Join us Saturday, November 15, for our largest event of the year—the Blue & Gray Gala, inspired by the Tipi Loschi Society, Pier Giorgio’s closest friends, whom he described as “few but good like macaroni.”
Enjoy an elegant evening rooted in the joyful fraternity of Pier Giorgio and his Tipi Loschi. Highlights include fine dining, exclusive auction items, and—most importantly—the true friendship of the Frassati Catholic community.
Scan the QR code to learn more and secure your tickets or sponsorship. Select sponsorships include advertising space in the next Frassati Catholic Magazine.
Dear Friends of Frassati Catholic,
We are thrilled to introduce the inaugural edition of our Frassati Catholic Magazine. This publication includes writing from students, faculty, and staff, and is one small way we can continue to share the good news of Frassati Catholic High School.
This first edition arrives at a remarkable moment in the life of our young institution one made even more meaningful as we celebrate the Jubilee Year in the Church and the upcoming canonization of our patron this September in Rome.
With each year of continued development and growth, the fruits of the Frassati Catholic community continue to appear in new and exceptional ways. As our students learn the truth of human dignity and the greatness of their call in Christ, they mature into young men and women who understand that holiness is possible for everyone and that life in Christ is the path to true happiness.
We hope you enjoy this publication, and are inspired by the ways the Holy Spirit is working with and in our community, both large and small.
Blessed Pier Giorgio, pray for us!
In Christ Sister John Paul, O.P. Principal
A Spirit of Radical Generosity
Our patron's incredible response to God's call
"He must have needed it more than I do."
That was the radical response of our patron, Blessed Pier Giorgio, following the theft of his bicycle. "Of course, he would say that" is likely the response from most of us reading this.
Pier Giorgio gave us vivid examples of radical generosity throughout his life: traveling third-class, selling the better seats to save money for the poor; giving his shoes to a needy child; writing a note on his deathbed to ensure a sick man received his medicine.
There is a sense in which, yes, of course these were the things that Pier Giorgio did. But the reality is that he did not take them as a matter of course, but
as God's personal and loving challenge. And his example extends that challenge to us...
...the challenge to love until it hurts.
This year, we invite you to reflect on Pier Giorgio's spirit of radical generosity as you consider your gift to the Frassati Fund. At Frassati Catholic, we exist to accompany young men and women on their path to holiness. We rely on the generosity of our community, and that generosity is paid back tenfold in its impact on the young people of our school.
Building a Culture of Vocations
How prayer, formation, and witness are inspiring the next generation at Frassati Catholic
By Tim Lienhard, Director of Enrollment, Marketing & Communications
Frassati Catholic exists to help make saints who glorify God through their life and work. From our founding, we have sought to form students who imitate Pier Giorgio: young men and women who walk in friendship with Jesus, follow when He calls them, and do His work in the world. In order to achieve this lofty vision, we approached building the culture of Frassati Catholic with intentionality. And today, it is so ingrained that those who visit can feel it from the moment they arrive on campus. They witness the joy of our community, where students laugh, engage in lively debates, support one another in the spiritual life, and freely engage in prayer.
A growing part of our school culture has been greater openness to vocational discernment.
We were helped in this when in the fall of 2023, Frassati Catholic became the inaugural recipient of an innovative grant from the Scanlan Foundation, Building a Culture of Vocations. The Scanlan Foundation, an early supporter of Frassati Catholic, recognizes the need to foster religious vocations and consecrated life, as well as promote the formation of holy families. The Scanlan grant provides three years of funding to expand opportunities for young men and women to discern their vocation. It has supported more retreats, guest speakers, discernment opportunities for those considering religious or consecrated life, Eucharistic processions, and other activities focused on spiritual growth. This grant allows us to be even more intentional about helping our students to explore God’s call in their lives, and to say yes when He calls.
Another step in building a culture of vocations came this past year, when a strategic priority for the school finally became reality—Frassati Catholic
welcomed a dedicated school chaplain, Father David Ramirez, the newly ordained parochial vicar of Prince of Peace Catholic Community. Thanks to the generosity of Father Tom Ponzini, pastor of Prince of Peace, Father David’s role as parochial vicar included dedicated ministry to the young men and women of Frassati Catholic.
In his first year on campus, Father David’s presence has been transformative. His joy for his vocation is infectious, and every moment he is on campus is spent offering the sacraments, spiritual direction, and providing guidance for the formation of our students, faculty, and staff—he is so busy serving, we’re not even sure if he eats lunch! Father David’s witness has quickly become an essential part of the Frassati Catholic experience.
This renewed focus on vocations is already bearing fruit among our alumni. With nine graduating classes, we are starting to see alumni choose the vocation of marriage, with a growing number of married alumni beginning holy families of their own, and others discerning the priesthood or religious life. We are particularly proud of Ian de Koster, who spent part of his high school career at Frassati Catholic, and who is entering his second year in the seminary for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.
This spring, we celebrated another “first” at Frassati Catholic: two members of the Class of
2025, Noah Astorga and Anthony McCracken, were accepted to the seminary for the archdiocese— our first graduates to take this step directly after high school. Their courage and openness to God’s call are a powerful witness to our community, but their choice was not made in a vacuum. Other members of their class and of our student body are actively discerning their vocations, and so while the announcement of their seminary acceptance was greeted with a joy-filled round of applause, these young men and their vocations seem natural to our students, because they are immersed in a culture where we take seriously the call to follow Jesus, wherever He goes.
