170 Years of Continuous Jesuit Education

It all started with a royal decree by Queen Isabel II of Spain, who tasked the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) with establishing the Colegio de Belén in Havana, Cuba, in 1854. The school began its educational work in the building formerly occupied by a convent and convalescent hospital of Our Lady of Belen, hence the school’s name. 

 

It wasn’t long before the school grew, and what had started small grew into a prestigious school where notable scientists, such as Dr. Carlos J. Finlay, who discovered the vaccine for yellow fever, and politicians, such as Antonio Sánchez de Bustamante y Sirvén, who served as the Cuban delegate to the Paris Peace Conference in 1919, which ended World War I, and Cuba’s representative at the World Court in The Hague taught. 

 

In 1925, the school acquired 60 acres of land, and several buildings were donated to Belen. This complex would become known as “El Palacio de la Educación” (The Palace of Education) and was regarded as the best school in the country. Many Jesuit vocations were fostered from here, including Fr. Richard Chisolm ‘25, Fr. Luis Ripoll ‘36, Fr. Juan Maria Dorta-Duque ‘40, Fr. Francisco Pérez-Llerena ‘44, Fr. Pedro Cartaya ‘54, and Fr. Pedro Suárez ‘58 among others. 

 

In 1961, the new political regime of Cuba confiscated the school property and expelled the Jesuit faculty. Armed militia escorted the Jesuits to the port and forced them to board the Covadonga. Unknowing what the future would hold, they held firm to their faith and never wavered from their beliefs. Not allowed to take anything with them, the ship sailed to Spain, where they regrouped and resigned their members. By the grace of God, the Jesuits saw the upheaval in Cuba and started to plot their next steps. A few priests went to Miami before the exile and started establishing connections with the diocese and Bishop Coleman Carroll. By the time the Jesuits who had been sent to Spain made their way to Miami, the support of the Catholic community was awaiting them. Within three months of being exiled, Belen Jesuit in Miami was re-established at Centro Hispano Catolico in downtown Miami with 172 students. This was Belen’s first campus in the United States. 

 

When the Cuban government chose to shut down the Colegio de Belén, nationalize its holdings, and expel the members of the Jesuit religious order, it ignored the school’s faithful contribution to Cuba, which by 1961 surpassed more than a century of dedicated educational and religious service. Undoubtedly, the relentless dedication and foresight of the Jesuits were not to be underestimated. During the Colegio de Belén’s tenure in Cuba, the Jesuits worked to establish the educational structure and traditions, which solidified the school as an exemplary institution and represented much more than just a compilation of buildings, land, and physical property. 

 

-Excerpt from Men for Others: The Belen Jesuit Story

 

After only a year in the U.S. and thanks to the generosity and support of many, the school relocated to a building in Little Havana. From 1962 to 1981, hundreds of young men attended Belen. The modest, one-story building included four classrooms that could each hold thirty-five students. A multi-purpose hall was also remodeled and, for quite some time, functioned as an administrative office, cafeteria, faculty lounge, and school chapel, where masses were held daily.

 

That first year, 166 students were enrolled in grades 7-12. In a testament to the Jesuits’ dedication, 60% of the student body attended the school at no charge, and another 15% were on partial scholarship, which meant their families were making only minimal contributions in place of tuition. As the enrollment grew, so did the financial challenges. The continuous generosity of the North American Jesuit provinces helped greatly, but more was needed. Fundraising campaigns and events helped propel the campus forward and led to more services being offered, additional faculty and staff, and, ultimately, the expansion of the campus. In 1968, Tombola was reintroduced to the Belen community. Having started initially at el Colegio de Belén, Tombola united the community and helped raise much-needed funds. Another successful endeavor was the establishment of the Ramón Guiteras Memorial Library in 1972 - a partnership that continues to this day.  

 

Although the nearly two decades at this location had its obstacles, incredible memories were made, such as the Dust Bowl, where PE classes were held and the neighboring Chinese restaurant, where students enjoyed spending their time. Alumni from this era in Belen’s history have gone on to great success, such as Carlos Saladrigas ‘67, José Garrido ‘72, Roberto Surís ‘79, and many others. The fruits of their generosity can be seen across our current campus. 

 

Efforts to raise funds to move the school a third time got underway in the early 1970s. In fact, by 1971, the school had acquired ten acres of land in West Miami-Dade, thanks to the generosity of Colegio de Nuestra Señora de Dolores alumnus and president of Bacardi & Company Limited, Jorge Bosch. It took nearly a decade to raise funds and build the main school building, chapel, library, and cafeteria. However, the persistence and dedication of the Jesuits, Board of Directors, and Alumni fueled the Intercultural Center Campaign and excited the community. From Miami’s Archbishop McCarthy to the City of Miami and County Mayors to the legendary Dolphins Head Coach Don Shula, the excitement to help expand the opportunity for a Catholic- Jesuit education was felt. 

 

On September 14, 1981, students entered the newly constructed campus and attended class for the first time. “This new building, the fifth for Belen, is not a mere gift that we receive,” said Belen Jesuit President Fr. Pérez-Llerena at the inauguration. “It also includes the great responsibility of nurturing the school’s growth so that it can bear fruit within the abundance of the Lord’s grace. In the 1980s, we, the administration, faculty, and all those at the school, have a great challenge before us: educating youth who are already at the door of the 21st century. It is a challenge that we must avoid going backward. Rather, we must continue forward planting the Word of God in a society that seems deaf to the Words of Eternal Life.”

 

The new campus ignited the school community and began a new era of vision and growth for Belen. Never forgetting its humble beginnings or the generosity of so many, the school administration has always maintained its determination to provide the best education and one grounded in faith, where boys are taught to become men for others and Christian leaders. Keeping families involved, offering opportunities for spiritual growth and interjecting Ignatian values has led to our campus’s evolution and our students’ success. 

 

Today, Belen’s campus stretches 34 acres, has 1,366 students, and offers state-of-the-art facilities, a top-tier education led by wonderful faculty and staff, exceptional resources, activities and athletics, none of which would be possible without the support of thousands. 

 

“Belen Jesuit is a testament to what can be accomplished when you roll up your sleeves and stay the course knowing that you are fulfilling your obligation to God and His Church,” said School President Fr. Willie García-Tuñón, S.J.’87. “When Fr. Arroyo dreamt of this school long ago and this campus, he envisioned a center of learning that would form young men from all over the world. That dream is a reality with students from various backgrounds, and the opportunity to grow further is exciting. There is no question in my mind that St. Ignatius is proud of the Jesuit Priests and Brothers who made this school possible. Their resilience and passion, hard work and dedication can’t be undervalued. Thousands of young men in Miami have been and will continue to be educated thanks to their efforts. They are the true giants on whose shoulders we stand.”

This article is featured in the Belen Jesuit Magazine - Winter 2025 edition. Click here to read the magazine.