Our Lady of Belen Chapel Ceremony Scheduled
On the heels of the positive ruling from the Miami-Dade County Commission last week, I wanted to share with you our plans moving forward with the construction of the Our Lady of Belen Chapel. This project has been a long time coming and the time has finally arrived to build and make our dream a reality. Our Catholic, Jesuit identity needs to always be at the center of everything we do and this sacred space is a testament to that commitment.
Architect Jorge L. Hernandez ‘74 designed the chapel, which will house several works of art that will only enhance the significance of the building. Plans have been drawn, renderings have been made, permission has been granted, and permits have been issued. Now we are ready to break ground. The student body, faculty and staff, along with a small group of invited guests, will participate in the groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, May 29.
Our chaplain, Jesuit Father Christian Saenz ‘95 will perform the ritual that will bless the four corners where the chapel will be constructed. Sometime in the future, a more intricate and solemn ceremony will take place when the cornerstone will be blessed and placed. The cornerstone has a very important religious significance and great care is taken by the Church to mark such an occasion. The entire Belen community will be invited to witness this special ceremony.
All of this moves our community to the day when we can consecrate the chapel once construction is complete. This will be a joyous and historic occasion for the entire Belen community. The anticipated completion date is early 2021. The date for the Rite of Dedication will be announced with plenty of time so that as many people as possible can join us.
During the next two years, I ask for your prayers and patience. Construction is a tedious process, but I promise to keep you informed and up-to-date as we progress. This is an exciting time at Belen and I am grateful for your support. This is an extraordinary project and I count on your support to achieve our goal. This project is another more powerful way of emphasizing our identity as a Catholic, Jesuit school.
If you would like to contribute to the campus improvements please contact Phil Fernandez ’94 at ffernandez@belenjesuit.org or call him at 305-804-7683.
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.