grow in their faith and to have that spiritual relationship. Um, now, as you know, Melissa, uh, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd was developed by Sophia Cavalletti and Gianna Govey, who used Montessori principles, and so they created this uh this work. And the atrium really respects the same understanding of the child that children have a deeply deep capacity for contemplation and a relationship with God. And uh in the classroom setting, uh the child really develops that independence, concentration, and wonder. While as in the atria, those same dispositions are directed but towards the mysteries of the faith, as we both know. And within the two environments, they complement each other very beautifully. Uh, they form the child intellectually, spiritually, and morally. But uh I I see the catechesis, if I didn't know anything about it, I see this as like a religion, I don't know, C C D course. I mean, not of that same extreme, but uh it's really this uh deep building that deep relationship with the child. And uh I mean when I went through my MGS training, um it's like a retreat, right? It's meant to be a retreat. Uh and I think the children feel that. I mean, our my own students always say the atrium is their favorite place. You know, that's where they're developing their relationship with God. And uh so this uh is going that training is going to also be included in our full uh training experience so that people can utilize uh the Catholic components in their own environments. They can do prayer in the same way they do it in the atrium, you know, similarly as they do it in the atrium and receive that opportunity each and every day. I think having guides who are well-rounded with CDS and the training itself provides so many benefits to providing the fruit that we need to come from our programs and from our schools. Um yeah, this really is that religious component. And I know of so many atriums that are opening, especially here in the Midwest. I mean, there is such a need for uh cateches of the Good Shepherd trainers. And so this even offers you know, opens that door for those who are interested in the training um for that opportunity as well to serve in parishes or schools. Uh, because we know not every Catholic parish has an atrium yet, but that would be the hope, right? We don't want to get that in everybody's hands. Uh and I think how beautiful it would be as a young child. I mean, I did not have uh that similar experience, but how to have the opportunity to grow in my faith as a three-year-old, a four-year-old or a five-year-old, you know, just sitting and building that relationship, receiving those lovely presentations and understanding the faith um in such a deep way. It it's amazing. So we're grateful we can bridge the two together. And they, you know, CGS has been around for a while, but uh yeah, this is this is great.

SPEAKER_01 32:05

I remember, and I it's just a silly story of the what you said, and I because I don't I want to make sure like the impact is um tangible, right? Through this discussion, and because it's just so important. So um here in DC, uh there was a parish that I was working with when I started the school, and um, and I don't want to bore you with all the details, but I will say that um there was uh his name is Father Royals, and um he was like, you need to do cateches of the good shepherd. I had never heard of it at the time. Yeah. And um, and so it was like, I don't, and he's like, My sister, her children go to the school. We're gonna go to the school, we're gonna take a look at it. You and you can make you can discern. And so we went over to the school, and they had two atriums, and they put Father Royals in one atrium, and they put me in another atrium. Uh I mean, uh, I'm telling the story, and I'm getting goosebumps on my arms because it was just so moving to me to see this in real life for the first time. I went in and I saw the children working with so much joy. Yes. And there was so much beauty, and you just it it like captures every every part of you. It does. The formation of these children is not like I gotta get this done so I can get right. That it's not a do this to do that, not a memorized, task-oriented, not my not the way I had had to do it, right? And this was a true the children truly loved Jesus, loved God, loved church, loved, loved all, there's like this love and joy that was so palpable and just entering in the room. And so after we left, I I'm with Father Father Royals, and I was like, oh my gosh, I can't believe I just witnessed this. What a joy, what a blessing. And he's like, Well, I think because I showed up with a collar and all the children were just like that was the moment when I decided that I needed the training myself and we were gonna go that path, and it was just just an amazing experience.

SPEAKER_00 34:31

Yeah, that's wonderful. Yeah, you know, and we have when we have observers come to look in our atrium and observe, it's their stories when they come out are similar to yours, Melissa. I mean, they're just they're so amazed that the children just work quietly, but it's so peaceful, it's uh uh transformative, as you said. Um but they have this opportunity to just watch the children, whether it's learning about the vestments, learning about the parables, all of that. It's it's quite amazing. And they don't they don't sorry, they don't just like uh take that information, it goes in, it goes out. It's they actually can reflect on that and see it in the gospels on Sunday. I mean, I've had deep conversations with my children of what they've learned, you know, the epiclesis. My four-year-old, you know, well, tell me about the epiclesis. It's like, yeah, this is amazing. I didn't know what that was until I was much later in life.

