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Premier global center establishes first Catholic Montessori Institute uniting Montessorians from around the world. 

BISMARCK, N.D. — On the 118th anniversary of Dr. Maria Montessori’s inaugural Casa dei Bambini in 1907, the ɫ���� unveiled a groundbreaking initiative: the Catholic Montessori Institute (CMI) — the world’s first and only global center dedicated to advancing Catholic Montessori education. 

The announcement, made during a campus-wide ɫ���� meeting, marks a historic milestone in Catholic education. CMI will serve as a centralized hub for academic collaboration, professional development, and resource accessibility — all uniquely grounded in both Montessori pedagogy and Catholic theology.  

A Vision Rooted in Faith and Formation  

The Catholic Montessori Institute is the fruit of a long-held dream by Dr. Maria Montessori and is now being fulfilled by a few seasoned Montessorians including JoAnn Schulzetenberg, a Montessori educator and now CMI’s executive director. Her years of prayerful reflection and practical experience culminated in a providential meeting with ɫ���� President Monsignor James Shea.  

“Several years ago, I was seated next to Msgr. Shea at a wedding. I had been praying and reflecting on the state of Montessori education in the United States,” Schulzetenberg recalled. “I pitched the idea to Monsignor Shea to create an entire