Opening Our Hearts
It isn’t a secret that when we ask for donations to help those in need, our community always responds with great generosity.
Throughout the month of October the call to help those affected by Hurricane Matthew in Haiti was sent as well as the need to raise funds to support our #BPinkWithAPurpose campaign which aims to raise funds for free mammograms.
Together we succeeded in our fundraising efforts and will be able to help many people in need. “A few weeks ago we launched a collection for our sister diocese in Haiti as part of our effort to assist in ‘Amor en Accion’s’ hurricane relief mission. With no way of knowing how this was going to unfold, we followed the great commission of ministry in mission for others and stepped out in faith as a community, believing that our faith is the substance of what we hope for, the evidence of what we do not see,” said Director of Campus Ministry Roberto Artiz.
With the outpouring of love and generosity a check was presented to Amor en Accion on October 27 for more than $9,000. “As always, Belen steps up with amazing solidarity in a moment of great need. Thank you to the Belen community,” said Amore en Accion Director Teresita Gonzalez.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Belen Jesuit continues its commitment to raising awareness and funds. Our theme this year is #BPinkwithapurpose and our community was challenged to participate in a number of activities throughout the month. “This year we debuted our “Fight for Faith Tree” which allowed a student/faculty member to place a butterfly prayer card on the tree located in the Garrido Family Plaza in honor or memory of someone that has or is battling breast cancer,” said Assistant Principal to the Middle School Mrs. Patricia Bustamante. “It was a great symbol of awareness and faith.”
Students also were able to wear special pink ties throughout October. Finally, the culmination of the campaign will be the Battle Like a Wolverine 5K which will be held on campus on Saturday, October 29 at 9 a.m. Celebrating its fourth year, the 5K has become a staple event in which people of all ages participate. Pre-registration has ended but anyone wishing to participate in the 5K can do so on race day for $25 per person. So far, we are on track to donate to our partners at the Miami Cancer Institute over $8,000.
The spirit of giving and generosity, however, doesn’t end in October. In fact, November will feature a new campaign called “B a giver” with the hope of raising food for families in need at Gesu, St. Dominic, and St. Michael Catholic Churches. “The goal is ensure many families have a truly blessed Thanksgiving feast,” said Community Service and Outreach Coordinator Francisco Vazquez. “Every grade level has been tasked with a list of items to bring. Boxes have been placed in each homeroom and some already have items in them.”
Middle school students are asked to bring rice, beans, canned ham, pancake mix, syrup, boxed spaghetti, Ragu sauce, sugar, and salt. High School students are asked to bring boxed mac and cheese, vegetable/canola oil, Vienna sausages, Cuban coffee, cereal, mashed potatoes, can tuna, and seasonings. All students are encouraged to donate $5 gift cards to Publix, Sedanos, and/or Winn Dixie. Click here to see the flyer.
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.