18
St. Monica Church commissions
Cristo Rey Jesuit College
Preparatory High School
kicks off city-wide recruitment,
awareness campaign
HOUSTON – Late last month, Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory
School launched its awareness and student recruitment campaign at
18 different parishes around the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.
As the first and only school in Houston to target students living
close to the federal poverty line and providing them a college prepara-
tory education, the campaign seeks to engage potential students and
their families in an application process that will offer admission to 100
freshmen – the founding class at the new Catholic Jesuit school.
The doors open to this first class in the Fall of 2009. Fr. TJ Martinez,
S.J., President of Cristo Rey Jesuit Prep, highlights that “it is a very
promising time for our new school and for Houston – a time when our
Catholic commitment to provide a hand up to the least fortunate in our
society becomes more than words; it becomes a reality.”
Small, safe, and coeducational, the school is designed to provide a
rigorous college preparatory education that is affordable for students
from low-income families. Students help to finance their education and
gain valuable experience through an innovative work-study program
that places students in entry-level positions in businesses throughout
Houston. A summer corporate training program gives students the
skills they need to be successful in the workplace.
To be eligible to attend the school, students must be 14 years of age
by Sept. 1, plan to attend college, have average grades and attendance,
and possess the maturity and work ethic necessary for success in the
workplace.
Eligible students would come from families with sufficient financial
need to qualify for the federal free and reduced lunch program.
Since last November, Dr. Cathy Thomas, Director of Academics and
Instruction, has been visiting local Catholic schools and different HISD
schools, including KIPP, YES, and other charter schools.
Dr. Thomas said, “We are extremely excited about the response that
we have received from our presentations. The phone lines have been
busy with parents inquiring about the school and asking for applica-
tions. Our volunteers will be present after all of the masses at the 18
parishes to answer any questions and hand out brochures. We are very
proud of the fact that we have brochures in Spanish and Vietnamese, as
our goal is that the make-up of the student body will reflect the demo-
graphics of the community,” she added.
Applications are available on the Cristo Rey Jesuit web site:
www.cristoreyhouston.org. †
ST. DOMINIC VILLAGE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY, has a new transportation van to take
residents to medical appointments within the Texas Medical Center. Admiring the new Ford Flex,
provided compliments of the St. Dominic Village Patron Corps, pictured are Elva Trahan and
Gladys Viltz, residents, LEFT; and Patron Corps and Board of Directors members Larry Massey,
Judith Raines, Bishop Joe S. Vasquez and Larry Thomson. St. Dominic Village offers independent
and assisted living as well as long term care in a secure and serene environment for people of all
faiths. The village is located at 2401 Holcombe Boulevard in Houston and is a member institution
of the Texas Medical Center.
FEBRUARY 6, 2009
youth council during Mass
HOUSTON – St. Monica Church,
celebrating 50 years of serving the
Acres Homes community in 2010,
commissioned its youth council
during a recent Youth Mass. St.
Monica is the home to several
youth initiatives, including Sports
Ministry, Altar Servers, Youth
Choir, Religious Education and
Knights of Peter Claver, Junior Di-
vision.
The goal of the council is to as-
sist the parish in providing initia-
tives that will bring youth closer Pictured, parish youth at St. Monica Church
to God, Church and community. pose after a special commissioning to its youth
The council consists of junior and council after a special Mass at the parish. The
high school students who attend goal of the council is to assist the parish in
public and private schools. providing initiatives that will bring youth closer
The chairperson of the youth to God, Church and community.
council is Lamar High School se-
nior Alicia Sebastien. The other
members of the council are Alyssa Adams (Eisenhower High School),
Taylar Adams (Eisenhower High School), Brianna Batiste (DeBakey
High School for Health Professions), Gionne Comeaux (Jack Yates High
School), Gerald Daigle (George Washington Carver High School), Leslie
DelasBour (St. Ambrose School), Jason Evans (Klein Forest High School),
Louie McWhirter (Klein High School), Jaytria Moss (Eisenhower High
School), Jonathan Moss (Seton Junior High), Ashleigh Rogers (Houston
Academy), Sean Roque (St. Pius X High School), Desmond Taylor (St. Pius
X High School) and Mea Ware (Eisenhower Ninth Grade School). †
Second Annual Rugby-for-a-Cause
Game to be held Feb. 13
HOUSTON – The Second Annual Rugby-for-a-Cause Game, featuring
St. Thomas High School versus St. Pius X High School, is scheduled for
Feb. 13.
The game will take place at St. Thomas’ Hotze Field, 4500 Memorial
Drive, at 7:30 p.m. The 9 p.m. banquet will be held in Cemo Auditorium.
Banquet packages include: The Scrum Package, $800 – reserved table of
eight guests, eight tickets to the game, eight chances in event prize draw-
ing and four event t-shirts; The Flanker Package, $400 – reserved table of
eight guests, eight tickets to the game, four chances in event prize draw-
ing and two event t-shirts; $100 individual ticket – one entry to the game,
two chances in event prize drawing and one event t-shirt; $50 individual
ticket – one entry to game, one chance in event prize drawing and $25
individual ticket to banquet, one entry to game.
To reserve a banquet package, please call 713.524.PINK (7465). Game
tickets can be purchased for $10 at the gate. †
Catholic Family Night with the
Houston Aeros, March 7
HOUSTON – On Saturday, March 7, join families from across the Arch-
diocese of Galveston-Houston at Catholic Family Night at the Aeros. The
puck drops at 7:35 p.m., but be there early to cheer on a very special guest
as he gives the invocation!
With $4 from every ticket sold through this special offer, you can enjoy
a great time on the ice knowing that you have made a difference in Catho-
lic education. To get your Catholic Family Night tickets, call Ravi Dubey
at (713) 361-7946 or email rdubey@aeros.com. †