We are so excited to announce that Cristo Rey New York High School alumnus, Steven Gonzalez '10, has been ordained into the priesthood! He is the first CRNYHS alumnus to become a priest.
Father Steven N. Gonzalez was ordained as a priest for the Archdiocese of New York at St. Patrick's Cathedral on Saturday, May 29th by His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan. Fr. Gonzalez completed his formation for the priesthood at St. Joseph's Seminary in Dunwoodie, New York.
Fr. Gonzalez was the second of three brothers to attend CRNYHS. His older brother, Nestor, graduated in 2009 and his younger brother, Jonathan, graduated in 2019.
As a public school student until high school, Fr. Gonzalez credits Cristo Rey with introducing him to his Catholic Faith. Fr. Gonzalez remembers being moved to explore his faith in part by his English teacher, Sister Jude Biank, and her "witness of being a joyful and prayerful nun." During his time at CRNYHS, Fr. Gonzalez was very involved with Campus Ministry, participating in many retreats and service projects, and planning school Masses at St. Cecilia's Church. Fittingly, Fr. Gonzalez celebrated his first Mass as a priest alongside former CRNYHS president Rev. Joseph Parkes, SJ, who was president when Steven was a student.
Fr. Gonzalez says, "I think these experiences at Cristo Rey really laid the foundations of my faith and my calling to the priesthood, and would assist me later on in college at Fordham University, where I began to hear more clearly God's call for me to be a priest, and to take my faith seriously."