The most powerful way to support our graduates as they discern and live out their vocations is through prayer. We invite you to add the students and alumni of Frassati Catholic to your daily intentions— that they may be open to God’s call, bold in their response, and faithful in their pursuit of holiness. In answering their vocations, may they become men and women of true freedom, joy, and lasting happiness.
L-R: Noah Astorga '25, Father David Ramirez, & Anthony McCracken '25
The Thrill of Victory
Spirit Week 2024 at Frassati Catholic
By Lily Mutschler ‘27
Every year, friend groups are temporarily split by the competitions of Spirit Week.
It is the most anticipated event of the school year, and the representatives and citizens in each city spend months preparing for this giant event. This beloved tradition began by looking at our patron, Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. He was known for being a bit of a prankster, but nevertheless, a true friend to all he encountered, not just his close friends. Seeing Pier Giorgio lead his friends and acquaintances to Christ through kindness, games, and service, allows Spirit Week to truly blossom. We play games and dress up, but we also attend adoration and collect diapers and wipes for Loving Choice. For this week in October, the school is brought together by a chance to compete but also a chance to grow closer to Christ.
At Frassati Catholic, every student is put into
a city when they are admitted to the school. Turin, Florence, Pollone, and Rome round out our cities, and each has a unique role to play in the city system. Each city is then broken down into houses separated boys and girls and given a patron saint. However for Spirit Week, the competitions are between the cities, not the houses. The preparation for Spirit Week begins almost immediately. Within Spirit Week there are many events, including Olympic Day, the Spirit Dance, the costume competitions, and the Talent Showcase. Each is beloved in their own right, but each requires planning to ensure a city’s best path to victory.
The costume competitions and the Talent Showcase take place at the beginning of the week. The Talent Showcase got a major, but popular, upgrade this year. Instead of individual acts, each house was tasked with writing a skit, having to fit under a list of criteria. The skits of each house brought many laughs and showed off the many talents of our student body. “I loved the Talent Showcase,” Ella Odom ‘27 said. “It allowed so many people to show off their talents and let us see what we are capable
of.” This fun change to a Spirit Week classic is set to become a popular tradition.
During the week, students are instructed to bring in pinto beans, diapers, and wipes. Pinto beans and diapers add points, and wipes are placed on other cities tables to subtract points. Although this is a competition, it is also a way to give to the community around us. The diapers and wipes help
support Loving Choice’s supply to gift to expectant families. Pinto beans go to the local food pantries. Also throughout the week, is the chance to go to adoration. In adoration, everyone is able to take a moment to breathe and talk to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. These special events remind the school community that Spirit Week isn’t all about the competitions, it’s also about the love of Christ in others.
On Friday, there is, of course, Olympic Day. There are several competitions: the cheer, small group competitions, and the big competitions in the gym. “The cheers are so empowering,” said Adelaide Miggins ‘25. “It’s so cool to see what each city thought of and brought to life.” Along with the cheer, everyone gets to show off their city spirit in different events throughout the day. The competitions get everyone loud and excited, and some cities form temporary alliances.
This all leads up to the Spirit Dance on Saturday. The standings are announced at the beginning, and for the following two hours, everyone pours their heart and soul into the line and couple dances. At the end of the night, the winning city is declared, and everyone wraps their arms around each other for "Country Roads". After a week of competition, we are reminded that Spirit Week is
meant to bring us together as a community. That’s the beauty of it. This year, for the first time in Frassati Catholic history, the city of Rome was crowned the winner of Spirit Week. After a storied history of just missing the mark in competitions, the citizens of Rome rejoiced in their victory, and the whole student body joined them as tears and cheers could be seen and heard from every city. No one could be angry for too long that their city wasn’t victorious. At the end of the dance, everyone leaves together, reminding everyone that Spirit Week is not meant to divide us; it’s meant to bring us together. We are united in our competition, just as we are united in the intercession of Pier Giorgio, and the love of Jesus.
Exploring Our Dominican Heritage
Pilgrimages to the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Motherhouse & In the Footsteps of Pier Giorgio Frassati in Italy
By Sister Elizabeth Marie, O.P., English Department Chair, Faculty
In the Gospel of John, Jesus tells us that He is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 4:16). Like many of the words of Scripture, these are very familiar, but this year at Frassati Catholic High School, we have had the opportunity to experience more deeply what it means to rely on Christ, the Way. The Latin word for “way” is “via” and a “viator” is a pilgrim, a traveler, and, in this year of Jubilee, during which Pope Francis asked us to become “Pilgrims of Hope,” we have been doing lots of pilgrimages! Traveling as pilgrims to World Youth Day has been a part of our school culture since 2016, but in this academic year, our students traveled to St. Cecilia Motherhouse in Nashville, TN, and various cities of Italy on our inaugural Pilgrimage In the Footsteps of Pier Giorgio Frassati.
