A group of home schooling moms in Massachusetts banded together more than a decade ago with a vision: a classical Catholic school for their children centered on Christ.
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St. Benedict Classical Academy, which began in 2013 with 25 students, has since grown to more than 300 and until recently was operating out of a humble schoolhouse in Natick, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston.
But on Dec. 2, St. Benedict Classical Academy (SBCA) opened its new campus — a $20 million classical-inspired structure that the headmaster, Jay Boren, said is designed to “lift the hearts and minds of all who enter it to the contemplation of God.”
“Architecture is the first teacher of the student, so it was very important to our community that the new schoolhouse ‘teach’ the student the importance of what they do each day,” Boren told CNA.
The headmaster sees classical architecture as “the best-suited design to articulate the truths of God.”
The building was designed by architect Nic Charbonneau, director of the Sacred Architecture Studio, a group that for the last quarter-century has aimed to promote a return to the sacred in architecture by learning from the richness of ecclesiastical history.
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“As our architect, Nic Charbonneau says, ‘Classicism is a form of human art which is most deeply in touch with divinity and uncreated truths, through the lens of the human mind, as it seeks understanding of creation,’” Boren said.
“Beauty and truth are inseparable — they are two sides of the same face,” Boren explained. “As the students seek to know the truth in their studies it is only fitting that they do it in a building whose beauty turns their minds to God.”
Interior of St. Benedict Classical Academy in Natick, Massachusetts, on its opening day, Dec. 2, 2024. Credit: Adam Richins Photography
Growing through community
It’s no small effort to build a school that lifts the hearts of students and teachers to the contemplation of God.
But St. Benedict’s passionate community of families, alumni parents, and supporters around the world all came together to fund the undertaking.
“Both current community members as well as friends of SBCA spanning the globe have stepped up financially in truly humbling, awe-inspiring ways,” Boren said, noting that nearly 100% of parents have given to St. Benedict’s annual fund.
Families don’t just give their treasure to ensure their children attend St. Benedict’s — they also put in time, support, and gas money.
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Families commute from more than 40 towns to attend St. Benedict’s, sometimes coming across state lines.
When asked what contributed to the school’s growth over the years, Boren cited the enthusiasm of parents as well as the success of students and graduates.
(Story continues below)
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“It is very clear that the parents of MetroWest Boston are looking for a school focused on faith, intellect, and character and given how consistently SBCA has delivered on all those fronts for 12 years, we only see the interest continuing to rise,” he said.
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But it’s not only the mission — it’s also the people.
“From the moment it was conceived of, SBCA has been a school made up of people who see this place and the work it takes to bring it to fruition as the Lord’s work,” Boren said. “This means that there is little our community will not do to ensure its success — and with great joy to boot!”
First grade students attend class at St. Benedict Classical Academy on its opening day, Dec. 2, 2024. Credit: Adam Richins Photography.
Boren credits the hard work of parents early on in the school’s founding — a close involvement that continues today.
“In the early days, parents did herculean work to ensure SBCA’s success — authoring our very mission statement, recruiting board members and faculty and even filling in staffing gaps,” he continued. “They went so far as to support student supervision during lunch and recess to ensure faculty got the breaks and planning time they needed in the first three years we were open.”
Boren said that this “SBCA tradition” of strong support for faculty still continues today.
“No detail is too small,” he said, noting that on the first Friday of every month, families “bring in a parade of treats and snacks, our cherished ‘first Friday treats,’ just to give the whole team a little boost.”
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But that’s not the only SBCA tradition. Families also jump in to support teachers and staff when their families grow.
“Another beloved tradition is that each time a faculty member has a new baby, they are showered with meals for weeks,” Boren said.
Teachers and staff also go above and beyond.
“On their end of things, faculty reciprocate freely, going above and beyond to attend to their own students as well as frequently volunteering to coach, lead enrichment activities after school or just offering a helping hand to [a] student or parent that needs some extra encouragement,” Boren said.
Students walk through the hallway of St. Benedict Classical Academy on its opening day, Dec. 2, 2024. Credit: Adam Richins Photography
Building saints for heaven
At St. Benedict’s, the goal is to make saints and citizens.
When asked how Catholic identity is central to St. Benedict’s, Boren responded: “In short, we are here to build scholars for our republic and saints for heaven.”
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“Our most important, core goal, is to help each student advance on their journey to heaven while they are with us,” he continued. “All else flows from our joy in this work, all else is inspired by our total commitment to reaching this high bar, each day.”
SBCA keeps Christ at the center through a variety of practical ways, from weekly Mass to monthly adoration and confession, as well as daily theology classes. For younger students, SBCA offers Catechesis of the Good Shepherd — a Montessori-inspired theology program — for its early learning, pre-kindergarten program.
“Our primary identity as an institution is our Catholicism,” Boren explained. “It is with immense joy that we embrace and do not take for granted the freedom our educators and school leaders have to place Christ at the center and the teachings of his holy Church at the forefront of all teaching and learning at SBCA.”
This involves “a rhythm of prayer, work, play in the daily life of the school,” the headmaster said.
