Our Lady of Lourdes (OLL) is an academic institution that has been educating students in the Queens Village community since 1934.

In September of 2013, Our Lady of Lourdes School reopened as Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Academy, continuing the traditions of the school, with the vision of a viable Catholic education to continue for many years to come.

Donald Costello, a graduate of Our Lady of Lourdes School Class of ’66, continues to ensure the foundations that were afforded to him live on in the students of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Academy. OLL has enhanced his life and through his work as a member of the Board of Directors, the academy will promote the future of students today.

“I transferred into Our Lady of Lourdes School from public school in the fifth grade (1962),” Costello said. “I had been put onto a waiting list for several years until a seat was made available. At that time, we had nearly 60 students in our class, but the Sisters of St. Dominic and lay teachers gave us a quality education. Our parents sacrificed, as many do today, to ensure we received a quality education, and our teachers would give nothing but the best of themselves. My teachers extended their talents to assist me and other students with our academic weaknesses to guarantee our success in the future.

“After graduating from Our Lady of Lourdes, I went on to attend Rice High School and Queens College. I have since retired from the New York City Police Department with the rank of Lieutenant Commander, and have had the pleasure of heading two former mayors’ security detail. Many of my classmates have gone on to become doctors, lawyers, teachers, accountants, civil servants and news anchors. Much of this I attribute to the quality education I received from Our Lady of Lourdes.”

Though the Sisters of St. Dominic and St. Joseph no longer teach in the building, their values and traditions in education still live on today.

For more information on the continuing success of Our Lady of Lourdes, call 718-464-1480.