Gratitude, thank you Belen
A special assembly was held on December 4 to bid farewell to Brother Timothy Bishop n.S.J (a Jesuit novice of the UCS Province) after serving the Belen community for 6-weeks. During his time at the school, Brother Bishop shared his vocation story with students, faculty, and staff. He assisted on retreats and days of reflection, took part in community service activities and cheered on our Wolverines at games.
“It is hard to express how much you all have truly touched my heart,” said Brother Bishop. “In my short six weeks with you, you have shown me a lifetime's worth of generosity. You have managed to make me feel at home in a place I’ve never been to before. You secured in my soul a sense of intimacy and communion in a community that was foreign to me. You planted yourselves in my heart and it pains me to say goodbye to you.”
Brother Bishop was the third Jesuit novice to have served our community in the past year and a half. “In the fall of 2018, we welcomed Brother Bryan Torres who shared with so many of us the story of his journey to be a Jesuit novice, accompanied us on retreats and helped prepare us for the Sacrament of Reconciliation,” said Edmund F. Newborn II, D. Min, Director of Campus Ministry. “The following spring we welcomed Brother Hunter D’Armond who amazed us by combining the story of his vocation with his talent in the sleight of hand. He and Brother Mike gave us one of the most memorable ‘Ignite the Night’ programs in recent memory.”
Earlier this month, Brother Bishop joined forces with Brother Mike Martinez ‘09 to encourage students to donate to the Thanksgiving food drive. Their efforts led to the creation of the “Turkey Brothers” who shared the spirit of giving on social media, encouraged our students and brought many smiles to the campus. The labor of love ended fruitfully with over 500 meals provided to families in need.
“Despite being such a large community where a single individual could easily go unnoticed, I am confident in saying that there is not a single person present here that does not know who Brother Bishop is,” said Dr. Newborn. “He will always be welcomed as a member of the Belen family.”
“I am so pleased that Jesus called me here to Belen and gifted me with your friendship,” said Brother Bishop. “I am grateful for the opportunity to have discovered Him in each one of you. Thank you to the students for allowing me to join you on your journey. I’m truly proud to call you my brothers and for you to view me as your brother. Thank you to the faculty for so eagerly welcoming me to your mission as educators and making sure I had everything I needed. Thank you for witnessing a fervor for education and thank you to the staff for all you do behind the scenes to keep the school alive and running. To the maintenance and kitchen staff, thank you. You are the hardest laborers I know. In prayer, I ask Jesus that one day I can labor as hard for Him as you do for this school. Thank you also to Mr. Roca, Father Willie and Dr. Newborn for showing me by their example how to live out our Jesuit mission. I will carry the whole Belen community in my heart and often in my prayers.”
Brother Bishop will return to the novitiate for a month and then go to South America for three months. Please keep Brother Bishop in your prayers as he continues on his journey to the priesthood. Click here to view a photo album of the assembly.
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.