Villa Victoria Academy in Ewing is commemorating 90 years of Catholic education by the Religious Teachers Filippini.
The school is kicking off its 90th anniversary celebration on Saturday, Oct. 21, with a mass in the Villa theatre at noon in the Villa Victoria Academy Theatre.
All friends, current families and graduates of VVA are welcome to attend. Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., Monsignor Thomas N. Gervasio, who will con-celebrate the mass, and Ewing Mayor Bert Steinmann are all invited guests for the mass. No tickets are required.
Prior to mass, alumnae will gather by class year in the theater lobby and will process together into the theater. Following the mass, there will be light refreshments.
Current VVA students will be available to give tours for those who wish to see the school and the recent improvements to the facilities. Each class of alumnae is encouraged to make arrangements to meet at a nearby restaurant for a late lunch/early dinner.
“Ninety years of educating young women to achieve their goals and make significant contributions to society is an outstanding achievement for VVA,” said Enrica Gioe Chretien, Class of 1970, and member of the VVA Board of Directors.
VVA Board Chair Gina Giordano echoed these sentiments: “Villa Victoria Academy stands as a testament to the power of education and community. We are dedicated to nurturing young minds, fostering a sense of purpose, and instilling values that will guide our students to become compassionate leaders of tomorrow.”
The seeds for VVA were planted in 1910, when five Religious Teachers Filippini arrived in the United States, settling in Trenton, where their ministry grew and prospered.
The Religious Teachers Filippini was founded in Italy in 1692 with a mission to promote Christian education, the dignity of women and healthy family life. They operate schools, hospitals, and orphanages around the world.
The Bishop of Trenton—the Most Reverend Thomas Joseph Walsh—supported the sisters in their efforts and dedicated himself 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 44-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 established as a private academy.
Villa experienced rapid growth as an educational institution. 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 10 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 education 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 990-seat venue for all Villa Victoria Academy concerts, masses and the annual spring musical. The theater is available for rentals and is regularly used by many local dance studios and theater groups for recitals and performances.
In 1998, the “Raise the Rafters” capital campaign was initiated to fund a new gymnasium. The gymnasium was completed and dedicated in 2003, during the 70th anniversary year of Villa Victoria Academy. The gymnasium is used for physical education classes as well as by Villa’s sports teams. The gymnasium is available for rentals and is used by local organizations regularly.
In 2017, the “Moving Villa Forward Committee” was established. The committee utilized a gift from the community to make many renovations and improvements to the campus infrastructure. These efforts included construction of a strength training and conditioning room as well as a dance studio.
In 2022, a gift from the family of a graduating senior 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 broadcast each morning for the entire school community.
Villa Victoria Academy has grown and flourished into a progressive institute of learning at both the primary and secondary levels. The academy strives to identify and cultivate the unique gifts and talents of each student in her care. The students’ thirst for knowledge and innovation is complemented by the high standards of Villa Victoria Academy’s long-standing tradition of excellence in education.
The current president of Villa Victoria Academy is Sr. Lillian Harrington MPF, who previously served the school as high school science teacher and high school principal. The current principal of Villa Victoria Academy is Sr. Lesley Draper MPF who earlier served at VVA as a high school religion teacher and one year as lower school principal. Both are members of the Religious Teachers Filippini (MPF).
The mission of Villa Victoria Academy, consistent with the Catholic vision of the Religious Teachers Filippini, is to respect the inherent dignity of each individual, to educate the whole person, and to empower young women to reach their full potential and influence the world in a truly Christian manner.
Over the years, Villa Victoria Academy has sent forth over 1,800 graduates to make a positive impact on the world. Villa strives to foster in each student the ability to think critically, express herself creatively, as well as to develop self-esteem and compassion. This is done through maintaining small class sizes, emphasizing a well-rounded education and providing many leadership opportunities for students.
Villa’s curriculum gives students the opportunity to explore their talents and interests. There is a wide ranging offering of honors and advanced placement courses provided in both Science and the Humanities, allowing students to challenge themselves while pursuing their interests and academic goals.
There are many opportunities for students to participate in music, drama and visual arts as well as a variety of sports teams. These rich experiences provide Villa students with many opportunities for growth and expression, with a focus on using their talents for the benefit of others. Villa students are both leaders and scholars. As a result, graduates of Villa Victoria make confident, informed decisions when selecting their course of study in college and beyond.
Today, Villa Victoria educates girls in grades 6-12 from Mercer, Burlington, Middlesex, Hunterdon and Bucks counties.
For any questions regarding the 90th Anniversary year celebrations, please contact me at cwhite@villavictoria.org or 609-882-1700 ext. 419. More information can be found at villavictoria.org.
Colleen White is director of admissions and development at Villa Victoria Academy.
