Honoring 2019 Villa Marie Students

Thank you to everyone who supported Villa Marie in 2018.  In 2019, we are once again honoring Villa Marie helping them to check items off their wish list for the benefit of their students.  You can learn more at:
https://villamarieschool.com/wish-list/

About Villa Marie Home and School For Exceptional Children

Live On Location Interviews on May 16th at Villa Marie

About Villa Marie

Villa Marie Home and School for Exceptional Children serves qualifying students who are in need of special educational services.  Located between Lincoln and Waverly, Nebraska in the beautiful countryside it is a peaceful and inviting setting, providing a loving, homelike atmosphere for both day students and boarders.

Currently two North American Martyrs families have children who attend Villa Marie School.  The school, which opened in 1964, serves 23 children ages 7 to 18. Thirteen of those students live at the school during the week.  Many parishes have had at least one student attend Villa Marie since it’s inception making it a unique school all parishes can embrace and support.

Learn more at: http://www.villamarieschool.com/

Student Needs

On Villa Marie’s Wish List is to convert a storage area into an Art and Music room which will help all of their students.  Art and Music are important to helping students with special needs express themselves in a fun activity.

In addition, Villa Marie experienced a recent set back when a water pipe burst flooding their classrooms.  Learn more at http://journalstar.com/news/local/education/water-damage-prompts-catholic-school-for-special-needs-students-to/article_016cc469-a514-51b5-8f04-6a6893eaae4e.html

Villa Marie wins Special Olympics state in four overtimes

Recently Villa Marie achieved a new milestone in Special Olympics.  You can learn the full story at: http://www.lincolndiocese.org/news/diocesan-news/8947-villa-marie-wins-special-olympics-state-in-four-overtimes

History

God’s Providence 
God’s Providence inspired Fr. James Dawson to establish Villa Marie Home and School for special needs children in 1964.

As the country moved from an orphanage system to foster care, Fr. Dawson approached Bishop Casey asking that the orphanage, which was being built on the Catholic Center grounds, become a home and school for special needs children. Fr. Tuchek, Catholic Social Service Director, happily relinquished the orphanage building. With Fr. Tuchek’s blessing in hand, Bishop Casey granted his approval to start the Villa Marie Home and School for Exceptional Children.

With the upper level of the building already created into dorm rooms, dining area, kitchen, and chapel, things were at a stand-still as there were no funds to create classrooms in the lower level. In God’s Divine Providence Fr. Dawson had a visitor, his cousin, Winifred A. Dawson, who asked him where or to whom she could leave her inheritance. In the blink of an eye, Fr. Dawson informed her of the needs of Villa Marie. Two weeks later God called Winifred home to His kingdom and the dream to create classrooms became a reality. Villa Marie Home and School opened its doors on January 2, 1964.

From that time throughout the 53 years to the present a constant presence has been the service of the Marian Sisters. The Marian Sisters of the Diocese of Lincoln have staffed Villa Marie since the beginning serving as principals, teachers, housemothers, and paraprofessionals. In living out their charism,

“Doing God’s will joyfully in imitation of Mary and Saint Francis”, the Sisters provide quality instruction as well as 24 hour a day care to God’s most precious children.

Suggested Donations

• 5 K Race/ Walk – $10.00
• BBQ Meal – $10.00
• T-Shirt – $10.00
• Donate Online

To Participate

• Register and Donate Online
• NAM Parishioners can sign up in the back up church
• Contact Julie Crawford at 476-8088 or via email to julie-crawford@cdolinc.net

Photo Gallery