We have wanted to take students to St. Cecilia Motherhouse for years, and because of the generosity of the Scanlan Foundation’s Vocations Grant, we were able to do so this year. On St. Nicholas’s Day this past December, Sister Mary Esther and I traveled with twenty young women from our junior and senior classes to the Motherhouse for the weekend. We were overjoyed that twenty of our girls chose to attend–some were discerning a possible religious vocation, some just wanted a prayerful weekend, but all of them came open to the Holy Spirit and had a grace-filled, joyful weekend. The ladies had a thorough experience of life as a Dominican Sister of St. Cecilia, including Mass, Divine Office, playing sports outside, making Christmas cookies, doing chores, and so much more. During free time outside, they enjoyed walking (and rolling) down the hills of the Motherhouse property and visiting the cemetery where our sisters have been buried since our Congregation’s founding in 1860. They even had an evening of dancing with the Sisters–our
girls taught the Sisters some line dances and square dances they know, and the Sisters did the same.
In speaking of their experience of work, prayer, silence, and fun, the girls commented on the freedom and peace they experienced. In a way that we didn’t expect, their experience at the Motherhouse helped them to better understand and appreciate the unique culture of Frassati Catholic.
As Elizabeth LeCompte ’25 explained, “We’re Dominican! Everything we experience at our school comes from this place.” The appreciation was mutual as so many of the Sisters commented on the beautiful spirit of prayer and fun that our girls brought to everything they did–from keeping silence while cleaning to singing Broadway music at the top of their lungs during free time. Senior Bailey Carney commented that she “learned the importance of living the faith in the daily, ordinary ways and the value of praying throughout the day. It was overall such a beautiful, life-changing trip.” Summing up her experience, Brynn Broussard ’25
explained: “The culture and environment of the Motherhouse brought a comfort and warmness I have never felt before. From hearing the angelic singing of the Sisters in Mass to playing tennis (and losing terribly) with some of them, my time at the Motherhouse was one of reflection and excitement. So while at the moment it does not seem God is
calling me to become a Sister, He instead revealed to me some of the kindest, loving, and most spirited women I have ever met as examples of how to be the light of Christ.” We know that this trip is still bearing fruit in these young ladies’ lives and look forward to our next visit to the Motherhouse!
During spring break, twenty-eight of our upperclassmen joined a small group of faculty and staff and Father Joseph Paul Albin, O.P. on a pilgrimage to the places important in the life of Pier Giorgio. In this whirlwind tour, pilgrims visited Pier Giorgio’s summer home in Pollone, had Mass in the mountains he climbed, prayed at his tomb in Turin, experienced the art and culture he loved in Florence, and served the poor he treasured while in Rome. Along the way, we prayed at the tombs of many other saints, including Bl. Fra Angelico, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Sebastian, St. Cecilia, St. John Paul II, and of course, St. Peter himself. After passing through the Holy Door of St. Peter’s, we were able to have Mass at the Altar of the Chair of St. Peter, with our students serving as lectors. As the students reflected on this experience, they kept commenting on how they experienced the providence of God. God showed His personal care
for each of us in the small things–like lost items found in answer to prayer and gelato arriving at just the right moment–and in the bigger things, including, most dramatically, many of us running into Pier Giorgio’s niece, Mrs. Wanda Gawronska, while visiting a church in Trastevere. Cecilia Kloesel ’26 commented on a providential encounter she had with her patron saint, St. Cecilia: “Just our small group was in the crypt of St. Cecilia when Sister asked us if we wanted to sing. It didn’t even seem like a question since we immediately grabbed our books to pick out which songs to sing. Singing these songs was one of the most surreal moments in my life. As people started to come down after us they all stopped and listened to us sing. I could not stop smiling afterwards!” Junior Anthony Williams explained how close he felt to Pier Giorgio while serving the poor in Rome: “There was one man in particular who was so joyful and so interested in taking the time to talk with us. This reminded me of how Pier Giorgio encountered Christ while
serving the poor.” We are so grateful to have begun this new tradition, which, in the words of Abby Womack ’25, “helped students understand the living everyday faith of Blessed Pier Giorgio.”
While in Florence, several of us visited the former monastery turned museum called San Marco, which is filled with frescoes by Blessed Fra Angelico. In one of them, Christ is pictured as a pilgrim, being welcomed by two Dominican friars. It’s a striking image. Christ is the Way, the door that leads us to the Truth, Beauty, and Goodness for which we were created. However, he doesn’t ask us to walk through this door or travel this road alone. Instead, He took a very long trip, coming as a pilgrim to this earth in order to suffer, die, and rise from the dead for us, so that no part of our journey has to be faced alone. He is with us in all the moments of our lives as we journey to heaven. Through their pilgrimages this year, we are so grateful that our students had the chance to walk with Him.
A Campus Transformed
From cow pastures to our future: campus expansion reshapes the face of the school
By Kailey McCollum, Director of Giving
It’s an exciting time at Frassati Catholic High School. The good news of our mission is spreading, our student body is growing, and our campus continues to expand to meet the needs of our vibrant community.
Over the past four years, we’ve completed several major projects that have transformed our facilities. The Home Field Advantage Capital Campaign raised $3.1M for the construction of St. Michael the Archangel Field, featuring bleachers, lighting, a signature Frassati blue track, and a community area. We also installed Villa Ametis, a six-classroom facility complete with physics lab, testing room, and college counseling center.
In late 2024, we began installation of the Aquinas Library—named in honor of our Dominican brother and the Angelic Doctor, St. Thomas Aquinas. This new space was fully funded without a community fundraising appeal, allowing donor support to remain focused on tuition assistance through the Frassati Fund.
That same year, our Blue & Gray Gala raised over $160,000 for a much-needed chapel expansion. Daily Mass had regularly reached capacity, and our original chapel space couldn’t accommodate the growing student population and their desire to participate in the sacraments. The renovated chapel will seat 90 (up from 40), includes two confessionals and extends into the former Room 110—more than doubling its original capacity.