St. Benedict’s brings together academic rigor with its “primary identity” as a Catholic institution. As a classical K–8, it follows the grammar and logic phases of a classical education.
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“If we always begin with prayer, then invite full focus on calm, orderly work, and afterwards provide open-ended time for true play — not facilitated activities but true playtime outdoors, in nature, supervised but not micromanaged — we find that our broad array of students are able to reach for the high bar we set,” Boren said.
St. Benedict’s also prioritizes creating “a culture of vocations” through inviting religious and priests to visit and speak with students, Boren explained.
But every day, mission-oriented teachers “provide a living witness” of prayer and faith to students at St. Benedict’s.
Director of Operations Riley Casey greets students as they walk to class at St. Benedict Classical Academy on its opening day, Dec. 2, 2024. Credit: Adam Richins Photography
“Children notice the attitude and behaviors of the adults around them, and we have a team who are all aligned in striving ardently to be as close to God as possible,” Boren said.
Teachers and staff “constantly weave the teachings of Our Lord and his Church into our approach to forming our students’ characters and intellects,” Boren noted.
“In every academic subject, especially art and music, we are free to explore Christ’s role and influence on any given age, and incorporate the truth about God’s role in inspiring so many great thinkers, makers, and doers in every age,” Boren continued.
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Students work on an art project at St. Benedict Classical Academy on its opening day, Dec. 2, 2024. Credit: Adam Richins Photography
“This stocks our students’ memories and imaginations with living, breathing examples of the great adventure it is to seek and follow Christ!” Boren said.
Even as the curriculum, teachers, and staff are centered on Christ, the building itself is designed to influence students’ imaginations and raise them to Christ.
“We wanted a beautiful classical school that would articulate to the world through its beauty the important work going on in the classrooms,” Boren said.
“It stands as a testament to all who pass that we can still build beautiful things and the human search for the good, true, and beautiful never ends.”
Seventh and fourth graders in the courtyard at St. Benedict Classical Academy on opening day, Dec. 2, 2024. Credit: Adam Richins Photography
Kate Quiñones is a staff writer for Catholic News Agency and a fellow of the College Fix. She has been published by the Wall Street Journal, the Denver Catholic Register, and CatholicVote, and she graduated from Hillsdale College. She lives in Colorado with her husband.
Good morning! We’ve got snow on tap for today, which will linger most of the day and night across southeastern Massachusetts. We’ll dry out in the early evening for most of the rest of eastern Massachusetts, with north central Massachusetts drying out the quickest.
Snow will be widespread throughout the morning and into the early afternoon. As we get to the late afternoon, snow becomes more isolated over central Massachusetts but is still hanging around the coast, southeast Mass. and the Cape and islands.
Into the evening, the snow will become ocean-enhanced over southeast Mass. and the Cape/islands.
That’s where totals will be the highest.
4 to 6 inches of snow is expected there by late Sunday night.
For the rest of us, just a chance for a few inches.
After this storm it’s all about the cold wind. Monday’s lows will drop to the teens with highs in the mid 20s. But a biting wind will make it feel only like the negative single digits in the morning and the teens in the afternoon. Bundle up! At least the sun will be out.
Tuesday is looking mostly sunny and not windy. Lows will drop to the teens with highs in the low 30s. Wednesday, breezy again with a start in the 20s and afternoon temperatures mild in the low 40s. Thursday will be downright warm! We’ll hit the upper 40s with chances for rain in the evening. Friday we’ll reach the low 50s with chances of rain in the morning. Saturday looks dry, partly sunny with highs back to near normal in the mid 30s.
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FILE – A man is using a special electric saw to cut a granite counter in a residential kitchen in preparation for installing a new range top. Getty Images
A Massachusetts man has been diagnosed with a life-altering lung disease linked to popular kitchen countertops.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed this week that its first case of silicosis had been diagnosed in a Hispanic man in his 40s who, for the past 14 years, worked for stone countertop fabrication and installation companies.
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What is silicosis?
Big picture view:
Silicosis is a serious, incurable lung disease caused by inhalation of crystalline silica, which is found naturally in granite and other stones. Silicosis can become progressively disabling and sometimes prove fatal. It almost always results from work-related exposures.
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Dig deeper:
Silica dust particles become trapped in lung tissue, causing inflammation and scarring and reducing the lungs’ ability to take in oxygen, according to OSHA.
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Symptoms:
Symptoms of silicosis can include shortness of breath, cough and fatigue. Workers exposed to airborne crystalline silica also are at increased risk for lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and kidney disease.
What they’re saying:
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“Silicosis is a devastating, life-altering disease – and one that is also absolutely preventable,” said Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD. “Massachusetts employers in industries where workers are exposed to silica dust have a responsibility to protect their workforce, including from harmful airborne dust. No worker should have to suffer from a chronic and insidious lung disease or possibly die because of a preventable exposure at work.”
Tanning beds could triple melanoma risk, new study finds
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Countertop disease
Big picture view:
Crystalline silica commonly occurs in nature as the mineral quartz, and is found in granite, sandstone, quartzite, various other rocks and sand. Cutting, grinding, chipping, sanding, drilling and polishing these natural and manufactured stones can release various levels of crystalline silica dust particles that can be inhaled if proper protections aren’t in place.
