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On the Cover: Photos from the Priory’s early years. Father Martin and parent volunteers are working on an historical photo display for the front lobby of Founder’s Hall.
From the Prior
“We who are the Portola Valley Benedictine community today have devoted a cumulative 175 years of service to (the founders’) goal.”
Warm Greetings! It gives us great plea- sure to share with you the accomplishments of the past year, the exciting possibilities of the coming year, and our special anniversary, the 40th birthday of our monastery in Portola Valley.
Your overwhelming support of
the Auction, the Annual Fund and
our many school events is the foun-
dation on which the school rests. In
particular, your support helped
make these accomplishments possi-
ble:
• Three new classrooms, with landscaping, will help us keep classessmall and accommodate new curricula; • We can say “yes” to important professional develop- ment opportunities for faculty and staff.
• We continue a successful academic outreach and financial assistance program.
•TheAssemblyHall hasnewcarpets,drapesand wiring for theatrical lights.
• In the coming months we will soundproof the gym, refurbish the boys locker room, and paint all the cam- pus buildings.
Without the dedication of Mary Jane Kelly, chair- person for the Annual Fund, and Carol Roberts, who chaired the auction, we could not have achieved these goals. We especially thank them for reaching out to all of you.
As we move into the new school year, it is a plea- sure to report that the hardware side of our technolo- gy improvement plan is nearly cpmplete and will quickly become an integral part of all our classroom and library activities, thanks to the generosity and support of the Hewlett family.
This fall, we begin a new community service cur- riculum, a more active student advisory program, a jazz ensemble in instrumental music, and use of new, advanced technology in our classrooms.
These exciting times are almost tranquil when
compared with the experiences of the seven monks who arrived in Portola Valley 40 years ago. All had seen their lives and their work torn apart (and in some cases their lives threatened) first by Nazis and then by the Communists in Hungary. Father Christopher’s comments to the first graduating class make it clear that the monks hoped, through their work here, to help build the American dream of a peaceful and diverse society
based on mutual respect.
We who are the Portola Valley Benedictine
Community today have devoted a cumulative 175 years of service to this goal. Father Egon was the first — the founding monk who purchased this land. Father Pius came one year later. Fathers Maurus and Martin arrived more than 20 years ago, Brother Thomas 15 years ago. Father William arrived from St. Anselm’s Abbey in New Hampshire in 1984 and Brother Edward joined us nearly a decade ago.
Most of us teaching today are not Hungarian. It is richly rewarding to all of us, however, to see the ties linking our roots, our growth, and our future. I am looking forward to traveling next month to St. Martin’sAbbeyatPannonhalma,Hungry, tocele- brate with them their 1,000th anniversary. This remarkable history of 40 years and 1,000 years gives us inspiration for dealing courageously and creative- ly with our challenges now.
As you browse through this Annual Report issue of Priorities, I hope you will take a moment to notice our students’ wonderful successes. We congratulate you for all you do to support them!
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