Seminarians to sprint for Catholic education at Steps for Students

Father TJ Dolce is among the several priests, deacons and seminarians who run during the annual race. (Photo by James Ramos/Herald)

HOUSTON — On Saturday mornings along the wooded trails of St. Mary’s Seminary off Houston’s Memorial Drive, about 20 young men studying to become priests clock several miles of running.

Seminarian Alex Burns, the school’s sports coordinator, is pumping up the recently formed running club to participate in the Steps for Students 5K Run/Walk to support Catholic education, set for Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, in downtown Houston by the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.

More than 4,000 Catholic school students and their families from 55 schools have registered so far in the upcoming Steps for Students, one of the largest fundraisers for the Archdiocese. These funds help with student tuition and Catholic schools’ equipment and supply needs. This year is even more special since the event is celebrating its 20th anniversary.

“We’re hoping to make it into an even higher-energy event complete with blasting music, decorated booths from the seminary and other Catholic schools with students excitedly running around,” Burns said.

A Texas A&M University graduate and former engineer, Burns said his love for Jesus deepened to the point where he left corporate America to join the seminary.
“The kids who run in Steps for Students are not that much younger than us seminarians, so they can see vocations as a real possibility,” he said. 

Burns has been encouraging members of the all-inclusive “R-J-W Club” (Run-Jog-Walk), including seminarians and some faculty members, to register at www.steps4students.org.

A fellow seminarian, Adrian Garcia, of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, added, “I’m excited to support our Catholic schools, an integral part in providing an education properly centered on the foundation of faith for the future generations of Christ’s Church.”

Father Matthew G. Súniga, St. Mary’s Seminary vice rector and coordinator of human formation, said the event helps both the seminarians as well as the younger Catholic school students.

“Our support of Steps for Students is a natural fit,” Father Súniga said. “The mission of St. Mary’s Seminary is to form parish priests to build up the Body of Christ. This means that seminarians should have an understanding and appreciation of the importance of Catholic schools in making the Lord Jesus known and loved among young people.”

Father Richard “Luke” Millette, serving on the Steps for Students organizing committee for years, encourages pastors and even churches with no Catholic schools to raise funds for the students.

As a regular runner, Father Millette also teaches what he preaches by strapping on his sneakers to participate annually in the Steps race, usually winning the timed run for his age category.

“Over the past few decades, the Church has continued to recognize the great value and importance that athletics plays in the development of the human person,” the priest said, explaining treating the body as a temple.

“As St. John Paul II once said when speaking to a gathering of athletes: ‘Sport, as you well know, is an activity that involves more than the movement of the body; it demands the use of intelligence and the disciplining of the will. It reveals, in other words, the wonderful structure of the human person created by God as a spiritual being, a unity of body and spirit,’” Father Millette said.

Plus, healthy competition among the schools always helps, said Catholic Schools Superintendent Mazie McCoy. The superintendent has participated in Steps for the entire past 20 years, first as a teacher, then as a principal and now as head of Catholic schools.

Other longtime supporters, Step co-chairs Roman and Diana Dávila Martínez, have seen the event evolve, soaring to more than 10,000 supporters and raising $1 million. Since the pandemic, when the event was canceled in person and was done virtually, it has not rebounded to such a high peak, but this coming year is looking good so far. 

The co-chairs recently attended one of the Catholic schools’ kick-off rallies at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School in Houston’s East End to encourage students and families to sign up. Students and teachers are competing for prizes to get their classes at 100% participation. They were ahead of raising funds, so far totaling $28,386, but the school was recently surpassed by St. Clare of Assisi Catholic School in Clear Lake, raising $31,790.

Roman Martínez asked the students at their rally why so many people help in supporting the race.

“One student said for Catholic education, another said because of the love of God. Finally, one little girl said, ‘You all do it because you love us!” he said and grinned.

To register or sponsor the event, go to www.steps4students.org.