By Ruth Ann Ruiz
The Post Newspaper Features Editor
For the past 20 years, Steps for Students 5K Run/Walk remains Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston’s largest fundraiser. This year’s highly anticipated event will be on Saturday, Feb. 14, bringing together over 8,500 participants, who will run for a variety of reasons that are close to the heart. Many students participate in support of the Catholic school they attend. Family members also sign up to show their love for a relative who is enrolled or employed at a Catholic school. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins can be seen running or walking together with their loved ones, displaying their school pride. Additionally, priests and religious sisters are among the runners, which makes for a joyful scene as they live out their vocation actively and healthily. Proud alumni of Catholic schools and those who stay engaged in the vast Houston running scene also keep up the pace at the annual timed, sanctioned race.
“Steps for Students is my favorite event. I’ve been blessed to participate since its beginning, and it has been inspiring to witness its tremendous growth,” Dr. Mazie S. McCoy, superintendent of Catholic Schools, said. “There is no other time when all our school communities, elementary and high school, gather in fellowship to celebrate Catholic education. I’m delighted that Archbishop Joe will be joining the celebration this year.”
The event begins at 7 a.m. with a Sunrise Mass at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston. Then the timed 5K race begins promptly at 8:30 a.m., with Most Rev. Joe S. Vásquez, who was installed as Archbishop of Galveston-Houston in March 2025, present at the start line, cheering the participants on as they race through the streets of downtown Houston. By 11 a.m., the post-race party in the Catholic School Village, located at the Fiorenza Plaza across the street from the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, will have energetic music, popular mascots from Houston sports teams and fun inflatables for kids to enjoy after the early morning exercise.
The annual race benefits the 55 Catholic schools in the Archdiocese. In 2025, over $900,000 was raised to fund the unique needs of each school and support the Archdiocesan Tuition Assistance Program (ATAP).
“Steps for Students contributes to tuition assistance to ensure that a Catholic education is accessible, affordable and available to all families,” Dr. Virginia Parras, assistant superintendent of Operational Vitality, said. “These efforts support the evangelizing mission of the Church.”
To learn more and register, visit www.steps4students.org.
