It was a special all-school Mass on Monday at Cristo Rey St. Viator College Prep in Las Vegas. That’s because freshman Ramses Reza received his first communion from Fr. Thomas von Behren, CSV, President, in the setting of the all-school Mass.
Fr. Thomas von Behren with Ramses Reza and his mother.
His special moment came just two days after he made his first reconciliation at St. Viator Catholic Community, with Fr. Richard Rinn, CSV, Pastor.
Ramses prepared to receive these two sacraments with Br. Carlos Florez, CSV, who is a founding staff member of the school and now serves as Director of Catholic & Viatorian Identity and Mission at the school.
In all, three Viatorians in Las Vegas combined to offer Ramses these sacraments. In doing so, they carried out their mission as Viatorians, “to minister to and with young people in the Church, and remain committed to their faith development.”
Fr. von Behren with student altar servers
Preparing students to receive the sacraments comes naturally at Cristo Rey St. Viator. Its mission statement describes the school as a “Catholic learning community that educates young people of limited economic means to become men and women of faith, purpose and service.”
While the school’s rigorous, college preparatory curriculum — integrated with work study experience — prepares students to graduate and succeed in college, it is all grounded in the Viatorians’ commitment to build up communities where faith is lived, deepened and celebrated.