With these campus improvements we turn to the future and to the most ambitious project since the Student Life Building: the construction of a new 20,000-square-foot academic facility.
In 2022, we launched a five-year strategic plan with a target enrollment of 300 students by 2027. But thanks to the good news shared by our students, alumni, and families, we hit that goal four years early during the 2023-2024 academic year. With continued demand, we anticipate reaching our maximum current capacity of 370 students next school year.
While Villa Ametis and the Aquinas Library have temporarily relieved space pressure, we still lack the classroom and faculty space needed to support long-term growth. Without action, we risk turning away families seeking an authentically Catholic education.
Rendering of the chapel renovation and expansion, scheduled completion July 2025
In response, we launched the Building Saints Capital Campaign in February 2025. This $6 million initiative will fund a 20,000 sq. ft. academic building that includes seven classrooms, three science labs, a principal’s suite, and a conference room. Once complete, this facility will increase our student capacity to 450 students and provide much-needed space for faculty collaboration and student learning.
Building Saints is already one of the most successful campaigns in school history. Led by a $1 million naming gift from founding benefactors Ted and Carolyn Wandstrat, a $500,000 grant from the Cameron Foundation, and many other generous contributions, we have raised $3.6 million to date. It is a fantastic start clear evidence that our $6 million goal is within reach.
The next steps for the Building Saints Capital Campaign include continued fundraising, project planning, and entering the construction phase. At our current fundraising pace, the building is on track to break ground in late 2025 or early 2026, and the project has a 10-12 month construction timeline.
With designs completed, we are now focused
on value engineering, permitting, and securing final approval for groundbreaking each step critically dependent on the continued success of our fundraising.
We’ve enjoyed a remarkable start—raising more than half of our $6 million goal—and we will need continued support from our entire community to reach the finish line. With a multi-year pledge window open through December 2027, there are meaningful giving
opportunities at every level.
New to this project are giving levels that include naming rights. Donors who secure naming rights will name their space for a patron saint of their choice
in addition to family acknowledgment
e.g., St. Albert the Great Laboratory, generously given by the Smith Family. We have been so grateful to the many individuals and families who have already secured naming rights through their pledges to Building Saints, including naming for the building (the Saint Anthony of Padua Academic Building, generously given by Ted and Carolyn Wandstrat), major entrances, the principal’s suite and conference room, corridors, laboratories, and classrooms.
Naming opportunities remain, including:
• Piazza San Pier Giorgio $500K
• The South Entrance $250K
• Science Laboratories (2) $175K
• Classrooms (3) $100K
• Corridors (2) $50K
• Stairwell Landing $50K
Additionally, the Piazza San Pier Giorgio will feature donor benches ($25K ea.), which will be highlights of that space a piazza which serves as the permanent entry to our future campus quad.
Gifts at the plaque ($10K), paver, and brick levels (ranging from $1K-$5K) are also available and will be prominently displayed in a donor appreciation area in the Piazza. Every gift brings us closer to building the future of Catholic education in our region.
Be part of this historic moment help us expand our ability to serve young men and women seeking the path of true happiness. Scan the QR above, visit frassaticatholic.org/saints or contact us with questions at 832-616-3233 or k.mccollum@frassaticatholic.org.
Rendering of Piazza San Pier Giorgio, the portal to the future campus quad, home of the Pier Giorgio statue, donor benches, and donor appreciation area
Something to Pray About
A creative writing short story submission based on a painting of Saint Genevieve
By Manuel Del Valle '25, Man of the Beatitudes
After a great disaster, there is always some feeling of unity. Neighbors become closer to each other than ever before. This happened in my town. There was a fire in the middle of the night a week ago. It’s the rainy season, so the fire was like a painting. The sky was blurry and moving, and with the fire, light came through the rain in roaring splats. The people of the town were happy about the rain at first, but the storm didn’t help the fire.
I had to tell this story to my older sister because she was actually away when the fire broke out. She was looking for a sheep that had left the herd. All the others were left in the farm, while she went looking for the one. She got back home a few days later to find 10 people living in her room. Our house is the furthest from the main town, and it was the only house that the fire didn’t reach. Because of the rain, the whole town found a shelter in our home. We have never left this town; so whether we wanted it or not, we were now to live under the same roof as everyone we have known our whole lives. My sister arrived very early in the morning and met me with the sheep. I told her about everything that happened and warned her about everyone she would find in the house; there were 70 people under our house alone. She said a prayer and then walked into the house.
At about seven in the morning, she walked into her room, only to find a young man sleeping
in her bed along with the two boys who would sneak into our farm and ride our sheep. She went in the house at about seven in the morning, walked into her room and woke him up with the sound of the door opening. This was the first time she talked to him in three years. Three years ago was when he had broken their engagement.
“Good morning,” she said.
“Good morning” he said, forcing a smile on his sleepy face.
She paused for a bit. “ How are you?”
“Thank you for sharing your home with us,” his smile vanishing. “Your family has been a blessing for all of us.”
“I’m glad we could help.”
There was a curious air over the faces of these two youths. They had some feeling of familiarity that made each of them feel like they were sailors, who in the midst of a storm, had docked on the nearest island and woke in the morning to find that they had been there before, had been there long ago . . . which had since been merely a name on a map in the receding waters of memory’s tides.
