Mary Help, Laredo

Mary Help of Christians School: Alumni Tidbits

Volume 3 l Semester News l Sept. 2020

Sr. Phuong Nguyen, FMA

Principal/Animator

Dear Alumni of MHCS,

As I begin my mission here at Mary Help, I have received so many blessings already. The Salesian welcome from the staff and families have made me feel very much at home. It is beautiful to witness the Family Spirit so alive here in Laredo! The school year is going exceptionally well with virtual learning even though we miss interacting with our young people. At this time, I would like to encourage all of you to be leaders of HOPE by “seeing” the reality through the lens of faith and to share messages of hope to your children, friends, and families. Please keep me in your prayers and be assured of our prayers for all of you!

Gratefully in Christ,

Sr. Phuong Nguyen, FMA

Farewell & Welcome

On Wednesday, August 26, Mary Help of Christians School hosted a special farewell/welcome parade for Sr. Vuong Do and Sr. Phuong Nguyen. Sr. Vuong will be leaving MHCS after nine beautiful years, and Sr. Phuong will now be taking her place as animator and principal of the school. Over 120 cars paraded through MHCS bringing flowers, gifts, and hand-written cards from the children expressing warm wishes and love to the Sisters. The MHCS family wishes Sr. Vuong all the best in her new mission and welcomes Sr. Phuong with a big, loving heart.

Coronavirus Rosary

The present crisis of COVID-19 has affected all of us and during this strange time, it is so important to remember that we can unite in prayer! As Padre Pio once said, “The Rosary is the ‘weapon’ for these times!

On March 13th of this year a group of 8 friends (a couple are MHCS alumni) who form a Novena group (they pray a monthly novena together) began praying the rosary daily. They vowed to continue praying the rosary daily until a vaccine or cure was found. Each friend began to invite family and friends to join in Praying the rosary with them daily. The group grew daily and soon they formed the Coronavirus Rosary Group chat on WhatsApp. The group now has more than 200 members and between 30-50 logon to the Zoom meeting to pray the rosary daily.

The group recently began the miraculous 54 day rosary novena.

To join the group, please go to https://chat.whatsapp.com/CziRf1lwFOtLJLExismZ4r.

Or text Susy Farias at 956-237-8061

† Remembering a Sister †

Sr. Olga Muñoz, FMA, born to a family of five children and native of Dolores, TX, died peacefully at the age of 94, August 23, 2019 at the Provincial House of the Salesian Sisters in San Antonio, TX. She is survived by numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives and her religious community, the Salesian Sisters.

Sr. Olga will be remembered by all those she joyfully served mainly in Laredo and San Antonio, TX, as well as in Austin and California. Some can testify that Sr. Olga’s teaching was competent, professional, and her rapport with administration, faculty and students was always not only professional, but very dedicated and loving. Her devotion to Jesus and Mary was life-giving for herself and for everyone who was blessed to have known her.or "only 7 remaining!"

You are invited to Friend a Sister!

Friending a Salesian Sister enables you to strengthen your faith journey while contributing to the vitality of the Sisters and their mission. Participants support the Sisters with a donation and the Sisters will be praying for them and are delighted to communicate via phone, email, or mail. Your monthly or annual gift particularly supports our retired and infirm Sisters who have offered their lives in loving service for God's children. Click on the button below to join today!

Yes, I would like to Friend a Sister

Where Are They Now?

Erica Peña attended Mary Help of Christians School. She graduated from United High School in 1993. She returned to Mary Help in 2000 as a Teacher Assistant. She sponsored the Twirl and Dance Team that earned various Championship awards. She also assisted the librarian with the Accelerated Reader program. She was then promoted to the Student Affair position in the Administration Office. Erica is known for her spontaneous attitude and always greeting students, faculty and parents with a huge smile helping everyone in a Salesian way. We have been blessed to have her as part of the Salesian family for the past 20 years. Erica is a proud wife and mother of three talented children.

F. Cullen Averill III attended Mary Help of Christians school from PK-4 to 8th grade, graduating in 1998 as Valedictorian of his class. He attended St. Augustine High School also graduating in 2002 as Valedictorian of his class, which he attributes to his academic roots at MHCS. He was accepted to numerous universities and chose to attend Stanford University in California. He graduated in 2006 and then returned to Texas to attend the University of Texas Medical School in Houston. After receiving his medical degree in 2011 in Emergency Medicine and completing his Residency Program in 2014, he came home to Laredo wanting to be closer to family and worked at Doctor’s Hospital. While in Laredo, he volunteered at MHCS in the Mission Advancement Office assisting in the writing and procurement of numerous grants.

He then moved to Palm Springs, California where he is currently working at the Veterans Administrations Hospital in Loma Linda as an Emergency Department Physician. He chose the VA because he wanted to honor his grandfather and namesake, Francis Cullen Averill, Sr. who fought in WWII. He loves his work with the VA because he says he enjoys giving back to veterans who have served our nation and is able to give them the care and time they deserve. He is the proud dad of his four-legged son, Rex and spends his free time volunteering for numerous organizations in the Cochella Valley.

Renee Marcela Hinojosa MDS, RDN, LD, CCHP is a proud alumni of Mary Help of Christians where she attended from 1988 – 1998. While at MHCS, Mrs.Hinojosa was very active in extracurricular activities that included cheerleading, dance, scouts, and student council. She was awarded the Sister Concha Alumni award upon graduating. Mrs. Hinojosa went on to attend John B. Alexander High School and continued in sports and other leadership roles but especially enjoyed cheerleading as the Bulldog Mascot.

At this point in her life, Mrs. Hinojosa still wanted to be a walrus trainer but her mom advised her to focus on another subject she loved, Science. Mrs. Hinojosa earned a BS in Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition, later earning a Master’s degree in Dietetic Studies from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. She completed her internships and earned her credentials as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and a Licensed Dietitian.

After a year of working in both clinical and food service management, she was offered a home at the Harris County Sheriff’s Office in Houston, Texas. This is the part where her mother wishes she would have stuck with the walruses. Sorry Mom. Mrs. Hinojosa started as the Director of Food & Nutrition Services responsible for assuring that 10,000 inmates received nutritionally sound meals three times a day. Today she is the Head of the Clinical Nutrition Services Department at the Harris County Sheriff’s Office - the first Registered Dietitian Nutritionist to initiate a clinical nutrition services department for a county jail. She is a member of the National Commission on Correctional Healthcare and a Certified Correctional Healthcare Professional.

Mrs. Hinojosa is a certified fitness instructor and is actively involved in musical theatre. In her community, Mrs. Hinojosa volunteers for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR), enjoys photography and is the Vice Chairman of Fundraising for the Llama and Alpaca Committee. In 2018, she was presented with the Spirit of the Volunteer award that was given to 30 volunteers among 33,000. Even though she hasn’t yet fulfilled her childhood dream of becoming a walrus trainer, she is happy with everything she is doing and is very grateful that Mary Help of Christians started her out on the right foot. She will forever treasure all the friends, memories, and lessons learned when she was there. She does NOT, however, miss any of the homework. Go Stallions!