Guest column by Sasha Kelly
Director of Development & Advancement of Villa Marie
For those who may not yet be familiar with Villa Marie, we are the only Catholic school in the diocese dedicated specifically to serving students with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities. Villa Marie was born out of the courageous and compassionate advocacy of Msgr. James Dawson, who responded to the heartfelt pleas of parents whose children with disabilities had nowhere to receive an education, neither within Catholic schools nor in the public system at that time.
In God’s providence, the diocese had recently opened the Catholic Center near Waverly, which included the Marian Sisters’ convent, Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat House and a building intended to be used as an orphanage, so that the Sisters could continue their apostolate of taking care of children. As the state transitioned away from orphanages to foster care, space became available, and Msgr. Dawson was able to obtain the building he needed. With the bishop’s blessing, Msgr. Dawson founded Villa Marie Home and School for Exceptional Children in 1964.
The Marian Sisters, ready and eager to serve those most in need, responded to Msgr. Dawson’s request to provide Sisters as teachers, administrators and housemothers. They continue to staff Villa Marie School. From the beginning, Villa Marie also became a boarding school for families who needed that level of care and support. The boarding component also provided the opportunity to provide special education services to students living a distance away from the school. One of the first students even lived out-of-state.
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Courtesy photos
The most beautiful thing about Villa Marie is that long before there were clear pathways to support students with intellectual disabilities, the school stepped forward and has remained steadfast in that commitment ever since. Villa Marie was created because families were crying out for help, and that same spirit of listening and responding continues to define who we are today.
My own connection to this mission is both professional and deeply personal. I am a Catholic educator, and I am also a parent of a special needs child attending a Catholic school. I have seen firsthand the beauty of Catholic education when it works well, and the deep sense of belonging it can offer children and families. I have also experienced the challenges families face when their child’s needs do not fit neatly within traditional educational structures. Those experiences have shaped how I listen to parents today and have deepened my conviction that schools like Villa Marie are not optional, but essential.
What I have seen as one of the most beautiful components of Villa Marie is the way it provides opportunities for students and their families far beyond academics. Villa Marie offers Special Olympics teams in bowling, basketball, and track and field, summer camps that include horseback riding, fishing, boating, bowling, arts and crafts, and daily Mass celebrated outdoors.
Students participate in a beautiful Christmas program and have access to enrichment classes at Pius X High School in Lincoln. These experiences allow students to discover meaningful hobbies, build lasting relationships, and grow in confidence and joy. Just as importantly, they give parents the opportunity to champion their children in the same ways every parent hopes to: cheering them on, celebrating milestones, and sharing in community. Providing access to life-giving experiences beyond the classroom is what makes the Villa Marie experience so uniquely beautiful.
In order to honor and preserve this loving mission and legacy, we have felt called by the Holy Spirit to prayerfully discern how Villa Marie is meant to carry out its mission in today’s world. While our foundation remains strong, circumstances around us have changed over time. Educational practices have evolved, family needs and desires have shifted, and funding realities look different than they did decades ago. These changes do not diminish our mission, but they do invite us to listen carefully and thoughtfully to how families today hope their children can be supported, educated, and loved.
Over the past year, Villa Marie has intentionally entered into a season of listening and learning. Through parish visits, conversations, surveys, and outreach across the diocese, we have been humbled by the number of people who care deeply about Villa Marie and the families we serve. Many parents, educators, alumni, clergy, and supporters have shared gratitude that Villa Marie exists at all, recognizing how rare and important it is to have a faith-filled school dedicated specifically to students with special needs.
This past year has also been deeply affirming. Through our Dawson Scramble and our 62nd annual Villa Marie Dance, we welcomed more than 500 new donors and over 30 new corporate sponsors into the Villa Marie community. Our annual dance, which historically welcomed around 350 guests, drew more than 500 attendees last year and sold out this year at 560, with additional interest beyond capacity. This growing support is a powerful reminder that the mission of Villa Marie is believed in, valued, and worth preserving. While we may not yet know exactly what the future will look like, we do know that we are not discerning alone. We are studying, researching, and listening, confident that this mission is meant not only to endure, but to continue to thrive in today’s world.
At the same time, we have heard thoughtful questions and reflections about how we might continue to serve families well in the future. Parents have shared the realities they face today, Catholic school leaders have reflected on the needs they see in their communities, and education specialists have helped us think carefully about best practices. These conversations are not about leaving behind who we are, but about ensuring that Villa Marie remains strong, accessible, and responsive to the families who need us most.
As part of this process, we are also studying other Catholic and faith-based models across the country that serve individuals with disabilities. This includes learning from organizations such as Madonna Ability Alliance and other similar efforts nationwide. Our goal is not to replicate another model, but to better understand how others are supporting families, partnering with schools, and expanding access while remaining rooted in their mission. These insights help us reflect more deeply on what makes Villa Marie unique and how we can continue to build upon that foundation.
Throughout this discernment, our commitment to the dignity of every child remains unwavering. Villa Marie has always been, and will continue to be, a deeply pro-life ministry in the fullest sense of the word. We stand with families who say yes to their children in the midst of medical, educational, and emotional complexity. We believe every child is created in the image of God, worthy of love, belonging, faith formation, and opportunity. Our students are not problems to be solved, but gifts to be cherished.
This season of strategic planning is not about uncertainty or fear. It is about hope, stewardship, and faithfulness. It is about honoring the courageous vision of Msgr. Dawson, the faithful service of the Marian Sisters, and the countless families, staff, and supporters who have shaped Villa Marie over the past 60 years. It is also about ensuring that this mission continues to serve children and families for generations to come.
As we move forward, we are committed to listening with open hearts and open hands. We invite members of our diocesan community to walk with us, pray with us, and help us learn. Your voices and experiences matter deeply in this process. If you feel called, we ask you to consider completing one of our surveys, or more than one if you fit multiple profiles. Each response helps us hear more clearly, discern more faithfully, and remain rooted in the mission that has defined Villa Marie from the very beginning.
Thank you for supporting Villa Marie, for caring about families with special needs, and for helping ensure that this beautiful mission continues to grow in faith, love, and service.
