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GS and Child Podcast | Season 2

Episode 48 – History of Montessori with Carol Dittberner

Welcome back friends to the Good Shepherd and the Child podcast! We are excited to begin Season 2 with a series on all things Montessori as a way to understand the underpinnings and influence Maria Montessori’s discoveries of the child had on the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.
Carol Dittberner began as a Montessori Guide after receiving her diploma at the 38th Indian Montessori Training Course in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India in 1974. The very next year, Sofia Cavalletti participated in an International AMI Conference in St. Paul, MN. After the conference, 30 of the primary Montessori guides, took the first course in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd offered in the United States by Sofia Cavalletti. They covered all three levels and studied for 5 weeks. Later, she completed two degrees in Human Development, both her B.A. and M.A., the latter from St. Mary’s University. The first atrium in Minnesota began because her two children, who were adopted from the Missionaries of Charity in India, turned 5 and 3 years old. The atrium began in 1982 at the Church of St. Frances Cabrini, Minneapolis, MN.
In 2006, Carol received the Diploma from the Assistants to Infancy training at the Opera Nazionale Montessori in Rome, Italy. Carol was able to work with Silvana Montanaro and visit the Rome Atrium often. In the late 1980’s she began work as a Formation Leader and has given CGS catechist formation in all three levels over the last 30 years.
Sources for learning more about Maria Montessori’s life:

Association Montessori Internationale, Amsterdam

Montessori Organizations and Archival Libraries

American Montessori Society, New York City

Books by Maria Montessori:

The Secret of Childhood

The Child and Society

A New World and Education

Books about Montessori or her work available through the CGSUSA bookstore:

In the 2021 Journal, we seek to offer a rich study and deeper understanding of Montessori’s work, which is so integral to CGS.

LISTENING TO GOD WITH CHILDREN BY GIANNA GOBBI

COMMEMORATIVE JOURNAL: GIANNA GOBBI 1919-2002

MONTESSORI: ON RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

THE CHILD IN THE CHURCH (SOFTCOVER)

SILENCE IN THE SHADOW OF SPEECH

Previous episodes about Montessori and her work:

Episode 4 on Normalization

Episode 28 Montessori’s Epiphany

Episode 30 on Freedom and Discipline

Through their joy, their wonder and awe, their capacity for love and prayer, and their radical simplicity, the children offer adults a glimpse into what it means to fall in love with God. This has been the work of CGSUSA for almost 40 years now: to advocate for the child’s joy. Each year, CGSUSA provides catechist formation, publishes new books for continued study and contemplation, and continues to support catechists and religious leaders across the nation and the world in helping children find their own path to God’s love.  We humbly ask for your continued help and support in this effort, please give to our Annual Appeal.  Please donate so the work may continue.

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Through their joy, their wonder and awe, their capacity for love and prayer, and their radical simplicity, children offer us adults a glimpse of what it means to fall in love with God. This has been the work of CGSUSA for over 30 years: to advocate for the child’s joy.

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