Monsignor David Cruz Recognized Lifetime Achievement Recipient

The Adelante Awards Recognition program was created by Los Hermanos Familia (LHF) to honor Hispanic men who have made outstanding contributions to their community and families. This year LHF recognized Monsignor David Cruz, a faith leader, in the Lifetime Achievement category for his lifetime commitment.

A native of Lubbock, David R. CA native of Lubbock, David R. Cruz was born on February 6, 1961, to Florentino and Margarita Cruz.

He started thinking about becoming a priest when he was about 16 or 17.

“Probably the genesis of the desire to want to become a priest, I would have to say goes back to my mom and dad,” he told the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal in 2011. “They were my two greatest models and teachers of living faith and being devoted to church and family. They were my inspiration.”

David Cruz entered the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1979. After earning a bachelor’s degree in history from the College of Santa Fe, he began studying to earn a theology degree at the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium.

David completed his formation for the priesthood at the American College of the Immaculate Conception in Leuven, Belgium.

“It seems that each time I have tried to minister to others, it is I who find strength in the people’s faith, love, concern, and hope,” David wrote, while studying –in Belgium – as a seminarian for the Diocese of Lubbock, in 1984.

He was ordained a deacon on August 3, 1985, and as a priest for the Diocese of Lubbock on July 12, 1986, at Christ the King Cathedral by Bishop Michael J. Sheehan, the first Bishop of Lubbock. Father David Cruz celebrated his first Mass at Our Lady of Grace Church in Lubbock on July 13, 1986.

Father David Cruz served the Diocese of Lubbock as associate pastor of Christ the King Cathedral in Lubbock, associate pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Plainview, Director of the Catholic Renewal Center, and the Cursillo Movement spiritual director.

He also served as the director of evangelization and the diocesan-wide RENEW process.

Father Cruz served as pastor of Saint Theresa Church in Lubbock (Carlisle), Saint Margaret Mary Church and Our Lady of Guadalupe Churches in Lamesa, Saint Peter Church in Olton, Saint Theresa Church in Hale Center, and as Dean of the Plainview Deanery.

From 1995 to 2000, Father Cruz was “on loan” to the Archdiocese of San Antonio where he served as Rector of Assumption Seminary.

On July 1, 2001, Father David was appointed as pastor of Our Lady of Grace Parish in Lubbock, and in July 2009, he took on more responsibilities when he was appointed Spiritual Director of the Cursillo Movement in the Diocese of Lubbock.

Later that year, in November 2009, he was bestowed with the title “Monsignor,” a title of distinction given by the pope to certain Roman Catholic priests nominated by their bishop in recognition of their service to the church.

On December 19, 2014, Bishop Plácido Rodríguez, CMF, thenBishop of Lubbock, appointed Monsignor David Cruz as the founding pastor of the newest Catholic community in Lubbock, which was effective July 1, 2015.

Since 2015, Monsignor Cruz has served the Saint John the Baptist Catholic Parish— first in a storefront church building just passed 98th Street on Indiana Avenue. He – in collaboration with his flock— managed the new community and would manage building the first structure for the church at 108th Street and Indiana Avenue here in Lubbock.

With Bishop Robert Coerver, the third Bishop of Lubbock, Monsignor Cruz, and parishioners of Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church broke ground on June 10, 2018, for the newest parish to be built in Lubbock.

The Saint John the Baptist

Catholic Church Community dedicated its new 12,400-squarefoot parish building on August 29, 2019.

In December 2020, Monsignor David was appointed by Bishop Coerver as Chancellor for the Diocese of Lubbock while continuing duties as Vicar General – a role appointed by Bishop Coerver in July 2017.

As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other church after the diocesan bishop or his equivalent in canon law.

Monsignor David Cruz continues to serve as Pastor of Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church and prepares to celebrate 37 years as a priest in July 2023. Congratulations from Latino Lubbock Magazine!

