Villa Victoria Academy celebrated 90 years of faith, academic achievement and sisterhood during an anniversary celebration Oct. 21 on the school’s Ewing campus.
PHOTO GALLERY: Villa Victoria Academy 90th Anniversary
Bishop O’Connell and Msgr. Gervasio visit with some of the Religious Teachers Filippini during the reception that followed the Mass celebrating the 90th anniversary of the all-girls school in Ewing. Rose O’Connor photo.
Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., joined the Religious Teachers Filippini and the extended Villa Victoria school community for Mass in the school theater.
“What a great joy it is for me as your Bishop to celebrate with you the 90th anniversary of Villa Victoria, a beacon of light in our diocese. I am so happy and congratulate all of the Sisters Filippini who have worked so hard over years to make such a wonderful school, and all of your teachers and students who are here and part of this celebration.”
In the homily, Msgr. Thomas N. Gervasio, diocesan vicar general and pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony Parish, Hamilton, reflected on the anniversary of the school and the Religious Teachers Filippini.
“Villa’s life has been infused with a confident faith, a reliance on God’s providence and continual turning to the Lord — asking, seeking, knocking so that VVA would meet the challenges of the day,” he said.
The order was founded by St. Lucy Filippini (1672-1732) who, in 1707 was called to Rome by Pope Clement X to establish a system of schools.
Msgr. Gervasio shared excerpts from St. Lucy’s personal letters, which detailed the challenges she faced with establishing and maintaining the schools.
“Two hundred ninety-two years have passed since St. Lucy wrote those lines, and I’m certain from her glorious place in heaven she rejoices with us today,” Msgr. Gervasio added.
Gratitude to God
Betty Lou Kishler who was acknowledged for being the oldest graduate —from the Class of 1951 — enjoyed the celebration with her companion, Robert, who accompanied her to the anniversary event.
Following the Mass, Filippini Sister Patricia Pompa, provincial superior and president of the Villa Victoria Academy Board of Trustees, addressed the over two-dozen Religious Teachers Filippini present along with a blend of current Villa families, alumnae, benefactors and friends.
She thanked Bishop O’Connell and acknowledged the work of Filippini Sister Lillian Harrington, who served the Villa community for more than 40 years as teacher, principal and president, and Filippini Sister Lesley Draper, who has served as principal since 2010.
“An anniversary celebration of nine decades can only begin with profound gratitude to almighty God,” Sister Patricia said.
She reflected on the sisters who traveled to the United States and were tasked with beginning the school almost a century ago.
“These sisters were trusting and committed to the charism of St. Lucy Filippini. Over these past 90 years, our society has changed, but the unwavering mission of Villa Victoria has not.”
Betty Lou Kishler, who was acknowledged for being the oldest graduate —from the Class of 1951 — recalled with fondness her favorite teacher, the late Sister Elizabeth Parente, whom she described as “wonderful. She was strict, but gentle. All the nuns were so kind.”
The overwhelming love for the Religious Teachers Filippini was prevalent among the graduates as they shared stories, laughs and smiles.
“It feels so good to be here,” said Meg Fitzpatrick, from the class of 1983. “It feels like all is right in the world and that I am home. I felt so loved by the Sisters, and it feels so good to see Sister Lillian. As a female I never heard of a glass ceiling until l graduated. Here we learned the sky’s the limit.”
Sharing memories
Carol Ann Wilbert and her fellow classmates, who graduated in 1959, reminisced and shared their favorite memories, which included being in the 1957 film, “A Face in the Crowd,” starring Andy Griffith.
“That was so exciting. We have such camaraderie. We’ve been friends for life,” she shared.
Helene Vitella of the class of 1979 recalled Sister Lillian teaching her to drive a stick shift in the parking lot. Vitella’s daughter, Emily, is now a student in the school and wanted to attend after hearing of her mother’s experiences.
“You just feel the love here,” Vitella said.
Her comment resonated with Laura Jones, whose daughter, Kate, a graduate of the class of 2022, could not attend the celebration because she is deep in rehearsals for her starring role in “Bye Bye Birdie” at the Manhattan School of Music, where she is a sophomore.
“I wish she could have been here today. She found her voice at this school, literally and figuratively,” Jones said.
The History of Villa Victoria Academy
In 2023, Villa Victoria Academy, Ewing, will celebrate 90 years of Catholiceducation by the Religious Teachers Filippini. In 1910, five Religious Teachers Filippini arrived in the United States, settling in Trenton, where their ministry grew and prospered. The Bishop of Trenton, Most Reverend Thomas Joseph Walsh, supported the sisters in their efforts and dedicated himself whole-heartedly to the development of their educational institution.
In 1920, with the assistance of James Cox Brady, a New York benefactor of Catholic institutions in New Jersey, Bishop Walsh was able to purchase the Fisk Estate, located on the banks of the Delaware River in the suburb of West Trenton. Soon after the purchase of the estate, it was renamed Villa Victoria, in honor of Brady’s late wife, Victoria Mary Pery Brady. The forty-four acre estate and the building that stood upon it were donated to the Religious Teachers Filippini, to be used as the Motherhouse and Novitiate for their American Province. In 1933, Villa Victoria Academy was formally establishedas a private school.
In its first year, Sr. Florinda Martella MPF, principal, registered seven students. Two years later, the first elementary school graduation was held. By 1936, enrollment had grown to 48 students with ten sisters on the faculty under the direction of Sr. Carmelina Mugnano MPF as principal. The first high school graduation was held in 1937, with four graduates receiving their diplomas.
The following decade brought about many structural changes to campus. The mansion located at the intersection of West Upper Ferry Road and Route 29 was expanded to provide more living space for the sisters and a music room for study. Additions were made to the school building to accommodate the increasing number of students and to provide a spacious cafeteria, kitchen and four classrooms. Another building on the property was enlarged to provide a gymnasium for recreational activities and the implementation of a physical educatio
n program.
In the 1950s, Villa developed biology, chemistry and physics programs with well-equipped laboratories for students to practice their skills and knowledge. During this time, under the leadership of Sr. Mary Carmela Pagano MPF, the campus was enhanced with flowering shrubs and trees, which continue to make the location beautiful today. During the 1960s, the construction of the “new” high school was completed. This is where the school continues to operate today, providing classrooms and facilities for the middle school (grades 6-8) and the high school (grades 9-12).
The current auditorium, also known as the Villa Theatre, was completed in the 1980s and continues to be used frequently, providing a beautiful 990-seat venue for all Villa Victoria Academy concerts, masses and the annual spring musical.
In 1998, a new gymnasium was completed and in 2017construction of a strength training and conditioning room as well as a dance studio was completed.
In 2022, a gift allowed Villa to install a television studio on campus. This studio provides the opportunity for students to learn both the forward-facing side of broadcasting, with Villa high school students anchoring the broadcasts, as well as the behind the scenes work of the director. Students also learn how to operate cameras and audiovisual equipment to produce a state of the art broadcast each morning for the entire school community.
