Belen Jesuit Magazine | Winter 2018

Belen Jesuit Alumni

MESSAGE FROM THE

PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION

“Calling all Wolverines” was a theme of the very successful 2017 Annual Gala, which, under the leadership of Yvonne von der Osten and with the assistance of countless dedicated volunteers, raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Belen Financial Assistance Program. Judging from the attendance, Wolverines certainly answered that call!

For our Alumni Association, “Calling all Wolverines” is a constant theme. We are called upon to serve and support our beloved alma mater. Now the school and Fr. Willie, ’87, have called upon us to continue to serve as a pillar for Belen’s foundation. And we have answered that call.

Everywhere you look at Belen, you see the presence of our Association. You’ll find us in the classrooms teaching, in the administration and staff, coaching our athletic teams, volunteering, serving the community, and mentoring. I am especially pleased to announce that, with the assistance and leadership of the Belen Student Council, in the Spring of 2018 we will launch a mentoring program called Beyond Belen, aimed at pairing high school seniors with Alumni. Although our Alumni have long served as mentors, Beyond Belen formalizes this important function of our Association (just as the Professional Sections formalized and improved networking among Alumni).

In the coming year we also intend to add more features and make the Alumni page on the Belen website even more accessible in order to better communicate with our members. Even as we work to improve our webpage, take a moment to log in and browse through old yearbooks, past issues of Alumni Magazines and photo albums online.

Or check out our Alumni directory. Please visit www. belenjesuit.org/page/alumni.

It also gives me great pleasure to introduce Carlos Bravo, ’86, as the new Executive Director of our Association. Although Carlos is new to the position of Executive Director, he certainly is not new to Belen. I have known Carlos since we were seventh graders at the “old” Belen on Calle Ocho. Many of you have known him as a teacher and coach. Carlos has taught over 1,500 Belen students, and he coached more than 500. He is a proud Belen dad to a recent graduate (Matthew Bravo, ’17), and he is also the son of a former Belen math teacher.

As a student, Carlos was a friend to all—a trait that he maintains to this day as Executive Director. Carlos’ energy, enthusiasm and love of Belen are second to none, and he has a passion to set the World on Fire in the Ignatian tradition. Together with Rick Raimundez, ’90, Carlos honors the legacy of his predecessor Executive Director, Mariano Loret de Mola, ’58.

I hope you will join me in welcoming Carlos, and that you will continue to answer the call to enhance our Brotherhood and serve Belen.

Antonio Castro '86 AMDG

belen jesuit

ALUMNI MAGAZINE

'Phil' Fernandez '94

and Alumni Relations

Martinez

Collins

Antonio Castro ’86 – President

L. J. Rodriguez ’93 – Vice President

Tomas Pla '00 – Treasurer

Gabriel Dieppa ’96 – Secretary

Antonio Abella ’59

Orlando Puente '71

Jose A. Garrido III '99 Javier Mariscal '86

Hector Formoso-Murias ’82

Alberto Gutierrez ’88

Manuel Garcia Linares '87

Reinaldo Ramos ’58

Peter Montadas ’76 Crescencio Ruiz ’76

Francisco "Paco" Ruiz ’73

Fr. Pedro Cartaya, SJ ‘54 - Alumni Association Chaplain

Fr. Juan Manuel Dorta-Duque, SJ ‘40 - In Memoriam

BELEN JESUIT ALUMNI MAGAZINE is published biannually. Circulation: 10,000

Please address all correspondence to the Alumni Office.

Periodicals postage paid at Miami, FL and additional mailing points.

Postmaster: Send address changes to:

Belen Alumni Office

500 Southwest 127 Avenue Miami, Fl 33184

Phone: 786.621.4674 Fax: 786.621.4662

E-mail: alumni@belenjesuit.org

YEAR LIV – NO. 1

RETRACTION

We apologize for a mistake printed in the cover story of the previous Alumni Magazine. Raul Esparza worked in "Law and Order SVU" and he won the first Silver Knight award for Belen in 1988. This correction has been made in the digital version of that magazine.

On the cover: A model of the Our Lady of Belen Chapel by architect Jorge Hernandez '74.

community

By: Javier Arazoza ‘18 Echoes Editor

• The Sixth Grade Lock-In took place Saturday, September 30th and lasted until early the next morning. Even though it was delayed due to Hurricane Irma, the sixth graders brewed up their own storm of fun with the current seniors.

• The eighth grade class of 2022 attended Father and Son Day Saturday, November 4th. This day was dedicated to all the fathers as they participated with their sons in activities such as football, basketball, and even trivial pursuit.

