1. Contributions of Father Jose de Jesus and Maria Luisa Vega Written by Kass Bates

2. Table of Contents The Vegas come to McKinney………………….3 Starting the church and school………………4 Struggles of immigrants……………………………5 Hope for immigrants…….…………………………..6 Holy Family School today………………………….7 Vegas pass on……………………………………………….8 Vega Elementary School …………………………..9

3. The Vegas’ Time in McKinney Father Jose de Jesus and his wife Maria Luisa Vega came to McKinney in 1950. He was a Mexican priest who had been sent to McKinney by the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas.

4. Starting the Church and School He and his wife stated the Church of the Holy Family the first year they arrived. The following year, 1951, they started the Holy Family Day Care Center. The center was known as “La Escuelita” or Little School.

5. Struggles of the Immigrants Before they started the school, there was no place for Mexican immigrants to take their children for care while they worked long, hard hours in the surrounding fields. The children were often left at home with older siblings to look after them. Besides being left home along, the children were not learning how to speak English. The Vegas saw this need and started the Holy Family School.

6. Hope for the Immigrants The school was a wonderful gift to the Mexican immigrant families who lived in McKinney at that time. Here the children were cared for, learned to speak English, and learned many of the skills that helped them to be successful in school. Many of the children who attended this school have grown up to become successful doctors, lawyers, and political figures in the McKinney community.

7. Holy Family School Today The Vegas stayed in McKinney until 1959. Today the Holy Family School continues to offer a high quality childcare center and learning environment for children in Collin County.

8. The Vegas Pass On Father Vega passed away on October 23, 2006 in Phoenix, Arizona. His wife Maria Luisa Vega passed away in 2009.

9. Vega Elementary School Vega Elementary School in McKinney has been named in honor of their contributions to our community.