Building Bridges of Faith & Opportunity
(This article was initially published in The President's Report | 2024-2025. Click here to read the publication.)
In the fall of 2021, Belen Jesuit Preparatory School’s Admissions Office began what has since become a defining tradition rooted in connection, community, and faith. That year, the team made its very first outreach visit to St. Mary Cathedral Catholic School, under the leadership of Principal Julie Perdomo. What began as a simple admissions visit quickly evolved into a meaningful partnership between two institutions united by shared values and a commitment to Catholic education.
In the fall of 2021, Belen Jesuit Preparatory School’s Admissions Office began what has since become a defining tradition rooted in connection, community, and faith. That year, the team made its very first outreach visit to St. Mary Cathedral Catholic School, under the leadership of Principal Julie Perdomo. What began as a simple admissions visit quickly evolved into a meaningful partnership between two institutions united by shared values and a commitment to Catholic education.
From that first encounter, Belen and St. Mary’s worked together to strengthen the admissions pipeline between their communities. The goal was simple yet profound: to open doors of opportunity for St. Mary’s students and their families while deepening the sense of unity within Miami’s Catholic school network. Since that initial visit, St. Mary’s has held a special place in the Admissions calendar. It is now the first school Belen visits each fall, symbolizing both tradition and trust.
The results speak for themselves. Each year, students from St. Mary’s have not only applied to Belen but have been accepted and enrolled. The relationship has gone both ways: Belen’s team has returned year after year to St. Mary’s, while St. Mary’s students and faculty have visited Belen’s campus to experience the school’s community firsthand. In fact, when eighth graders from St. Mary’s visit Belen, the girls are invited to experience the STEAM program in the Roberto C. Goizueta Innovation Center while the boys tour the grounds.
When Mrs. Perdomo transitioned to St. Louis Covenant School, another important feeder school for Belen, leadership at St. Mary’s passed to Principal Jocelyn Zlatkin, who brought renewed energy to the partnership. Under her leadership, the relationship between the two schools deepened even further. One significant milestone was the decision to offer the Belen Entrance Exam directly at St. Mary’s, ensuring every interested eighth-grade student had access and opportunity without barriers.
Beyond admissions, collaboration between the schools has also extended to service and community life. Most recently, under the leadership of Aaron Johnson ’29 and the Diversity Advisory Panel, a new Easter-season community service initiative was launched, uniting students from both schools in acts of faith and celebration. Also, this academic year, a joint venture with students from Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart is debuting, offering online tutoring services. The ladies from Carrollton will assist students in grades 3-5, and Belen students will tutor middle school students.
Reflecting on the partnership, Principal Zlatkin captured its essence perfectly: “Belen is a part of our village.” That village, built on faith, mutual respect, and shared purpose, continues to grow stronger each year. The ongoing relationship between Belen Jesuit and St. Mary’s Cathedral School stands as a testament to what can happen when schools work together for the greater good and God’s Greater Glory.
At its core, this partnership embodies Belen’s Diversity Initiative, a cornerstone of the school’s mission to form “men for others” from all backgrounds and walks of life. What began as one visit has blossomed into a model of collaboration and community. It is a partnership that continues to give rise to new opportunities for the next generation of Wolverines.
BELEN JESUIT PREPARATORY SCHOOL
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: communications@belenjesuit.org
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: communications@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's 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 is situated on a 34-acre site in western Dade County, just minutes away from downtown Miami.