The Benedictine monks of Saint Anselm Abbey will donate $100,000 to help keep the Villa Augustina school open, announced Father Jonathan DeFelice, O.S.B., president of Saint Anselm College.
Father Jonathan said the money will help parents purchase the Catholic school from the Religious of Jesus and Mary, who founded the institution in Goffstown 90 years ago, but can no longer operate it.
“I’m completely overwhelmed by their generosity and support,” said Carol Barrett, chair of the Villa Augustina Leadership Transition Team. “As I told Father Jonathan, the hand of God is part of this process. At every step where we have needed a miracle, we’ve gotten one. We thank him and his Benedictine brothers for this tremendous show of support and faith in the school and Catholic education.”
The gift comes on top of a commitment by Father Jonathan to provide assistance in fundraising and strategic planning through the college’s faculty, staff and students. The Benedictine monks own and operate Saint Anselm College, which was founded in 1889.
“The Benedictines at Saint Anselm have been committed to Catholic education at all levels for more than 100 years,” said Father Jonathan.
Though the Benedictines have no active involvement in the administration of the Villa, Father Jonathan added, “When I heard that Villa Augustina was in need of assistance, I met with the talented and remarkable people who are working to keep it open. Recognizing that there were only some things the College could offer, I presented a proposal for financial support to my brother Benedictines. Their response to this need is incredibly generous and I too am grateful that they believe in the future of the Villa.”
“We are pleased to do what we can to help keep this fine example of Catholic education open,” Abbot Matthew Leavy, O.S.B., the religious superior of the Benedictines and chancellor of Saint Anselm College, said. “Villa Augustina has been a our neighbor for 90 years, and has been an excellent representative of the education tradition that was started by Catholic sisters. We want to honor that tradition by helping to enable what is now a necessary transition to Catholic lay leadership.”
Father Jonathan emphasized his faith in the lay organization that is leading the efforts to purchase and run the school.
“We believe in the ability of the Villa Augustina Leadership Transition Team to gather the funding necessary not only to keep Villa Augustina open, but to provide an excellent academic and Catholic religious education for many years to come,” Father Jonathan said. “I urge everyone interested in Catholic education to consider joining us in this support. I also urge parents to enroll their children in this remarkable school.”