Alex Tellez accepted his first teaching job at the new Cristo Rey St. Viator College Preparatory High School in North Las Vegas, teaching Spanish. Naturally.
Fr. Corey Brost stays in touch with his former altar server, Alex Tellez.
The role brings him back to his Viatorian roots. For starters, he grew up in St. Viator Parish in Chicago where he was an altar server starting in fifth grade. As it turns out, one of the Viatorians who trained him was Fr. Corey Brost, CSV, who served as an associate pastor there from 2006-2007.
When he reached high school, Alex became involved with the parish’s youth ministry and music ministry programs, working along side of Viatorian Associate Hector Obregon-Luna.
His involvement would lead Alex to attend the Viatorian Youth Congress — four times — including two as a delegate, one as a young adult leader and one year as a musician helping with the daily liturgies. Attending the Congress kept in touch with Fr. Brost, who started VYC in 2010 and has returned each year to say Mass and talk about social justice with delegates.
The annual summer congress aims to highlight the Viatorian mission with young people — who come from various Viatorian parishes and schools — and give them ways to bring that mission and commitment to social justice back to their own communities.
Alex Tellez is among the founding faculty of Cristo Rey St. Viator.
Alex, right, with Viatorians who attended the dedication or Cristo Rey St. Viator, including L-R: Associates Paul Hartz, Susana Tellez, Rosy Hartz, Fr. Daniel Hall, and Associates Romeo and Deborah Perez.
In Alex’s case, his relationships with Viatorians not only shaped him but played a role in his career path. He now is working alongside Viatorians in their newest school, teaching young people of limited economic means to become men and women of faith, purpose and service.
“The Viatorian mission given to us by Fr. Querbes is being lived out every day here at Cristo Rey St. Viator,” Alex says. “The school is doing what Fr. Querbes set out to do: bring education to those who do not have access to it otherwise as well as provide education through faith and service. It’s education with hard work and respect.
“We as teachers step into Fr. Querbes’ shoes every day,” he adds, “and bring the Viatorian charism into the classroom.”