The Our Lady of Belen Chapel was dedicated in a special Mass celebrated by the Most Rev. Thomas Wenski, Archbishop of Miami, on May 1, 2022.
“Belen’s commitment to our Catholic identity is now unmistakable to anyone who drives by our school,” said Fr. Willie. “The Our Lady of Belen Chapel is a clear expression of the promise made to every parent of the school that we are a Catholic, Jesuit school above all else. We strive for our students to become good Catholic-Jesuit men of faith who will actively contribute to the community. As such, it is without a doubt that the most significant construction project in Belen’s history in Miami is the Our Lady of Belen Chapel.”
The over 14-thousand square foot chapel, located on the southeast corner of the school, seats 638. The chapel is designed by Belen alumnus from the class of 1974, architect Jorge Hernández.
Greeting everyone outside the chapel is the Alma Mater statue in the rotunda. Inside the nave are ten side niches (five on each side) featuring paintings representing Jesuit saints from the Americas (5 from North America and five from Latin America) by Spanish artist Raúl Berzosa. In addition to the portraits, the chapel also includes specially commissioned artwork in the form of the ambo, altar, and baptismal font. There is an image of Saint Ignatius of Loyola as one approaches the altar on the right and an image of Saint Francis Xavier as one approaches the altar on the left, representing two of the founders of the Society of Jesus.
Click here to watch videos about some of the sacred art located inside the chapel.