In 2023, Villa Victoria Academy will celebrate 90 years of Filippini education on the “banks of the Delaware.” In 1910, five Religious Teachers Filippini arrived in the United States, settling in Trenton, NJ.
As the ministry of the Filippini sisters prospered, the bishop of Trenton at the time, Most Reverend Thomas Joseph Walsh, dedicated himself whole-heartedly to the development of their institute. With the help of a New York businessman, James Cox Brady, Bishop Walsh was able to purchase the Fisk Estate in the suburb of West Trenton in 1920.
Soon after the purchase of the estate, it was renamed Villa Victoria after Mr. Brady’s late wife, Victoria May Pery Brady. In 1933, Villa Victoria Academy was formally christened as a private academy.
Today Villa educates girls in grades 6-12. The current President of Villa Victoria Academy is Sr. Lillian Harrington MPF, who has served the school as science teacher, Principal and now President.
The current Principal of Villa Victoria Academy is Sr. Lesley Draper MPF, who has served at VVA for over 20 years as religion teacher and now Principal of the Academy. Both are members of the Religious Teachers Filippini.
Villa Victoria’s 90th anniversary year will kick off on Saturday, October 21st, with mass in the Villa theatre at noon. All friends, current families and graduates of VVA are welcome to attend.
Bishop David M. O’Connell, Monsignor Thomas N. Gervasio and Ewing Mayor Bert H. Steinmann are all invited guests for the mass. No tickets are required for the mass.
After the mass light refreshments will be served in the school and tours by current students will be available. For any questions regarding the anniversary year please contact Colleen White in the Advancement Office at cwhite@villavictoria.org or 609-882-1700 ext. 419.
More information about VVA can be found at www.villavictoria.org.
PHOTO CAP: Sr. Lillian Harrington (President) on the right and Sr. Lesley Draper (Principal) on the left and between them is graduate Dr. Poppy McLeod Class of 1975.
