Have you ever wondered how Benilde Hall got its name? Here’s a brief history behind our inspiring namesake and how our work today continues his legacy:

Saint Benilde was born in 1805 in a small village in south-central France. He taught in a network of elementary schools before being appointed Director of a brand-new school which opened in an isolated and underserved village.

For 20 years, Saint Benilde worked tirelessly as an educator and principal to the boys of the village and surrounding farms, many of whom came from underprivileged upbringings. Saint Benilde’s school offered night classes for adults and tutoring for less gifted students, transforming the school campus into a social and intellectual center which fostered a sense of growth and community.

Saint Benilde was known for his dedication to serving his students, his acceptance of people from all walks of life, and his unwavering belief in their ability to learn and grow. At his beatification, Pope Pius XII honored Saint Benilde for his many years of selfless labor and praised him for “doing common things in an uncommon way”.

Although Saint Benilde passed away over 150 years ago, his legacy lives on here at Benilde Hall. We take inspiration from Saint Benilde’s empathetic and ambitious approach and apply it to our work of helping homeless men and Veterans recover from mental health challenges and substance use disorder.

At Benilde Hall, we continue to do “common things in an uncommon way” by focusing on patience and acceptance when it comes to recovery. Our clients learn, grow, and heal in a community that prioritizes a balance between diligence and rest.

Examples of our commitment to these methods include our newly added Veteran wing for Veterans in our Grant and Per Diem program, which provides a space for clients to rest and heal within a private, comfortable room that ensures their mental and physical health is optimally cared for. Additionally, our Safe Haven program offers a low-demand, judgment-free environment where residents are provided with transitional housing and intensive case management to work on permanent housing goals.

Regardless of one’s religious beliefs, Saint Benilde’s work as a guide and advocate for personal growth enriches the history, frames the future, and inspires us daily at Benilde Hall.

Reference: https://www.lasalle.org/en/lasallian-holiness/saint-benildus-romancon/