“I admire your courage,” said the man. “Not a lot of people would do what you did. That was one lucky sheep.”
“It’s principle; it’s what we’ve been taught. My brother would have done it if I didn’t.”
“Well, you’re all very brave.”
”Thank you. I admire your bravery.” she said with a smirk. “Those are the two smelliest living things in this town, and you were sleeping right next to them.” Here, she pointed to the other boys on her bed, the ones that always rode our sheep.
He laughed and said: “I think I’m used to it.” She gave a weak laugh. Then they both looked around the room, then at each other and smiled.
“I’ll see you,” said my sister.
She walked out of the room and came outside again. She smelt the rain that was still in the grass; she smelt the rain that made the dirt squishy and would get our clothes dirty. She thought about the conversation, and felt a little nostalgic. It was a cloudy day, and everyone started to wake up.
Two-Fold Dieu
The winning submission from our first-ever sonnet contest
By Clare Henrich '26
O King divine of truest paradox, How could I try to fathom, all you are? You wore a crown as you hung on the stocks And now enthroned in Heav’n you bear the scar.
O smallest God who fits between my cells, Who even molds the atom’s inmost parts, Is large enough to flick the stars like bells And send them flying ’cross the sky like darts.
Our God is ever ancient ever new. It’s Him we see when looking all around. As, when the colors meet, just white shines through, So too in wheaten God, all being’s found.
Our names and praise for Him are far too small. He is who is, e’er animating all.
Felix the Falcon: An Origin Story
Students submitted entries in a competition to establish an origin story for Felix the Falcon, our beloved mascot
Story by Hannah de Koster '25 & Tatum Spurlin '25
Illustrations by Abigail Womack '25
Once upon a time warriors took over the peaceful city of Pollone. The people of Pollone turned grim and vicious because of it. Felix, a young falcon, stood by watching the city he grew up in turn to shambles. Even his parents were sick with the malice that seemed to lay like barbed wire over the town of Pollone. Felix, the only one who had yet to be overcome by the plague of hate, knew something had to be done. Desperate for answers Felix rapidly flew like a bullet in the wind to Turin to seek wise advice from his old friend, Pier Giorgio Frassati.
“You must bring the Theological Virtues back to our beloved town,” said Pier Giorgio.
the virtue of Hope. Then, you will fly through flames to enter the gates of Rome where the virtue of Charity resides.”
“But how do I know if I’ve found them?” asked Felix
“You mean THE Theological virtues? But those are figments of myth and legend,” Felix replied skeptically.
“I know they exist for I have a map that leads to them. You are in luck. The first Theological Virtue, Faith, is here in the depths of Turin. But the other two Theological Virtues are hidden much further. You must climb treacherous mountains to get to Florence where you will find
“That is for you to discover my dear friend,” replied Pier Giorgio, “However, you must be quick. The mark of hate will seal over the city in three days’ time. Go!”
Felix took the map and began his pilgrimage immediately. He flew out to the city of Turin, frantically searching for any signs of Faith. What was he supposed to look for? What does Faith look like?
He took a break on a fountain in a piazza before a beautiful church. Through the grand front doors, he
could see into the beautiful church where many people were praying. He noticed that the front of the church had the word “Faith” above the entrance. To Felix, that seemed like a sign, so he lingered around to see if there was an object that could be the Virtue. A woman saw Felix staring at the inscription above the door and said, “What you are looking for is not far, be careful or you will miss it.”
Suddenly, he saw something glimmer in the corner of his eye. On the fountain next to his claw was a white stone with a Crucifix engraved into it. He remembered a story that said the color of faith was white, so without hesitation, he reached for the stone. Under it was the word “faith” written in ancient letters.
“The Virtue!” Exclaimed Felix, “One down, two to go!”
Night had already come upon the city and Felix knew he couldn’t fly in the dark, so he rested until the next day when he took off for Florence.
Pier Giorgio said Felix would have to climb treacherous mountains to get to Florence and he was right. Not long after leaving Turin, Felix came upon gigantic mountains that were too foggy to fly over. He would have to climb to the top. After hours of trekking through the snowy
mountains, he finally reached the top where he could see Florence in the distance. He flew as fast as his wings could take him. He entered the city right when the sun started going down. He did not have time to sleep, he only had two days left to find the last two Virtues and get them back to his beloved people.
Felix remembered the legend of the Theological Virtues saying that the Virtue of Hope was like an anchor, so he searched the city for any signs of an anchor. He flew past a fountain shaped like an anchor and thought that was a good starting place to find the Virtue. He landed on the fountain and began searching for a stone like the one for Faith. There was another bird on the fountain, a strange-looking pigeon who seemed to be looking for someone. Felix asked him if he had heard of the Theological Virtues and if he knew where he might find Hope. The pigeon looked scared when Felix asked him this, and very quickly he said,
“The stones are only revealed to those who truly need them. If you are true in your intentions for finding them, they will make their way to you.”
The pigeon flew away quickly and did not turn back. What did he mean by this? Felix looked at the spot where the pigeon had been standing and saw a green circle that did not match the rest of the stone fountain. Felix got closer and saw it was a stone. He quickly grabbed it and noticed the weathered shape of an anchor on the stone. He flipped the stone around and surely on the other side the word Hope was engraved into it. He found it!
He was doing well on time so he decided to rest until the sun came up the next morning. At the crack of dawn, Felix took off towards Rome, in search of the final Virtue, Charity.
