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Leonard's love of God helps his family grow in faith
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October 3, 2016
Central Catholic teacher Frances Lozano teaches Leonard Montes about God. The Central Catholic second grader's love of God has led his family to a deeper relationship to their Church, which has yielded them many blessings.
Mary Cottingham, South Texas Catholic
Leonard Montes leads Frances Lozano's second grade class in daily prayers, "Morning Offering" and "Act of Contrition." In the background are Jessica Allison and Richard Levi.
Mary Cottingham, South Texas Catholic
This story begins with a little boy's insatiable thirst for God, a thirst that led his parents to a true conversion of faith and spiritual unity as a family. The little boy’s name is Leonard and he is a student at Central Catholic Elementary School in Corpus Christi.Last year Michael and Lydia Montes were having financial difficulties. Michael was stressed out all the time and worried about how they were going to make ends meet. He realized they would have to take their two children, Leonard and Alexis, out of Central Catholic.
Leonard, a first grader at the time, loved learning about God. When his parents told him that he would probably have to go to public school the following school year they were stunned by his reaction.
"Nooo, I have to go on to the next grade with Ms. Frances (referring to his religion, teacher Frances Lozano). She answers all of my questions about God!"
His mother said she could see the sadness in his eyes. "He knows in public schools they don't pray," she said.
She was already at CCISD looking into enrolling her children in school when she emailed Central Catholic principal Larry Manschot about their decision. He gave her another choice; he told her about scholarship opportunities and that her children could stay at Central Catholic.
Manschot has noticed the culture of families is changing. "It used to be that parents brought children to Church, but now it is the children who are leading the families," he said.
The experience of the Montes family illustrates Manschot’s observation.
The Montes family from left Lydia, Alexis, Leonard and Michael have had a true conversion of faith due to their son Leonard's love of God.
Mary Cottingham, South Texas Catholic
Leonard has been at the school since he was three-years-old. He is now seven. By the time he finished Pre-K3 he insisted on saying grace at the table. When his sister Alexis started Pre-K2 he taught her how to say grace. He bombarded his teacher and parents with questions and he wanted to know why his parents were not married.
"He even asks our pastor questions at our local church–Our Lady of Guadalupe," his mother said. "I see the passion in his eyes. He has told me he's not done learning. Last year he was upset, because Ms. Frances could only teach him so far–this is the year he will learn about making his first confession and his first Communion."
"You never know who you're affecting," said Central Catholic Elementary teacher Frances Lozano. She has been teaching in Catholic schools in the Diocese of Corpus Christi for more than 50 years. She had no idea what kind of an impact she would have on the first grader.
"He took me by surprise. It made me feel wonderful," Lozano said.
Last year during one of her religion classes, Lozano and the children watched Pope Francis during his visit to Philadelphia. After he gave his talk on the family, Leonard started asking her all sorts of questions. "I didn't know his parents weren't married," she said. "It's just not something I ask."
Leonard has had a profound impact on his dad. Michael Montes explained that his own father is an atheist and had wanted him to grow up without religion. His mother had him baptized, but he never went to confession, received first Communion or confirmation. In fact his father removed him from Cathedral Catholic School when he was very young.
"I think the first spark for me was watching Leonard teach Alexis how to pray. I realized I needed to step-up and support my son. I needed to do what's right," Leonard's father said.
"Last year everything was going wrong," Michael Montes said. He came to the realization that he needed God in his life. He and his wife began attending RCIA classes at his parish and he was invited to attend a four-day Cursillo in Harlingen.
"I didn't know what I was getting into. I met a lot of new friends and by following-up and studying about Jesus and all the things that Catholics do, I can actually answer some of Leonard's questions and help him as he progresses. All that bad negativity is gone. I'm confident and it's not [the old] me. I'm not worried anymore," Michael Montes said.
Lydia Montes grew up Catholic. She made her first Communion and was confirmed, but her mother worked a lot and her father was disabled. When she was 18-years old her mother died.
"I had anger towards God. It wasn’t until I met my husband and had my children that I started leaning towards God again," she said.
Leonard was baptized when he was a year and a half. She wanted her children to be raised Catholic and searched for Godparents that were going to support them in their decisions towards religion and sending their kids to Catholic school.
“A friend told me about this school. Now it has given me a stronger faith and my love for my Christ and my Lord is number one and then my family. Just seeing the doors open now–it's an amazing thing. I wake up in the mornings blessed to have another day with my family and see what my day brings. I feel him watching over us, guiding us and we're not done learning," she said.
The Montes' were married at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in July. Two days after they married, doors started opening up for them. In August Lydia Montes was offered a job at the Nueces County Sheriff's Office. She is looking into attending the University of Incarnate Word. Michael Montes was offered a new position with more over-time hours working for the city.
As far as Leonard is concerned Central Catholic, "is amazing, because I learn about God," he said.
"He has a beard," Alexis chimed in. "He protects us."