Through Cathedral I’ve learned to take every opportunity as it comes, to not let a single moment be lost when productivity can be had; you cannot waste opportunity. I’d like to thank Brother Nick, our President, who during my Sophomore year asked me to address the student body, a task I had never done. Brother’s trust in me to speak, coupled with his belief that my words would resonate with my peers, made me cognizant of the leadership potential within me.

To my mother and great aunt who pushed me to attend Cathedral, thank you for encouraging me to maintain exceptional grades when we first explored the possibility of becoming Irishmen nearly four years ago. The scholarship I received to attend La Cate is as much yours as it is mine. Thank you for giving me the gift of brotherhood. Viva La Cate."

Frank Chacon 
Class of 2018

"My grandfather and uncle attended Cathedral, the first and second in our family to do so, but before graduating they were drafted into wars and their time at Cathedral came to an end. This upcoming May, decades after my family’s history at Cathedral began, our family will finally receive its first Cathedral diploma – a moment that will symbolize the amount of pride my family has in this school. 

Being able to recognize any student regardless of their year, that’s not something I’ll be able to replicate anywhere else – at least not in the magnitude that I can do so at Cathedral. Looking back on my time here, the fact that I know everyone in my school is something I’ll miss sincerely once I move on.

Cathedral leaves me with the lesson of always being prepared and to have strong faith despite any circumstances imposed on you. Cathedral has shown me that with God in your life you can accomplish anything but you also have to help yourself. Nothing will come to you unless you are your number one supporter. 

I will be most proud of my accomplishments, namely being recognized as a National Hispanic Scholar. I didn’t want to attend Cathedral but my parents, ever prescient, knew this would give me a better chance at a great life. Nearly four years later, with acceptance to six or seven schools already and notable scholarships at each, I doubt any of what I have accomplished would’ve come to fruition had I left Cathedral. I’m glad I stayed the course. It made a difference. 

During my time here I’ve had numerous people who have gone out of their way to encourage me such as Brother Nick, Chief Barajas, and Mr. Lujan. When I first visited Cathedral as a prospective student Brother Nick came up to me and told me I belonged here, that I had something in me synonymous with Cathedral; that moment engendered in me the belief that this place could be mine as well. Chief Barajas, during his time here, constantly reminded me of my aspirations to become a doctor and at the most opportune moments reinforced the notion that my goals were within grasp. Mr. Lujan, my Junior counselor, was always perceptive when it came to my school work and academics and never hesitated to call me into his office and brainstorm with me how I could improve myself and my work. This service of love is the norm not the exception at Cathedral, and while I may have known that the individual attention I received here is uncommon in other places it is now, towards the end, that I look back with great appreciation.

To anyone considering Cathedral, if you decide to become part of our brotherhood dedicate yourself to this school. Cathedral will prepare you for college but most importantly for life. What I’ve learned here I’ll take with me forever. La Cate was the best experience I could have asked for. If you invest in Cathedral, it will give you the same."

Thomas Chavez
Class of 2018

"Graduating from Cathedral will mean that I had competed and held my own against some of the brightest minds in El Paso. 

I am privileged to have been in parochial school throughout the duration of my education; when it came time to decide on a high school my parents were adamant in prioritizing religious formation and placing me in an environment where the people tasked with educating me would know me beyond my grades. Cathedral provided my family and me with an atmosphere where people knew my name, my interests, goals etc. It was evident that at Cathedral I mattered.

At Cathedral, diligence in one’s studies, being academically excellent, and at the top of the class aka “Top Dawg”, is respected by every student. It’s cool to be intelligent at Cathedral and what everyone hopes to be recognized as. But in addition to the reverence for academic success Cathedral instills in its students the importance of being a good man and to trust in God’s plan – everything will eventually play out.

My mother and father pushed me to attend Cathedral and despite my not wanting to attend Cathedral throughout the entirety of my Freshman year, my parents stayed the course because they knew this school was the right place for me. Now, in my Senior year, I cannot picture myself at a different school and am proud that come May I will be able to call myself a Cathedral graduate."

Manny Moreno
Class of 2018