Everything seemed to be going perfectly until he remembered what Pier Giorgio had said about the entrance to Rome. He would need to fly through fire to get there!
more to this quest than just finding stones, he also had to learn the virtues if he was going to save his town. So, Felix flew to the ground and started helping people clean up the mess the fire made. Suddenly, Felix felt something hit his head. He looked around at what it was and saw a small red stone in his claws. Could it be, the last Virtue necessary to save the town of Pollone from evil? He picked it up and surely there was a heart engraved into the stone and on the back, the word “Charity” gleamed in the light. He did it! He had all three virtues!
Felix was filled with fear but then he remembered why he was on this journey and regained his courage. Suddenly, he started smelling smoke. He looked in the distance and saw that something up ahead was burning! It was the gate to enter Rome, it was on fire! He was about to start panicking, when he saw something he had not seen in a long time. The people of Rome came together to put out the fire in their beloved city. They set aside their differences and joined in love for each other to ensure everybody’s safety!
The people flooded out of their houses with buckets of water to pour on the fire until it eventually went out. Their Charity saved their city from ruin! Felix realized that there was
Felix finished helping the people around him but by the time he finished, the sun was starting to go down. He said goodbye to his new friends and took off for his home before sunrise when the third day would be over.
Felix made it to Pollone moments before the sun rose on the fourth day. Instantly when Felix entered his town there was a clear change in the air. The warriors disintegrated before his eyes and everybody was instantly happy again! The malice and evil were blown away!
Felix saved his town and they all lived Faithfully, Hopefully, and Charitably ever after.
Thank you to all our alumni who shared updates for the magazine! To be included in a future edition of the Frassati Catholic Magazine, just submit your update at frassaticatholic.org/classnotes or scan the QR
Pablo Boada '18
Hey all! Glad to be joining the ranks of another Frassati Lawyer with Kayla Auza '17. Very excited to announce that I have graduated from Baylor Law School and will start working as an in-house counsel for Fidelity National Financial in Jacksonville FL!
Some of my best memories at Frassati are honestly the simple ones—playing soccer after school, joking around with friends in the hallways, and the quiet moments in the chapel. There was something special about being surrounded by people who cared not just about grades, but about who you were becoming. Those friendships and that kind of environment stick with you.
Faith has always been a steady part of the journey. Pier Giorgio Frassati said, “Verso l’alto”—to the heights—and that stuck with me. It’s not about chasing success just to say you did it, but doing it with purpose. That mindset has helped me through law school, tough days, and even now in my career. It keeps things in perspective.
Andres & Rileigh Cruz '20
Hi! We are Rileigh and Andres Cruz (class of 2020). We just got married on March 8th, 2025 at St. Anthony of Padua Our Lady of
Angels Chapel. The bridal party included Edwin Rice ‘20, Maddie Wells ‘20, Rachel Demarais ‘20, and Grace Ann Fruge ‘20. We met at Frassati on the first day of freshman year in Social Dance class. We started dating while at Frassati and then we went to Baylor together. We now reside in Houston, where Rileigh works as a Mother Baby nurse and Andres works as an investment banker.
Ariana Dale '20
Hello everyone! I pray you are all doing well. Since my time at Frassati I graduated from Ave Maria University with a bachelor’s degree in Theology and Communications. I became a missionary with the organization FOCUS, which is a collegiate outreach-based organization, and I now serve at the University of Mary!
I completed my first year on mission just this past April and I am now headed into my second year serving at the University of Mary. I primarily serve the athletes at UMary and it has been a great gift to walk with five women this past year. I am excited to continue walking with them this upcoming year and see what the Lord has in store for all of us!
Here is a picture of my team of missionaries for this year, we just received
five new teammates!!
Here is a picture of me with 2 of the women I walk with, Allison (middle) and Sophie (right). In FOCUS we call the people we walk with in discipleship, disciples, so these are two of my disciples! In reality though, we are all just simply disciples of Christ, growing and walking together towards the Heavenly Kingdom. You will all be in my prayers Frassati Family!
Jonathan Davis '23
I'm currently a junior at Florida International University in Miami, Florida pursuing an honors degree in International Business with a minor in Logistics and Supply Chain Management. My internship with the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners recently got extended into a role with the International Trade Consortium (ITC). Through this new government position, I help facilitate global trade partnerships by welcoming high-level foreign delegations interested in pursuing business with Miami-Dade County.
Here's a picture of me with Irish Foreign Minister Darragh O'Brien.
I was recently inducted into the International Business Honor Society at FIU. Sending warm wishes to my Frassati Family, and Verso l'alto!
Claire Guion '20
I moved to Delaware and worked as a forensic scientist at the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory for a year. Recently, I was blessed with the opportunity to move back down south to Lafayette, Louisiana where I currently work as a DNA Analyst at the Acadiana Crime Lab.
When I think back to my time at Frassati, I am not only grateful for the great education I had received, but also for the firm faith foundation that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. During my first few years of being away from home, it became apparent that I needed my faith more than I realized. Frassati gave me the knowledge of how and why we believe what we believe, and I am so grateful for that foundation. I was able to stay true to my faith in college and even defend it when I needed to. Through all of this, I have been able to nurture the relationship with God that I had developed during my high school years into something deeper and more profound as I continue to grow older and experience more of life. I also credit Frassati for blessing me with the best and most intentional friends that I have kept in touch with all these years later and will keep for the rest of my life. I would not be who I am today without the lessons I learned from my time at FCHS and will continue to remember those four years fondly. Verso l’alto!