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Dig deeper:
Engineered or manufactured stone, also commonly called quartz, is particularly problematic since it has more crystalline silica than natural stone.
By the numbers:
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For example, the average percent of crystalline silica in engineered stone is at least 90% in quartz and engineered stone, vs. a 10-45% makeup in granite, according to an OSHA hazard alert.
What you can do:
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Certain engineering controls, such as water spraying systems or remote-controlled tools, can be used to mitigate risk, as well as by wearing proper respiratory protection.
Silica cases in the U.S.
Big picture view:
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Most engineered stone workers with silicosis in the U.S. were exposed to silica at their jobs for over ten years, although some were exposed for less time.
The backstory:
The first reported case of silicosis in the U.S. associated with exposure to silica dust from engineered stone was identified in Texas in 2014, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Since then, other states have reported hundreds of cases, and dozens of deaths, particularly in California.
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Dig deeper:
In the U.S., most engineered stone workers with silicosis are relatively young, male, and Hispanic/Latino. This largely reflects the demographic composition of this industry’s workforce.
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In 2023, over half of workers in this industry were under 45 years old, nearly three-quarters were men, and more than 1 in 3 were Hispanic/Latino, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Source: Information in this article was taken from a Dec. 9, 2025, alert from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Background information was taken from OSHA. This story was reported from Detroit.
Outdoor dining is out, and igloo dining is officially in.
While winter makes it difficult for diners to enjoy meals outside, several restaurants across Massachusetts break out heated igloos to give guests a chance to still have an outdoor dining experience.
Here’s where you can get that experience for yourself.
206 North Spencer Road
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Black & White Grille has heated igloos for outdoor dining from now until the spring of 2026. The igloos are available daily for lunch and dinner. The igloos fit up to six people, and dining is limited to an hour and 45 minutes. At least two people are required to reserve an igloo, which also comes with a $30 deposit. Reservations can be made online via OpenTable or by calling the business at 508-885-5018.
2 Mercantile St.
Worcester’s first rooftop bar has heated igloos that offer views of downtown. The igloos fit up to six people and can be reserved for up to two hours. Each one costs $50 per party and is available from 4 to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Reservations, which are required, can be made via OpenTable or by calling The Mercantile at 774-389-5180.
2027 Massachusetts Ave.
From November to April, the Inn at Hastings Park in Lexington offers an igloo dining experience called the “INNgloo Wonderland.” The igloos fit up to six people and are available for lunch Monday through Friday, dinner Monday through Saturday, Saturday High Tea from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday Champagne Brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Each INNgloo features a faux fireplace heater, mini speaker and twinkly lights. It costs $120 to rent. Reservations can be made online or by calling the Inn at 781-301-6655.
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160 Merrimack St.
Take in views of the Merrimack River from Haverhill’s coastal Italian restaurant, BOSA Coastal Italian. Guests can order from BOSA’s full menu while hanging out in the heated igloos, decorated with LED lights and blankets. The igloos will be open until spring. The igloos fit 6 to 8 people and can be reserved Monday through Thursday from 4 to 10 p.m., Friday from 4 p.m. to midnight, Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Reservations can be made by calling BOSA at 978-641-3149.
70 Sleeper St.
Boston’s popular rooftop igloos and iceboxes are back at the Rooftop at The Envoy Hotel in Seaport. The igloos, which offer views of Boston’s harbor and skyline, can fit groups of up to six people. The heated igloos also come with blankets for extra warmth. Guests can try one of the rooftop’s seasonal cocktails, such as the Gin-gle Bell Hot Toddy or Winter Garden Spritz, as well. Reservations can be made online for two hours at a time. The phone number is 617-530-1538.
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2261 Dorchester Ave.
The Bowery Bar in Dorchester has three heated yurts on its private patio available in the winter. The yurts can be reserved for lunch Monday through Friday, for dinner any day of the week and for brunch on weekends. Depending on the experience, the yurts have a food and beverage minimum of $100, $150 or $200 for a two-hour booking. Reservations can be made online, and any changes should be made by calling The Bowery Bar at 617-698-2261.
973 Providence Highway
Mick Morgan’s in Sharon has eight igloos available during the winter. The restaurant does not take reservations, so all igloos are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The igloos can fit six people and have no time limit. People can call Mick Morgans at 781-806-0066 for more information.
260 W Water St.
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The igloos at Riverhouse Weir Village in Taunton have returned for the winter season, along with the restaurants’ popular Igloo Gingerbread Nights. The igloos fit up to eight people and cost $50 to reserve. Reservations must be made by calling the restaurant at 774-501-2003.
75 Ferry St.
For $5 a person, you can reserve an igloo at The Tipsy Toboggan in Fall River. The restaurant offers igloos for 5 to 8 people and an igloo cabin with tables for up to 4 people. The winter garden can be booked for brunch, lunch or dinner. Reservations last up to two hours and can be made online. The phone number is 508-567-0550.
Did we miss any? Please let us know at dcifarelli@masslive.com.
