St. Benedict Classical Academy

The fear of being "too Catholic." Once at an admissions open house I greeted a lady at the door who said that her grandchildren would be moving to the area and she was "scouting out schools" for them. I welcomed her and she went off with a group of other families for a tour. About ten minutes later I saw her leaving. I knew this wasn't enough time for the tour so I asked her how it went. She looked a little astounded and asked, "Just how Catholic is this school?" and then she left in a bit of a huff. It is one of my proudest moments. Just by walking through the school she knew we were about our mission. Catholic schools have two missions, to sanctify and to evangelize...and in that order, I think. We must see our primary mission as serving those devoutly Catholic families who are seeking our assistance in forming their children in virtue. We cannot take these families for granted, they are the lifeblood of our school. Their families create the culture of our school and keep it on mission. They must be the critical mass of families. If they cannot afford our school then we give them robust tuition assistance packages so that they can. This doesn't mean that we are not open to families who are not already devoutly Catholic. We have a tremendous opportunity to evangelize these families. However, we must be on guard to make sure that they are not the critical mass. We tell prospective families that for our school to be a good-fit it is important that they at least have an affection for the Catholic Church. Too often, desperate for enrollment numbers, our schools have taken anyone who wanted to enroll and could pay. Then somewhere along the way the "mission-lite" or, in most cases, the "mission-absent" families became the critical mass and school administrators became afraid to offend them. This led to us turning our schools upside down where the devoutly Catholic came to be looked upon with suspicion, at best, and disdain, at worst. To be members of our school there should be more required in the admissions process than just "want to." Families and schools should go through a process together to ensure that this is a good fit and will be a healthy partnership. There should be no question in any parent's mind what our mission is, to get our students to Heaven.

Happy Mardi Gras! If we want to build an authentic Catholic culture in our schools then that culture must permeate everything, including our calendars! We should celebrate feast days, solemnities, and the liturgical seasons. The life of the Church permeates everything...even our parties. Mardi Gras is an echo of a foregone time when Catholicism did permeate the secular culture. Mardi Gras and Ash Wednesday remind us, starkly, that the joy of the Resurrection and the painful sacrifice of Good Friday are both inherent to the Christian life. If we live the liturgical calendar then the rhythms of the seasons will inevitably impact our lives, homes, and schools. Our culture is so rich and our children have a birthright to it. Let's pass it on. Laissez les bons temps rouler! (Our oldest daughter decided to wear her Mardi Gras mask to school today and even baked a King Cake for her class!)

Madigan was privileged to be the Construction Manager for the beautiful new Primary School for St. Benedict Classical Academy?at their new campus in Natick, MA.? This successful ground-up construction project opened its doors to young learners in the fall of 2024. The elementary school, featuring a seamless blend of traditional architecture and modern amenities, has quickly become a beacon of classical education and community engagement. This project was particularly distinctive, designed in traditional architecture, and Madigan is proud to have contributed to it. The building's exterior features Duration siding and custom trim, a Ludowici clay tile roof, a playground, and a comprehensive landscaping package. Inside, the school includes classrooms, faculty offices, a library, a grand entrance hall, and an assembly hall, all adorned with custom wood trim. The design emphasizes student flow and experience, with abundant natural light throughout.?? ?? A guiding principle for the school during this project was that "Architecture is the first teacher of the student." The dedication to quality and attention to detail in every aspect of the construction process reflects the commitment to creating an educational environment that is both functional and inspiring. The use of classical design elements pays homage to timeless architectural principles while integrating modern amenities to support a 21st-century learning experience.? ?? We worked closely with the school, Harrison Design Associates (designer),?The Vertex Companies LLC (owners rep), and our skilled?subcontractors to build this successful project, which was thoughtfully designed with future on-campus growth in mind.?? ?? We hope you enjoy these photos from this beautiful school project. Be on the lookout for updated photos after we finish some landscaping and hardscaping additions when spring arrives! Learn more about the project: https://lnkd.in/eYYsEmFn

I enjoyed the opportunity to discuss the renaissance of Catholic liberal education with Charles Camosy. This is a moment of opportunity for Catholic education and we must seize it! h/t to Karen Celano for her contributions as well! St. Benedict Classical Academy Thomas W. Carroll Institute for Catholic Liberal Education

We were honored to have our new school building featured by Catholic News Agency. Beauty will save the world! St. Benedict Classical Academy Nicolas Leo Charbonneau Harrison Design Andrew Madigan F.W. Madigan Company, Inc.

What a blessing to begin Advent by welcoming our students to their beautiful new schoolhouse! St. Benedict Classical Academy Nicolas Leo Charbonneau Harrison Design Andrew Madigan F.W. Madigan Company, Inc. "Beauty is the privileged route of evangelization." -Bishop Robert Barron

We are so thrilled to be mentioned in this article. Our new building will be a great blessing to our students and community. It will be a building fitting of the education they receive. Architecture is the first teacher of the children. Deo gratias! Thank you, Jeremy Tate! St. Benedict Classical Academy https://lnkd.in/ejGys5aZ