Villa Victoria Celebrates it’s 90th Anniversary
In 2023, Villa Victoria Academy will celebrate 90 years of Catholic education by the Religious Teachers Filippini. In 1910, five Religious Teachers Filippini arrived in the United States, settling in Trenton, New Jersey, 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 Mr. 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 Mr. 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 established as a private academy.
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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 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 education program.
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 her 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.
For any questions regarding the 90th Anniversary year celebrations, please contact Colleen White in the Advancement Office at cwhite@villavictoria.org | 609-882-1700 ext. 419.
