Happy Thanksgiving Central Catholic Family,
I pray that all of you are planning to spend a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with family, love, laughter and of course, plenty of food, sporting events on television all day, and preparations for the approaching Advent & Christmas season. This holiday break has allowed me to spend much needed time with my family and be thankful for their health, love, and support every day.
This school year has seen so many wonderful accomplishments by our Central Catholic family. I’m thrilled to be in a position to celebrate all of these joyous moments and ensure Central Catholic continues to be successful for another 170 years.
Back to Back State Champs & A Home of Their Own
As we celebrate all of our athletic teams and their upcoming seasons, we bring special attention to our Cross Country team as they secured a rare team back-to-back State Championships with Nathan Morales ‘23 and Andrew Rivas ‘24 earning the top overall individual runner and 2nd place respectively in the TAPPS State 6A Meet. Also, during Homecoming Week, we officially celebrated our illustrious Cheer Program by dedicating the Lisa Ybarra Varsity Cheer Room as a “home of their own.”.
Honoring our JROTC Traditions and our Veterans
The Central Catholic JROTC program is stronger than ever with over 240 cadets in the Corps earning honors in every team event they enter. The JROTC family celebrated their Inaugural Family Day with cadets, parents, and Army Instructors coming together to celebrate fellowship and showcase to our potential grade school families what JROTC & Brotherhood has to offer. The annual Veteran’s Day Brigade Review was a wonderful tribute to our alumni and parent & grandparent veterans as well.
The Spirit of Mary is Alive
Although we lost an icon of the Marianists and Central Catholic in Bro. Harry Cornell this year, it allows us to be grateful for all the work our Marianist priests and brothers have done and continue to do for us. The Spirit of Mary is alive in our hearts and in our students that walk the halls. From Guardian Angels hosting blood, food, and clothes drives for those in need…to our Campus Ministry teams hosting amazing school masses and retreats for our young men…and to our lay teachers and staff that breathe the Marianist charism and live by example.
Finally, I am most grateful for our Central family coming together to lift each other up in prayer when it is most needed. Recently, Noah Cardenas ‘24 underwent major open heart surgery and has had a couple of setbacks along the way. His medical team is doing an amazing job but the prayers of the students, teachers, and all Central friends and family have made a huge difference for his spirit. I ask that you please keep Noah and his family in your prayers this Thanksgiving as he is on a long road to recovery and return to his brothers here on Central’s campus.
As we have so much to be grateful for, I am grateful for the love and support each of you provides. Your prayers, wisdom, generosity, and guidance have helped make Central Catholic thrive for generations and many more generations to come.
God Bless You and God Bless Our Central High!
Jason Longoria ‘96
President