Belen Jesuit Preparatory School

World Youth Day

Jesuit Scholastic Michael Martinez,'09
(This speech was delivered by Jesuit Scholastic Michael Martinez,'09 to the entire student body, faculty, and staff on January 17, 2019 at a morning assembly in the Garrido Family Plaza.)

World Youth Day (WYD) began in 1984 when His Holiness John Paul II invited the youth from around the world to St. Peter’s square. WYD is a gathering of young Catholics from all over the world to become better and more committed Christian witnesses. This special event has taken place all around the world - from Italy to Argentina, Spain to the Philippines, from Brazil to Australia, from Poland to Panama.

It is a true honor and privilege that 11 of our Belen brothers and three faculty members, who also are Belen alumni, will be attending. Millions have gathered before to share and celebrate the faith, and now Pope Francis has invited us to convene in Central America - a place where so many are leaving and fleeing poverty and injustice. Now hundreds of thousands are gathering together for one reason: CHRIST HIMSELF HAS INVITED US TO BE MORE.

Having attended WYD in Madrid, Spain in 2011, I can tell you the power that this experience can have on one’s faith.

I believe the three biggest gifts it provides include:

  1. It allows us to experience our Universal and Apostolic Church in a very real and palpable way. We can see, touch and hear the Universal Body of Christ in a completely unique manner.
  2. It allows us to see the possibilities that exist for more in our world, and the potential for good that comes from gathering in the name of our Lord. It reminds us, the Kingdom of God is a reality!
  3. It allows each individual attending WYD to come to the realization… that our faith is way bigger than our individual lives, our individual faith beliefs or creeds, our faith is a living faith, one that breathes, sings, marches, sweats and rejoices for love of neighbor and the Lord.

I have a small invitation for the school: if you have any religious items you would like for us to carry and get blessed by Pope Francis, please give them to us in the Campus Ministry office. If you have any intentions or petitions you would like for us to pray for on the trip, please write them and take them to the Campus Ministry office so that we can take them with us to Panama.

I close by letting you know that this is the first World Youth Day with a theme centered on Mary. The Scripture passage that will guide our experience is: “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord, be it done to me according to your Word.” We ask for that grace, not just for the pilgrims attending, but for all those gathered at World Youth Day and those here at Belen that remain in prayer and in solidarity. This banner (hung in the Garrido Family Plaza) will remain here as a reminder to keep us in your prayers.  

Click here to view pictures from the assembly. 
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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
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.