Mia Natoli '21
I am a member of the class of 2020 and you might also be familiar with my siblings, Matt ’19, Nate ’23, and Lucy who will be a junior this fall. In May of 2024, I graduated from the University of Mississippi with a B.S. in Forensic Chemistry and a minor in Biology. Right after graduation,
I just graduated this past May from Texas A&M University with my bachelor's in Animal Science. I have been accepted into the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine as part of the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine class of 2029 so proud to join the 4th ranked veterinary medicine program in the nation (7th in the world)!
Not only were my discipline, routines, and study habits shaped during my four years at Frassati, but so was my foundation in faith and personal relationship with God.
The four-year journey to getting accepted into vet school was neither easy nor familiar, but I feel incredibly blessed to have learned what it truly means to have faith in God’s plan—and now, I’m beginning to see it come to fruition in my life!
Haniel Neves '21
I'm from the class of '21 and a recent graduate of Trinity University in San Antonio, TX where I earned my Bachelor of Music in Organ Performance with studies in harpsichord under Dr. David Heller. I've been a member of the Trinitones male a capella ensemble, the Trinity Chamber Singers, and the Trinity Handbell Ensemble. I was also a featured accompanist for the Trinity Chamber Singers during their March 2023 Austin/Dallas tour, their 2023 CD "What a Wonderful World," and their summer 2024 London/Paris tour. At Trinity and abroad, I participated in organ masterclasses with many prestigious performers, including Nathan Laube (Eastman School of Music), Johann Vexo (Conservatoire de Strasbourg), Jean-Baptiste Robin (Palais de Versailles), and Olivier Latry (Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris).
I was awarded the Trinity Music Department’s 2024 Deborah Pavelka Scholarship for Summer Music Study, which allowed me to travel to Yale University and Indiana University in the summer of 2024. I was recently awarded first prize and the hymn playing excellence award for the undergraduate division in the 2025 William C. Bill Hall Organ Competition in San Antonio, and the Trinity John Ballard Prize for Pipe Organ Performance. Earlier this month, I was also the winner of the Trinity Concerto Competition, and will be returning to San Antonio in the Spring 2026 to perform with the orchestra. Beginning this fall, I will be studying for a Master of Music in Organ Performance at the Yale School of Music and the Yale Institute of Sacred Music.
Roman Payan '23
I’m excited to share that I’ve been accepted into the Professional Program in Accounting at Texas A&M University! I am now an official member of PPA Group 35, and will be able to become a CPA as early as December of 2027.
J.T. Payne '17
I'm J.T. Payne, and I graduated from Frassati in 2017, part of the first class to graduate from Frassati. Truly some amazing years that helped shape me to be the person I am today.
I currently work for the 12th Man Foundation as the Assistant Director of Development, Major Gifts. I have been in this role for 2 ½ years now, and oversee donors in the Houston/ BCS area.
I got engaged to my fiancée, Caroline, back in May 2024, and we are getting married July 12th at St. Mary’s in College Station. We plan to move to the Cypress/Bridgeland area, and attend Christ the Redeemer, so if there are any alums that attend CTR, would love to connect! We have a long hair mini-dachshund named Phoebe, who provides a lot of joy in our lives.
Blake Perry '19 I graduated from Frassati Catholic in 2019, and am now entering my final year of law school at Notre Dame.
This summer, I am interning at Kirkland & Ellis here in Houston. After graduating from law school, I will work as a judicial law clerk for two years—first for Judge Wes Hendrix on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, and then for Judge Don Willett on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. I plan to eventually return to Houston to practice law.
I continue to credit Frassati Catholic for giving me a strong foundation in study, friendship, and faith. I am thrilled to see the school continuing to grow—and continuing to form students on the path of the Beatitudes.
Indeed, I was recently talking with a friend who works for a Catholic travel agency. She helped coordinate the recent Frassati Catholic pilgrimage to Italy and told me that she was so impressed with the spirituality, maturity, and joy of the students on the trip. It is certainly a testament to the culture of life at Frassati Catholic when those outside the school recognize it!
Finally, I wanted to highlight an opportunity that may be of interest to Frassati Catholic graduates: the Ropke-Wojtyla Fellowship at Catholic University of America. This program is open to college seniors from any college or university,
and offers students the opportunity to study foundational texts in philosophy and political economy with excellent scholars and peers. I had a wonderful experience in the Fellowship.
Genevieve Roehl Ponce '21
During my time at Frassati, I was inspired by what I learned about my faith and felt called to start a family. Some of my fondest memories come from my time in Frassati's ethics and culture courses, and it made me realize that the best thing I could do to serve God is to try my best to raise saints for Him.
I met my husband during my senior year of high school, and we got married one year later. Fast forward to 2025, we have two beautiful children and we've started our own companies: AL-JO-GA Home Construction, and Genesis Creations LLC. Through AL-JO-GA we've been contracting both repair/construction services for residential and commercial spaces. Through Genesis Creations, we've started taking commissions for custom illustrations, and will be taking commissions for animated projects soon as well. Through all the ups and downs, struggles, and sleepless nights, we've been able to enjoy the life we've built, grateful for the blessings God has given us. As we work and pray, we're continuing to build towards self-sufficiency, and leaving a legacy.
