Posted on 07/16/2007 12:57:20 PM PDT by markomalley
Naples, Jul 16, 2007 / 11:10 am (CNA).- The town of Ave Maria, built around the Catholic Ave Maria University, welcomed its first residents in May, and more families are expected to move in throughout the summer and fall.
Mike and Cecilia O’Shea, along with their four daughters, Maureen, 3, Erin, 7, Caitlin, 7, and Maggie, 5, were the first of 11,000 potential households to move into the new 5,000-acre town on May 30.
The O’Sheas purchased a two-story home in Pulte Homes’ Hampton Village community. It has five bedrooms and four bathrooms, along with a spacious backyard and two living rooms. The 225 homes planned for Hampton Village range in price from the mid-$300,000s to high-$400,000s.
The 40-year-old father of four girls said the lifestyle offered in Ave Maria, close to Naples, is exactly what he and his wife were seeking for their family, reported the Naples Daily News.
They want to send their children to a Catholic school with the highest standards in academics and discipline, and “a more traditional approach, rather than the modern view many Catholic schools teach now,” Mike was quoted as saying.
Their daughters’ school will likely be taught by the sisters who live next door. The town’s oratory, or parish church, is within walking distance. La Piazza, the European-inspired Town Center, surrounds the Oratory.
The O’Sheas moved to Ave Maria from Tampa. They lived about 10 miles from the nearest parish and felt cut off from the parish community. “This will benefit us, because we’ll be closer to volunteer our time and efforts to the school and church,” Mike was quoted as saying.
Mike’s office is also within walking distance. He works for Legatus, an organization of Catholic chief executive officers, which will open an office in Ave Maria in November. Cecilia, 40, is a stay-at-home mom.
The O’Sheas enjoy living in a town with limited access to activities and lifestyles that go against a Catholic lifestyle.
“Sometimes people ask us, ‘Why do you want to shelter yourself from the real world?’ But I don’t think we’re sheltering,” Mike was quoted as saying. “Naples is as ‘real world’ as anywhere else, and it’s right down the street.
“It’s important that children are not exposed to things out there that can really harm them. When they get older and grow up, I think they’ll have the same positive experiences as any other child,” he said.
An Ave Maria Townfest, open to the public, is planned for July 21 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., for those interested in walking the plaza, viewing home models or university buildings.
The town and Ave Maria University were founded by former Domino’s Pizza owner, turned Catholic philanthropist, Tom Monaghan.
My oldest son has suggested selling several of his brothers :-).
In other words, it’s going to be a rich folks’ place.
Snobby Christian Community
-let’s move!
burmese pythons.
Alligators.
I don’t know which is scarier, that or NY state taxes.
“Snob” implies an intention that I’m in no place to judge. However, it appears that people can’t afford to live there unless they’re very well off.
LOL. Bet they have some wicked bingo games in that town.
LOL!
Yes...both give you a suffucating sensation in the neck.
I think the difference between the Baptists and the Catholics is that we Catholics are allowed to dance, and drink at the legal age while Baptists are not.
Ha! If you sold some of them you wouldn’t have to buy the biggest house available. Hmmmm..... ;0)
Bill wants his own room; he currently shares with three younger brothers. Tom wants me to have twins!
We discussed having them build a cabin in the back yard, do electrical wiring and plumbing, and move out there. Can you believe it’s against the law here to have your children living in an outbuilding on your property?
I wonder if an apartment above our detached garage would count. We’ve got two bedrooms over there. We talked about moving older kids over there when they were teenagers. Of course, we’d have to have some sort of alarm system installed so they couldn’t sneak out. LOL!
Would it be considered an outbuilding if you “connected” it to the main house with a breezeway or something? I kind of like this idea!
I don't know; check your state's "child welfare" regs. I'm not sure we could get that past the homeowners' association.
Sounds like my kind of place. Except the state location ...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.