To the Band of Brothers: April 12, 2021
Good morning!
It seems like forever we have been out of school. I know none of you are complaining about that. I wouldn’t either. The Easter break was just as long as it always is, but for some reason, this one seemed longer. Either way, it’s good to be back. Now we start the final stretch of the academic year. Before you know it, exams and summer will be here.
Even though most of us probably had Belen off the radar these days of Easter, there was still a lot of activity happening on and off the campus. Permit me the opportunity to give some well-deserved shout-outs:
- The Belen Crew Team won the Sculling State Championship on Saturday in Sarasota. These guys not only have to practice off-campus at the lake, but they have to lug their boats practically every weekend up to Sarasota for their competitions. They work hard both on and off the water to be the best rowers not only in the state, but nationally. They have quietly and consistently done that, year in and year out. Great work!
- The Belen Chess Team made a great splash at the Second Gambit Scholastic Tournament. They were able to rack up a great number of points winning match after match. After watching “The Queen’s Gambit” (and if you haven’t watched it, I highly recommend it), my admiration has grown for those who can move those chess pieces with such determination and precision. Kudos to Jonathan Gomez ’21 who is the brainchild behind the tournament.
- The Wolverine baseball team won the All-Catholic Tournament. It was a tough competition, the toughest being the last game against Columbus. The game was live-streamed on our YouTube channel and, at one point, had over 2000 viewers. The pitching was great and the hitting even better. These boys of summer (and of spring) are really on a great roll. Let’s keep cheering them on as they continue with the season.
- The boys in speedos, our water polo team, made it to the regional finals against Gulliver. Unfortunately, the Raiders proved to be too much for us and, while we put up a great fight, the season came to an end. We need to be very proud of these guys. They fought hard throughout the season, winning the district championship and keeping the water polo standard high for Belen.
- And how about lacrosse?! It was the first undefeated season for our young men after beating Barron Collier High School on Friday. Now, we move on to districts. The competition will get stronger, but these guys are up for the challenge. I have a great feeling about these stick-wielding marauders.
Okay, I think I got most things covered. If not, I am sure I will get an email from someone, sometime. One thing I ask is to keep the seniors in your prayers. They are in the final stage of their time at Belen before graduating and moving on to the alumni phase of their lives. They have had a great run at our alma mater. We want them to finish strong and continue to make us proud. This is a great, feisty group. What hasn’t killed them will only make them stronger.
I’m looking forward to seeing you guys in the weeks to come. Keep the Easter graces fresh in your hearts and minds. Go to mass, keep up the prayers, visit Jesus in the Belen chapel, and, of course, study hard. Remember, it’s not so much how you start, but how you finish. So, finish strong.
Auspice Maria
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.