SPEAKER_01 35:28

So they make those connections. Well, that's so true. And you know, and I hear the feet the feedback is really the most important, maybe the most important part. I don't know if it is the most important part, but it is an important part. Um, and that is I hear from the parents how going to church on Sundays is a lot more uh peaceful experience for the parents. Um, and I also hear from pastors of the different parishes saying that our students are far better formed than other, you know, other programs that don't other catechism programs that don't do the catechism of the shepherd. So there's that that that feedback is very, very important um in in just continuing on because you know, this is it's an investment, right? And so and so you need to hear that uh feedback so that you can continue to make that kind of investment in the in our resources and our humans and you know. So um looking ahead, um, can you talk about uh what's coming in the future? Well, hold on, I say that, but like there's a lot coming because we've talked about the hub and we've talked about the retreat and we've talked about the conference and we've talked about the uh the first court for the uh primary training. So that's four huge things. Yes, these are big endeavors. So do you have other things that you've got coming down the pipelines?

SPEAKER_00 36:54

Yes. So we're in the planning stages of all of this, of course, but um the hope is to have our podcast as well. Maybe we'll just connect with you, Melissa, and just bring you on Slack podcast. I would love that. That's great. Well then we'll talk offline. Um, but no, seriously, uh we want we want that. We want opportunities for professional development as well. So um, you know, when I go on to like different uh Montessori websites or um organizations um like AMS or AMI, and they have, you know, lots of different resources. That's our hope is to have something like that where we're tapping into professional development, we're tapping into speakers, we're tapping into courses that they can take as well, um, as well as building out our training. So we really do want to add all of the different levels in the next years to come. So that is all part of the training right now, or the training vision, I should say, uh, because we want to care for the child from even before birth, educating parents all the way through the time they have left high school. Um, so that full formation is our goal. Um, we also hope to deliver a pilgrimage. It was on our radar to do, but couldn't quite do it yet. But we want to offer a pilgrimage over to Dr. Manessori's sites over in Europe. So we're working on that right now uh to put that in. Hopefully, maybe next year is our hope. Um, and and to you know, be able to go where she was, you know, where she lived for a period of time, where she developed the training, um, to where she died, all of those sites. Uh, we we want to be able to have uh an experience, a pilgrimage for our other Montessorians in the field that would like to take that opportunity. Um, and actually we're hoping Father Schneider will help us lead that as well, um, and and be part of that. So lots of things coming. Uh, we have, you know, there's there's so much to do. Uh, and all of us have many things that we're working on, and so we're just moving as fast as we can. Um, but this portal, this hub is really the first start of building that network so that we can then offer these different pieces um and and hope for the Catholic education in our country and world for that matter. So I love that.

SPEAKER_01 39:09

I love all of that. So can you tell any of our our all of our listeners how to get a hold of you, how to sign up for the training, how to be part of the pub, how to sign up for the conference, things like that.

SPEAKER_00 39:20

All of it. Yes, absolutely. So we made it pretty easy on our website. So this is online.edu. And that you scroll down the page and there are links to all of this information, everything that we have, the registrations that will be coming out. So if you don't see it yet, it is coming, but most is on there, um, especially for the retreat coming up, the training coming up as well. Um, the portal, there's a button on there just says portal, Montessori Portal. So click on that and it you just fill out a few things and um you'll be part of the hub. Uh and then from there, all of the information will be started to funnel through the hub as well as you know, registrations, um, information for professional development. Uh we, you know, as Montessorians, we know that our education is not done when we're done with training. So there will be opportunities throughout the years to come that we can, you know, tap into new opportunities to learn and grow together. Um the conference, uh, those, yeah, those opportunities are all on there. Sorry as I get ahead of myself, but um that's in October, October 8th through the 10th. Uh, and we're really excited. We know that not all the timings always match up with, you know, normalized classrooms and those sorts of things, but we're doing the best we can right now uh with the resources we have to be able to put these things on. And we just would love, love to have people uh come and be a part of this movement. So yeah.

SPEAKER_01 40:51

Well, thank you so much. Um, and I fully endorse all of these things.

unknown 40:56

Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 40:57

Um, Joanne, thank you so much for your yes to this mission. Uh, it is so heartwork or heartening, excuse me, to know that there is a place like the University of Mary dedicated to forming guides who see the secret of the child through the lens of the creator. To our listeners, if your guide, if you have a guide uh looking for fellowship, a school looking for staff, or an aspiring teacher seeking an AMI diploma in a faithful environment, please visit this website. Uh check out their membership site and make sure to look into the National Catholic Messory Conference dates, which are October 8th through 10th. As always, you can find us at waterfrontacademy.org. I'm Melissa Rohan, and thank you for joining us on the Montessori Mindset. Until next time.