I believe the best way Frassati Catholic prepared me for this chapter in my life was helping me realize that all the good we do in this life is for the ultimate end of serving Our Lord. No matter our work, passions and vocations, we seek to do all that we can to please Him.
Marinella Redulla '20
Hi y'all! I'm Marinella Redulla, and I graduated from Frassati in 2020. This past year, I served as a Catholic missionary with SPIRITUS Ministries based in Menasha, WI. 15 other young adult missionaries and I dedicated 9 months of our lives giving retreats and igniting the faith in Catholic youth. We gave about 160 retreats to over 5,000 Catholic youth throughout the state of Wisconsin. I witnessed so many students encounter Our Lord and experience healing! This upcoming August, I will be returning to Wisconsin to serve as a second year missionary with SPIRITUS Ministries. Please know that I am praying for you, and please keep me, the missionaries, and the students we serve in your prayers!
The next major blessing was an offer to work for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston in the Vocations Office. I worked directly under Fr. Richard McNeillie to promote vocations at the parish level. It was wonderful to get to know some of the seminarians and staff and volunteers at parishes who are fervently praying for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life. While working, I started dating and married my beloved husband, Garrett! We had a lovely wedding July 2023 at St. Anthony of Padua with a fun celebration after.
Johanna Kloesel Stephens '17
Howdy Frassati Family! It has been incredible to see how Frassati has grown over the last 12+ years…not to mention the growth of the area as well since the school opened in 2013 and nothing was around 99 and Kukendahl. I remember when we had to go to the Chickfil-A on 2920 to get an after school snack and when we went to the DQ after prom since there wasn’t anything else around!!
After graduating from Frassati Catholic in 2017, I moved to College Station to pursue a bachelor of science in Psychology from Texas A&M University (Whoop!). Earning a degree, graduating and receiving a ring from A&M had been a dream of mine since I was very young. I am grateful for the foundation Frassati gave me to build upon in college both academically and spiritually. I was very involved at St. Mary’s Catholic Center and later worked as an intern in the Development Office.
In 2024 I stepped down from working full time as we welcomed our beautiful baby girl, Everly! She is our greatest blessing yet as she brings so much joy to our lives. Everly is starting to say several words, runs around the house playing basketball and pretend kitchen, and absolutely loves being outside. She would prefer to spend the entire day outside playing in her kiddie pool and walking around the neighborhood if we would let her!
Gratefully, I still spend lots of time at Frassati! With summer weight training, and skills and drills, and practices and games during the season, I am thrilled to step foot on campus not only as a spectator for some sports but now as the coach for girls basketball! The ‘25-26 season will be my third season as head coach. It has been very special getting to know the girls and walk with them in their athletic careers. Last year, we made our way down to Brownsville for our first playoff game. It was a great experience and we look forward to many more playoff games in our future!
I also teach 3rd grade two days a week. This has been a huge blessing as I enjoy getting out of the house and having a side hustle :) Third
graders are so sweet. It truly is the best job to teach them and help them grown in their faith.
Garrett and I are active parishioners at St. Anthony of Padua in The Woodlands and are grateful to live not too far from the church. Christ blesses us so abundantly through others. I am grateful for our many blessings and hope you take a few minutes to thank God for the many blessings in your life too!
Emily Sturek '18
I was just selected to be one of 150 young adults from across the country to serve as a missionary with NET Ministries! I have spent the last several years serving the youth in the Archdiocese of GalvestonHouston, and last year I served as a missionary at a retreat center in south Texas. In August, I will fly to Minnesota for training, and then spend 10 months traveling the country in a van to pray with, disciple, and put on retreats for young people. I am so excited to help the loneliest generation find their hope in Jesus Christ! I really believe Frassati Catholic helped form me into the missionary I am today, and for that I am so grateful!
Hunter Thomas '18
organize my time properly. I am proud to be part of this ever-growing alumni network.
Trina Trevino '18
A lot has happened since graduating from Frassati. I received a B.S. in Criminal Justice, an M.S. in Victim Service Management, and now I am on my way to completing a M.S in Criminal Justice. After that I will be going for my PHD in criminal justice. I'm blessed to not have to work during this time and just focus on my beautiful baby girl, Alice, and husband. God has truly blessed me. I will say I will not be where I am today without the education I received from Frassati and will forever be thankful.
Evan Van Rider '23
I just finished my sophomore year at Wichita State University and am starting a summer internship at the National Institute for Aviation Research. Last summer, I did an internship with Pilatus Aircraft in Stans, Switzerland and was offered an opportunity to return when I graduate.
I’m Hunter Thomas, class of 2018. After graduating from Frassati, I enrolled at Sam Houston State University where I majored in Business Administration and received my PGA certification. Over my 4 years at Sam Houston, I interned at golf courses in New York, Tennessee, Idaho, and Texas. I am currently a Golf Professional at Driftwood Golf & Ranch Club in Austin, TX. I am grateful for my Frassati education because it taught me how to be responsible and how to
Levi Van Rider '20
I just wrapped up my first year on a journey to pursue my doctorate in Nuclear Physics and am teaching classes at The University of Kansas as well as working on research with a team focused on developing new technologies for the Large Hadron Collider at CERN in Switzerland. I just received a Fulbright Scholarship and will be moving to Prague in the fall to spend a year researching at the Czech Technical University.
