Last Thursday, Cristo Rey St. Viator College Preparatory High School celebrated Mass of the Holy Spirit to open the new school year.
Fr. Tom von Behren, CSV, founding president, celebrated the Mass and preached the homily. Following a common custom in Catholic schools, this first Mass invokes the Holy Spirit and God’s presence in the life of the school and the year ahead for the community.
Br. Carlos and student liturgical ministers help Fr. Tom prepare the altar for the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
The Holy Spirit is often felt as grace, and Fr. Tom encouraged everyone to give that grace to one another. “Let’s give each other a break,” Fr. Tom said. “We don’t know what happened last night or yesterday. Perhaps someone had a fight with their parents, had bad news brought home, had a death in the family – it could be almost anything. So, if someone is a little grumpy or not responding like we want them to respond, give them a break. It’s the loving thing to do, and it may be exactly what the other person needs.”
The reading from the Gospel of Matthew read in part, “the measure in which you measure will be measured back to you,” so Fr. Tom recommended generous giving of oneself. “Let’s be gracious and generous in our love, in our kindness to one another, in our forgiving one another. Let’s not give this much,” Fr. Tom said, holding up two fingers closely together. “Rather, let’s give this much,” he added, with arms extended wide.
Br. Carlos Flórez, CSV, Director of Catholic & Viatorian Identity, and Mrs. Rosie Rinaldo, Director of Campus Ministry, continue guiding the faith life of the school. This first Mass showcased the growing music ministry, as Mrs. Rinaldo directs an increasingly large choir of students. Additionally, science teacher Mr. Armando Acero, who accompanied students to the Viatorian Youth Congress this summer and sang with them in the VYC 2025 choir, joined in back on campus, too.
Mrs. Rinaldo teaches theology, leads campus ministry, and directs the choir at Mass.
Following Mass, the school honored many sophomores, juniors, and seniors in an academic awards ceremony. And now, as the school begins its 7th year, it’s becoming more and more common for the school to welcome alumni from its growing group of graduates to return for Masses, celebrations, and special events.
Along with Br. Carlos, Br. Rob Robertson, CSV, Associate Deborah Perez, and additional Viatorian partners, Fr. Tom was part of the school from day one. Now, with President Lisa Burkhead continuing to lead the school into her third year, Fr. Tom enjoys providing pastoral support. At the end of Mass, he offered a special blessing to those visiting alumni stopping in before they head off to their colleges and universities. “It was a wonderful way to start the school year: calling upon the Holy Spirit to be with us and empower us in all that we do,” Fr. Tom said.