Calling Class of 2023

JULY GRAD ISSUE Submit grad photo along with grad’s name and high school. College grads include name, college, major, and degree. Submit by June 18th, FREE. After the 19th, cost is $25. (No CELL PHONE PHOTOS). Submit online at: www.latinolubbock.net/submit-graduate-info

Education/ Educación

Education & Scholarship Updates

SCHOLARSHIP INFO ONLINE Fastweb.com -

This website claims to be the most complete source of local, national, and college-specific scholarships on the net. It lists thousands of scholarships. When you sign up, you can get email updates when new scholarships become available. Good and free resource.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS 11807 SCHOLARSHIP (10) $1,000 awards for incoming college freshmen to be used for the 2022 school year. Get your scholarship application by calling the church office at (806) 763-0710. The deadline is July 15th.

Two Frenship Seniors Earn Seal of Biliteracy

On May 9, two Frenship High School seniors were recognized for earning the Seal of Biliteracy. Students who have received the Seal of Biliteracy have studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages by high school graduation.

During a banquet in their honor, Frenship seniors William Corea Gomez and Jose Orozco Lopez were celebrated for their hard work and dedication that led to earning the Seal of Biliteracy, an accomplishment that was no easy task.

Both students have gone through the dual language program in elementary, middle school, and high school. As part of the requirements to earn the seal, they have taken academic courses in Spanish such as science and social studies.

Earning this seal means William and Jose are both bilingual and biliterate, a talent very few high school students have accomplished. Not only is this considered a huge award, but this Seal of Biliteracy will now open doors and provide more opportunities both academically and in their future careers. Congratulations, William and Jose from Latino Lubbock Magazine!

Summertime Reading, a Must for Latino Children

It’s summer, a time for kids to relax, visit friends, enjoy the great outdoors, and dive into an exciting, new book. Chances are many children will not read, and research shows children lose one to three months of learning every summer. Prevent this summer learning loss by getting your children excited about reading. Although summer is a time they can relax, reading can also help them unwind.

Visit the library. If your child doesn’t have a library card, summer is a great time to sign up. Take advantage of the free, child-friend- ly summer reading programs, as well as Los Hermanos Familia's Little Libraries and online library at www.loshermanosfamili.org!

When planning summer activities with children, remember to leave some time in their schedules for reading. Some convenient times may be before bedtime or over breakfast. Use books to break the boredom.

Without the regular school regimen, adults and kids need more activities to fill the hours. So read aloud, and be a storyteller, tell them about your familia and growing up. Combine summer activities with books, and let them know that reading is an important part of your life.

NATIONAL STUDENT NURSES' ASSOCIATION, Inc. (NSNA) Breakthrough To Nursing Scholarships For Ethnic Apply online at www.nsna.org

2023–24 FAFSA FORM AVAILABLE The new 2023–24 FAFSA form is here! Some states and schools have limited funds, so don’t delay! Additional forms might be required. Private and two-year institutions may have different deadlines. Check with your financial aid administrator. To begin your application, go to https:// studentaid.gov/.

FALLEN HEROES FUND Scholarship to assist with educational expenses of dependent survivors of service men and women and first responders who have died on active duty since September 11, 2001. Dependent survivors would include spouse, sons, and daughters (biological, adopted or step children). The scholarships are available as supplements to financial aid and survivor educational benefits. The applicant may be registered as a full or parttime student. Use the following link to apply: www.grantrequest.com/ SID_6007?SA=SNA&FID=35040

CHARLES A. & GRACE GUY SCHOLARSHIP for Students majoring in Journalism Office of the Dean, School of Mass Communications P.O. Box 43082, Lubbock, TX 79409-3082

COLLEGE BOARD Fund Finder is an online tool to help you locate scholarships, internships, grants, and loans that match your education level, talents, and background. Apply online at: bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search

COLLEGENET A convenient, speedy site which searches scholarships from categories such as ACT and SAT scores, GPA, etc. Apply online at: www.collegenet. com

CONGRESSIONAL HISPANIC CAUCUS INSTITUTE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM www.chci.org/scholarships/page/chci-scholarship-program

AAUW SCHOLARSHIP The Association of University Women Educational Foundation Apply at www.aauw.org

ADELANTE SCHOLARSHIPS www.adelantefund.org/#!scholarships/crij