By STEPHEN BEALE
Union Leader Correspondent
 

GOFFSTOWN - The Benedictine monks of St. Anselm College are donating $100,000 to a group of parents aiming to buy the Villa Augustina School from the Religious of Jesus and Mary and run it themselves.

The announcement yesterday comes one week after the Rev. Jonathan DeFelice, college president, promised to marshal the expertise and resources of the administration, faculty and even students, in helping to keep the combined elementary-middle school open past the summer.

"Recognizing that there were only some things the college could offer, I presented a proposal for financial support to my brother Benedictines," DeFelice said. "Their response to this need is incredibly generous and I, too, am grateful that they believe in the future of the Villa."

The grass-roots fundraising campaign to take over the school began in earnest almost two months ago, when the Religious of Jesus and Mary, which founded the school, said it would end its 90-year affiliation with the Villa Augustina in June due to financial difficulties.

The Villa Augustina Leadership Transition Team, comprised of parents, is heading up the effort to take over the school. The team called an open meeting of parents a week ago, securing their approval to draft a purchase and sale agreement with the religious order.

Fundraising so far has reached more than $245,000 as of last week, but most of that money is restricted to capital costs, such as repairs or renovations, and cannot be used to make the purchase, which will be $400,000. The Benedictine donation is the first significant contribution for that purpose.

"I'm completely overwhelmed by their generosity and support," said Carol Barrett, chair of the leadership team. "As I told Father Jonathan, the hand of God is part of this process. At every step where we have needed a miracle, we've gotten one. We thank him and his Benedictine brothers for this tremendous show of support..."

The donation is being made directly by the Benedictine monks of St. Anselm Abbey, not the college, according to DeFelice. The monks own and operate St. Anselm College, which was founded in 1889.

Reproduced by the Goffstown Residents Association.