Villa Marie Home and School for Exceptional Children, founded in 1964, operates as both a boarding school and day school for children in need of special education services.
By Reagan Scott
for the Register
On Saturday and Sunday, May 17 and 18, representatives from Villa Marie School in Waverly hosted a “Parish Weekend” at St. James Parish in Crete.
The event was part of an ongoing effort to spread awareness of the school, and share its mission across the Catholic Diocese of Lincoln.
As part of the parish weekend, Sasha Kelly, director of development for the school, had a table set up in the back of the church to provide information to parishioners, and was available to answer questions.
On Sunday, Msgr. John Perkinton, the school’s chief administrative officer, celebrated the parish’s 9 a.m. Mass, and gave a homily in which he talked about the school and its mission. He said he hopes parishioners take away a discovery of one of the great apostolates of the diocese.
Villa Marie Home and School for Exceptional Children, founded in 1964, operates as both a boarding school and day school for children in need of special education services.
Msgr. Perkinton said the school’s founder, Msgr. James Dawson (1929-2020), saw a need – at a time well before federal law mandated educational support for children with special needs.
Since opening, the school has served students from all over the state of Nebraska, and even some from Iowa. Kelly said that’s why the school’s boarding program is so important.
“We are serving students who live in David City or Omaha. We’re the only school like this in our area that allows kids to board during the week, so that they can go to a private, special needs school,” she said.
Sister Jeanette Rerucha, the school principal, pointed out that Villa Marie is not supported by a local parish like the rest of the diocese’s Catholic schools, so the school belongs totally to the diocese, and is reliant on the generosity of those in it for support.
While fundraising for the school has its challenges, Kelly said it’s nice in the sense that she sees the fruit of the Holy Spirit working through so many people from all over the state of Nebraska.
When Villa Marie staff began presenting these “parish weekends” two years ago, the original intent was to visit parishes throughout the city of Lincoln. When Kelly took over the position of development director last September, she brought new vigor to the program, and has a goal to visit parishes across the diocese – those that the school’s donors are from, as well as the home parishes of their students.
Photos courtesy Villa Marie School
“We’re really trying to build awareness of Villa Marie, and when I look at our donor database and where most of our donors come from, they’re all over Nebraska, not just Lincoln,” Kelly said. “We want to reconnect with our donors, getting out to them so that they can hear and see that Villa Marie is still here, as well as reaching out to new donors.”
Last year, Kelly arranged parish weekends at St. Michael and Cathedral of the Risen Christ parishes in Lincoln. In March, representatives from Villa Marie visited St. Mary Parish in David City and St. Mary and St. Benedict parishes in Nebraska City. The format for each parish weekend may vary, depending on each local parish’s schedule.
At the Cathedral of the Risen Christ, Msgr. Perkinton was able to celebrate every Mass during the weekend, and talked about the school in his homilies like he did in Crete.
In David City, at her home parish, Sister Jeanette was able to give a talk after each of the Sunday Masses. Villa Marie has an additional connection to the parish, as the hometown of one of the school’s students.
At other parishes, Kelly and another school representative might simply hand out information and talk to parishioners at a table after Mass.
Sister Jeanette said the most important aspect of the parish weekends is to build awareness for Villa Marie, so that people know that the school exists, understand its mission, and have any misconceptions about the school clarified.
“We just want everyone to know what wonderful students we have here, and the fact that we’re not just a school, but a family,” she said. “The students form bonds with each other that last their whole lives. They find friends here, they find acceptance here.”
In their desire to serve all students, the school isn’t limited to serving only Catholic children; but no matter the students’ faith backgrounds, Sister Jeanette said the aspect of Villa Marie that touches her heart the most is seeing the growth of the students’ relationships with Jesus during their time at the school. She said that the school has celebrated a lot of sacraments over the years as a result.
“We have students who have not even been baptized who get to know Jesus here and desire to be part of the Catholic Church. We’ve had a lot of first communions, first penance, and confirmations. To see them desire that relationship with Jesus and desire the sacraments is very heartwarming,” she said.
As part of her role, Kelly has also been working to partner with Nebraska Right to Life, and the school had a booth at the Nebraska Walk for Life for the first time this year.
“We’re the other arm of pro-life. We have to sustain life through all of life, and all of life’s challenges,” she said.
Villa Marie has also sought to give the students opportunities to interact with kids from Lincoln’s Catholic schools. This year, older students have been able to attend classes at Pius X High School, like small engines, women’s choir and advanced art.
Eighth-graders from St. Michael School in Lincoln have visited Villa Marie students over several years. This February, they attended Villa Marie’s annual dance fundraiser, along with members of the dance team from Pius X High School, who taught all the students a line dance.
“It’s just fun to hear [the students’] excitement partnering with other schools,” Kelly said. “Our kids are just begging to go see the kids at St. Michael’s again.”
Msgr. Perkinton said it’s not uncommon to hear questions from people about the necessity of a separate school for students with special needs, with educational resources available to students in a way that they weren’t when the school was founded.
He said, “We have to remember that we can’t be thinking in terms of one size fits all. We have to uphold as well that the parents are the first educators of their children, and they make the best educational decisions for their children.”
Msgr. Perkinton added that for those who take advantage of it, the boarding aspect of the school, and the structure and consistency that a routine provides, is a welcome resource.
Kelly said, “We’re here for those kids where public school, private school, homeschool, whatever the case may be, just wasn’t the right fit for them. We meet them where they are so they can thrive.”
Individuals interested in supporting Villa Marie with their prayer, time, and treasure can find opportunities at villamarieschool.com/support.
Sunday Mass at Sacred Heart Church in Crete. SNR photos | Natalie Bender. Click here for more.
