To the Band of Brothers: May 19, 2021
Good morning!
A few days ago, a friend of mine told me he loaded his family into the car and drove to Orlando after Florida officials and the CDC eased some of the COVID-19 restrictions. Of course, who wouldn’t want to finally make their way back to the Magic Kingdom and visit Mickey Mouse? Who wouldn’t want to head over to Islands of Adventure and ride the rollercoasters after this rollercoaster year? Go to EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, Splash Mountain… of course, of course, of course!
Yet, with all that greatness just 235 miles north of Miami, it was the continued closing of Cirque du Soleil that seemed to bother my friend. The circus! Seriously! I have never been a fan. Whenever one came to town I had not the slightest interest in going. Clowns scare me (I blame Poltergeist), trapeze artists make me nervous, and lion tamers bore me. There is really very little appeal for me under the big top.
There is one exception, the jugglers. These guys really are pretty fascinating. I have always been mesmerized by how talented they are. Their ability to throw things into the air in various quantities and catch them with rhythm and grace hypnotizes me. It takes an enormous amount of talent, hand-eye coordination, and practice.
I remember years ago when my arm was twisted into going to the Cirque du Soleil in Miami. I fell for it thinking maybe the French got it right. I admit there is a certain appeal to things when spoken in French. They sound more refined, more interesting, more “je ne sais quoi.” Seriously, don’t tell me that circus shows titled Saltimbanco, Alegria, or La Nouba don’t appeal more to the ears than do Bozo the Clown or Fudgie the Whale.
Once again, though, I was bamboozled. The French clowns, Hungarian trapeze artists, and Swedish lion tamers were scarier, more nerve-racking, and more boring than the American ones. Albeit, the Chinese jugglers with their spinning tops and fancy yoyos were captivating.
I’m a juggler myself. Not to the extent the circus performers are, but I can throw three pairs of rolled-up socks into the air and keep them going for a good amount of time. I may never get a job with P.T. Barnum, but it’s enough to keep the nieces and nephews entertained for a few minutes.
Actually, working at Belen is a lot like juggling. You have to keep several things going at the same time without having any of them fall to the ground. Trust me, it takes a lot of talent, hand-eye coordination, and practice. Take this week for example. Between Senior Prom, eighth-grade churrasco, the Alumni Pin Mass, and graduation, you have to be focused and steady.
Whoever thought that school was a Monday through Friday thing has obviously not had much contact with Belen. While at times the extraordinary number of activities and events that take place at any given time can be overwhelming, it’s amazing how things really go off without a hitch. It’s pretty impressive when you think about how it can very well be “the greatest show on earth.”
Auspice Maria
Fr. Willie ‘87
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.