Steps for Students marks 20th anniversary with party of thousands, celebration of Catholic education

The late Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza walks with students and their families at the 2006 Steps for Students race, which was held at St. Joseph Parish on Kane Street near downtown Houston. The annual race is celebrating its 20th anniversary on Feb. 8. (Herald file photo)

HOUSTON — Celebrating Steps for Students 5K Run/Walk in downtown Houston Feb. 8, thousands of registered runners will party with an even bigger 20th-anniversary post-race fun event.

Lively music, dancing mascots and an abundance of inflatables for the kids bring the energy, but the anniversary also looks at the historic dedication of bishops and other leaders who are supporting its biggest Catholic education fundraiser.

“It has been beautiful to get such tremendous support from the shepherds of our Archdiocese,” said Steps Co-chair Román Martínez, a graduate of Catholic schools who moved on to political office and became a successful business owner.

“Our [Daniel] Cardinal DiNardo has never missed a race, being there all morning, visiting with tailgating teams at the Catholic School Village booths, and blessing the runners at the starting line,” Martínez said. “But he is not alone.”

“I remember such tender memories of the love that Archbishop (Joseph) Fiorenza had for Steps; I know he was happy to see the race take place downtown at the new Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, which he worked so hard to build,” he said.

Over the 20 years, the race routes have happened at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Houston, then All Saints Catholic Church and the University of Houston campus, but has found its home route by the Co-Cathedral since 2013. It starts with a 7 a.m. Mass. Now, the Catholic School Village booths will be set up at the spacious Archbishop Fiorenza Plaza.

He said another big supporter was the late Bishop George A. Sheltz.

“As a native Houstonian, he was amazed at the growth and participation of so many schools and students every year. He was so excited to walk around and visit with students, teachers, parents, nuns and priests who had crossed the finish line supporting Catholic education in multiple ways,” Martínez said.

Mazie McCoy, Ed.D., Archdiocesan Catholic School superintendent, said the growth of the event over the years is because Steps for Students is not just for school communities.

“Steps is for the whole Catholic community to celebrate Catholic education,” she said.

She recalled the past 20 years participating in the event as a principal.

“As an inner-city school principal at the time, the very first Steps at St. Joseph parish started with 1,100 participants and now we’re up to thousands,” she said. “I worked closely with Principal David Guite (now deceased) in planning the event, and I remember the first awards being presented from the back of his pickup truck and now we have stages and an award named after David Guite for the school with the most spirit.”

Steps Co-chair Diana Dávila Martínez recalled some of her most touching memories of Steps over the years.

“I will never forget our first Steps Sunrise Mass when the race moved to the Co-Cathedral! It was such a beautiful gathering, all the pews filled with students, parents, teachers and donors wearing their Steps T-shirts and the altar was lined with so many school pastors all wearing their tennis shoes to race afterward,” she said.

“Every year, Steps for Students reminds me of the universality of our Church,” Martínez added. “Over its 20-year history, it has grown from a small group of runners to become the largest event of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and a top-tiered certified race in the city of Houston.”

To register or sponsor, www.steps4students.org.