For Xaverian Brothers High School faculty, staff, and administrators, there is an inherent belief that your most important role, larger than your title or pay grade, is your call to mission. This means responding to the call where you are needed, when you are needed. Mr. Christopher Vasta ’00, Xaverian’s new Chief Administrator for School Advancement, is a prime example of this. 

Education is a Vasta family tradition. “It’s in my veins,” Mr. Vasta says. “My parents are both educators. My mom has been a Catholic school educator forever and was an administrator herself, and my dad was a math teacher for more than 30 years at Milford High, with his own stint as an administrator.” The apple, as they say, did not fall far from the tree. 

After graduating from Xaverian himself in 2000, Mr. Vasta went on to Merrimack College where he earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics education. A fortuitous meetup with former principal Domenic Lalli, P ’98 at a Xaverian football game led to his returning home to the Hawks as a mathematics teacher in 2004. He dove back into life at Xaverian with a passion and eventually became a campus minister in addition to teaching. Mr. Vasta led Xaverian Global Encounter trips to Mexico, West Virginia, and Ecuador, assisted with SpiritHawk (a weekly faith-sharing program for students), coached freshman football, moderated local service trips, and began the Xaverian Pilgrimage to Italy program based on his own experience traveling to Italy, both when he was a student at Merrimack and as a volunteer with the Augustinians in San Gimignano. Growing in his role as a math teacher and campus minister, Mr. Vasta began a certificate program in pastoral ministry at Boston College and a master’s program at Bridgewater State University in educational leadership. When the dean of students position opened (now called the Assistant Principal for Student Life), he was ready. Mr. Vasta applied and he got the job, a position he held for seven years. 

“Mr. Lalli used to tell me that serving as dean of students really helps you to understand everything that goes into the daily life and rhythm of a school, and it makes you a stronger educational leader. That was probably the most challenging role of my career to date, but it was a time of incredible growth for me,” Mr. Vasta says. 

After the passing of former assistant principal, Brother Raymond Hoyt, C.F.X. ‘70 in 2017, there was a restructure of Xaverian’s administrative team that created an opening as the Assistant Principal for Academics, Grades 9-12. Mr. Vasta once again pivoted into a new role. By spring of 2020, Mr. Vasta had earned experience at Xaverian in teaching, coaching, pastoral counseling, disciplinary leadership, and academic leadership. It was time for the latest step in his service to the Xaverian mission. 

With Mr. Larry Furey, P ’21, former Assistant Headmaster for School Advancement, stepping down to invest more time into his consulting business, Partners in Mission, there was a new opening to lead the advancement team. After a robust external search process, Dr. Jacob Conca ’94, Head of School, approached Mr. Vasta to see if he would be interested in the role. With careful reflection, Mr. Vasta said, “Yes.” He formally began his new position as Chief Administrator for School Advancement on July 1, 2020, with Larry Furey aiding in the transition as a consultant. 

“Mr. Vasta is the right person for this position leading our philanthropic efforts,” says Dr. Conca. “Xaverian’s mission is rooted deep within him and he has lived it every day since he first walked in our doors in 1996. During his decades of affiliation with Xaverian, Mr. Vasta has made thousands of connections with the very constituents he will be serving in this new role. Philanthropy is all about building relationships, and I know Mr. Vasta will excel in this capacity.” 

In describing the function of the Chief Administrator for School Advancement, Mr. Vasta says, “First and foremost, I view it as my responsibility in this new position to support the mission of Xaverian by providing the necessary resources so that students can maximize their potential.” He adds that his work will build on the strength of the relationships built by Brother Daniel Skala, C.F.X., General Superior and former headmaster of Xaverian Brothers High School. 

“One thing that I’ve realized is that Brother Dan cultivated donors who trusted him and trusted the school. They weren’t looking for something in return,” he says. “Our donors just want to know that your heart is in the right place and that you’re going to do the best that you can for Xaverian. I am excited about working with Dr. Conca in this new role to keep building relationships for Xaverian, ensuring that we are able to continue developing strong ethical leaders, leaders who will go out into the world and make it a better place.”


This article first appeared in the Winter 2021 issue of the Xaverian Magazine.