Since its foundation in 1854, Belen Jesuit Preparatory School has been an apostolic work of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), a Catholic religious Order founded by Pope Paul III in 1540 at the request of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
Ignatius saw the world as good and all creation as a gift from God. His spirituality, instilled in the Jesuits, seeks to find and experience God in all things. This is the trademark of all Jesuit works. Our task is to co-labor with God and give the greatest glory to God in the multiple ways we use our gifts and talents to create a more humane and just world.
In 1548, the first Jesuit secondary school opened in Messina, Italy. It began a tradition of excellence that is still alive and growing. Belen is one of more than 50 Jesuit high schools in the United States and one of hundreds more throughout the world. Since its foundation, Belen has been committed to maintaining and strengthening its Jesuit, Catholic mission to form leaders in service who are “
men for others,” competent, committed, and compassionate. The Jesuit community at Belen resides at Villa Javier.