New York Alumni Gathering
Over forty Alumni from six different decades gathered in New York City on October 21 to kick-off the 2017 Belen Alumni Tour.
Alumni from classes ranging from 1953 to 2017 gathered at Xavier High school in Manhattan. The event began with a mass celebrated by Fr. Willie in the school's chapel followed by a cocktail reception and dinner. The evening presentation centered on the newly published Strategic Plan, where Father Willie was able to update alumni on the current state of the school and the future plans.
In reality, the Alumni Tour is focused on uniting alumni from around the country and providing a forum for them to share stories, bond with classmates, and stay informed about the current status of Belen Jesuit. One of the highlights from the NYC visit was to witness two members from the Belen class of 1953 come together after not seeing each other in over 60 years. Helping to facilitate moments like these is a wonderful example of the function of the Alumni Tour and a true example of the brotherhood to which we belong. Additionally, it was very special for me to interact with former students and listen to how much they’ve grown over the years.
The Alumni Tour isn’t a new concept. In fact, it is a tradition that began decades ago by the Alumni Association founder Father Juan Manuel Dorta Duque, SJ. We are very proud to have alumni from all Jesuit schools in Cuba as part of our association. These schools include Sagua, Dolores, Electromecánica and Monserrat, that together with alumni from el Colegio de Belén in Cuba and Belen Jesuit in Miami, form an undeniable bond that will forever unite us as one.
Special thank you to Fr. Willie García-Tuñón ’87, and Felipe Fernandez ’94, for helping to make the Alumni Tour possible. The Alumni Tour will make four additional stops this academic year. The next stop will be on January 20 in Washington, D.C. Alumni from the area are encouraged to save the date.
Click here to view the photo album from the NYC Alumni Tour.
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.