For thirty-five years, Belen students have participated in missionary activity in greatly impoverished areas of the Dominican Republic. In connection with other Jesuit priests of our Province (Antilles) who are serving in the Dominican Republic, we have engaged our students in service aimed at benefiting rural communities of different areas of that country.
Our students share life, faith and work with campesino communities who become our teachers in the faith, as well as friends in Christ.
Together with the local people, our students have participated in the construction of small schools, chapels and bridges. In addition, we have been able to set up medical missions to these places with the help of Belen parents who are physicians or nurses.
1981 - Janey- Built an Elderly Center 1982 - La Cejita- Built an Aqueduct 1983 - La Cejita- Finished the aqueduct 1984 - La Cejita- Built a school house 1985 - La Cejita- Added classroom and built latrines 1986 - La Guama- Built a chapel 1987 - El Aguacate- Built a school house 1988 - Los Naranjos- Built an aqueduct 1989 - Rincón Largo- Built a chapel and an aqueduct
1990 - Jumunuco- Built an aqueduct – Established a Makeshift Clinic 1991- Loma de los Ríos- Built an Aqueduct – Established a Makeshift Clinic 1992- Jamamú- Built a Bridge – Established a Makeshift Clinic 1993 - Yaque Arriba- Built a Bridge – Established a Makeshift Clinic 1994 - Yaque Arriba- Built Roads – Established a Makeshift Clinic 1995 - Yaque Arriba- Built an Aqueduct – Established a Makeshift Clinic 1996 - Yaque Arriba- Built Roads – Established a Makeshift Clinic 1997 - Janey- Provided Electricity - Established a Makeshift Clinic 1998 - Bambú- Built a School – Established a Makeshift Clinic 1999 - San Rafael del Yuma- Built a Fence for an Orphanage
2000 - Los Arroyos- Built a Bridge – Established a Makeshift Clinic 2001 - La Piragua- Built a Bridge – Established a Makeshift Clinic 2002 - La Piragua- Built an Aqueduct – Established a Makeshift Clinic 2003 - Yarda- Built a Bridge – Established a Makeshift Clinic 2004 - Yaroa- Built an Aqueduct – Established a Makeshift Clinic 2004 - Monte Adentro- Build a chapel 2005 - Arroyo Caña- Built a Bridge – Established a Makeshift Clinic 2006 - Venú- Built a Bridge – Established a Makeshift Clinic 2007 - Sabaneta de Mata Grande- Built a Bridge – Established a Makeshift Clinic 2008 - Arroyo Blanco- Built a Bridge – Established a Makeshift Clinic 2009 - Pedro García- Built a Bridge – Established a Makeshift Clinic
2010 - Loma de Comedero- Built a Bridge – Established a Makeshift Clinic 2011 - Pescado Bobo- Built a Bridge – Established a Makeshift Clinic 2012 - San Felipe Abajo- Built a Bridge – Established a Makeshift Clinic 2013 - La Piragua- Built a Bridge – Established a Makeshift Clinic 2014 - Hoyo de Perez- Built a Bridge – Established a Makeshift Clinic 2015 - El Puerto- Built a Bridge – Established a Makeshift Clinic 2016 - Batey- Built a Bridge 2017 - La Estrancita - Built a Bridge 2018 - San Felipe Abajo - Built a Bridge – Established a Makeshift Clinic 2019 - Vaca Gorda - Built a Bridge – Established a Makeshift Clinic
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.