Magis Thanksgiving
As I read Father Willie’s November 14 letter to our Belen community, the following phrase jumped out at me: “Men of mercy, men of compassion. These are the qualities with which we strive to raise our young men”.
On November 19 I was blessed to witness firsthand the results of our Belen Community’s efforts to help others. The Belen Alumni Association organized a luncheon at Gesu Catholic Church which fed two hundred senior citizens. After lunch, turkeys and grocery store gift cards were distributed so that they would also be able to enjoy their Thanksgiving dinner with loved ones or friends.
In the true spirit of our brotherhood, over forty Belen students representing the Key Club served meals to those senior citizens, set up the tables, and then cleaned a restored the basement of the church to its original state. What made this experience special wasn’t that they did this, it was the WAY they did it; with a smile on their face, showing generosity and patience at all times. They knew full well that the intent of this afternoon was to bring solace and happiness to the people they were serving. It wasn’t just about the meal it was the experience.
Many thanks to Mr. Waldo Toyos III '91 from the Knights of Columbus for donating the turkeys. Thanks to all of our Alumni who participated by being there, donating, and cheering us on especially to Johnny Calderin ‘92, Key Club moderator and teacher and Fr. Eduardo J. Alvarez, S.J. '63 at Gesu for allowing us to serve. Last but not least, thanks to the young men from Belen for their shining example of being Men for Others.
BELEN JESUIT PREPARATORY SCHOOL
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: webmaster@belenjesuit.org
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: webmaster@belenjesuit.org
Belen Jesuit Preparatory School was founded in 1854 in Havana, Cuba by Queen Isabel II of Spain. The task of educating students was assigned to the priests and brothers of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), whose teaching tradition is synonymous with academic excellence and spiritual discipline. In 1961, the new political regime of Cuba confiscated the School property and expelled the Jesuit faculty. The School was re-established in Miami the same year, and over the next decade, continued to grow. Today, Belen Jesuit sits on a 30-acre site in western Dade County, only minutes away from downtown Miami.