Blessing of the Chapel of Our Lady
Jesuit Fathers Willie, Garcia, and Cartaya celebrated mass in honor of the blessing of the Chapel of Our Lady.
Located in the Garrido Family Plaza, the Chapel took six months to renovate. Although reopened to the student body on November 29, 2016, the blessing was held on February 13, 2017 in order to accommodate the families of those that gave so generously of their time, talent, and treasure to make this project come to fruition.
The project was led by alumnus and architect Jorge Hernandez ’71. “He is 95% responsible for the vision and I’ll only take credit for 5%,” said Father Willie at the mass. “He knew intuitively what would work best and what the school needed. Although I had my moments of doubt, like when he told me he wanted to paint the wood green, I ultimately let him go with his vision and what we have now is a genuinely beautiful Chapel where our young men and employees can come together in prayer and for daily mass.”
Also in attendance were the carpenters that donated all the woodwork. Paco Batista and his son Francisco Batista, Jr. who are not alumni or parents of alumni, felt the call to be part of this project. “I feel very blessed to have met Paco and his son. They didn’t have to take on this project but felt very strongly about wanting to help the school,” said Father Willie. “They are extremely talented and we are very grateful to them for providing us with such beautiful work.”
In 2011, in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of our school in Miami, the Garrido family gifted the school with a renovated central patio. At the completion of that project, the Garrido family also promised to support the renovation of the chapel. The project began in the summer of 2016 and standing by to lend their support was the Garrido family, led by patriarch Jose Garrido, Sr. ’46, his son Jose Garrido, Jr. ‘72, and Jose A. Garrido, III ‘99. “The Garridos have been very supportive of many Belen activities and projects throughout the decades,” said Father Willie. “Their love for Belen extends past their connection to the school which spans three generations. Their devotion to Our Lady and to the magis are what make them true examples of our motto, men for others. We are very fortunate to count on their friendship and generosity.”
The Chapel of Our Lady is home to the homeroom masses as well as adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on the first Friday of every month. The community is invited to spend time with Jesus and volunteer to be Guardians of the Blessed Sacrament by contacting the Office of Campus Ministry at 786-621.4125.
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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.