• The sophomore class participated in Mother and Son Day October 28. Students dedicated their afternoons to their mothers as they took them out on a date that included a mass, a delicious brunch, and live music and dancing.

• Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Local Post 10212 named after Sgt. Manuel E. Mesa Jr. '63, at the Wall of Martyrs Ceremony which recognized the 50th Anniversary of his passing.

• Michael Sanchez ‘06, Francisco Blanco ‘83, Executive Director Carlos Bravo ‘86, BASH Chairman Orlando Puente ‘71, Science Department Chair Pedro Hernández, Fernando Cantens ‘91 and Bert Moreno ’96 spoke to student members of the Science Honor Society.

• Celebrating Mariano Loret de Mola '58 for his retirement as Executive Director of the Alumni Association. Thank you for your years of service to the entire Belen Community.

• Danny de la Fe and Oscar Berlanga, with Alumni Association President Antonio C. Castro '86, were elected Alumni Delegates for the Class of 2017.

• The Alumni Board meets with the School Faculty.

• Over $25,000 was collected during the drive for hurricane relief.

• CJ Cristobal ‘16 and Javier

and

2017 gala

ACADEMICS A place to call home

By: Juan Vazquez ‘92 Social Studies Teacher

I became a teacher because of a girl. I was finishing my Master’s coursework at college with some indecision as to what I would be doing, when I ran into a girl I knew at the university. We talked there for over an hour when she told me she had to go register for a class to get her Teaching Certification started. She asked me why I was there and I obviously replied that I had to also register for that class. I married her three years later.

My classmates and I celebrated our 25-year reunion in 2017, and it marked twenty years since I started teaching. I am currently teaching Latin American History to seniors, and have been for the last eight years, but most students will associate me more with Spanish, which I have taught since I started teaching. My mentor those years when I first started to become an educator of Spanish at FIU and at Salamanca was Aurelio Baldor, a name very familiar to Belen alums of the previous century. I had just finished my degrees in Psychology and Spanish, and was completing my graduate studies, when I got a call from Beatriz Jimenez, another Belen all-star. She had heard from Baldor that I was teaching and studying Spanish and asked if I would be interested in taking over five Spanish classes in March of 2001… and I am still here.

Baldor and Jiménez were role models for me in Spanish, but my first one as an educator was Father Cartaya, whom I had the pleasure of having as my Spanish teacher for three years. Ese curso suyo de literatura que tomamos once de nosotros como electiva en undécimo grado fue una de las mejores clases que tuve el placer de tomar durante mis años en Belén. Thanks to him I scored a 5 on the AP Spanish Literature test, and developed a passion for the subject matter. My mother, father and grandfather had planted that initial love, and these men and women (mis mamás del departamento) helped it bloom. My mother was a teacher for many years, and I suspect it rubbed off on me accidentally. I will forever remember them and all they did to help me grow and learn as an educator.

My other love as a teacher is my Latin American History class. Again, I must thank my father and some of my now colleagues here at Belen for fomenting an interest in history in

Mr. Juan Vazquez has been a teacher since 2001 as a Spanish and Social Studies teacher. He is currently the Latin American History teacher for the senior class.

me. Pat Collins and Jorge Martinez are two names I will also forever remember as men who really taught me, gave me a love for the material, and served as role models of what a good pedagogue should be. But for me, no other educator had a bigger impact on me while I was at Belen, or on my teaching strategies and style now, than Roberto de los Santos ’77 (RIP). His combination of humor, knowledge, passion, and humanity left an impact on me and on many of my classmates. You are missed.

Life at Belen since I first started has changed much, while at the same time maintaining its classic Belen personality. We have amazing facilities and technologies that I did not have as a student here, and that soon I hope my son will be able to take full advantage of. I can only hope that, if my son is able to attend Belen, he graduates from here with the knowledge, intellectual curiosity, Catholic spirit, and bonds of friendship that I think I still maintain, only even better. AMDG.

NEWS House of Prayer

By: Javier Arazoza ‘18 Echoes Editor

Since last year when the alumni office moved to the administration building, the house behind the school commonly referred to as la casita became the meeting place for the Esto Vir group. Esto Vir is a club started in 2016 by current senior Eric Lastres and Father Willie Garcia-Tuñon, SJ '87. Its premise was built around the foundation of prayer and community.

"The Esto Vir club is fulfilling a long standing tradition in Jesuit education and spirituality," said Father Willie. "The idea of Esto Vir was to create an opportunity for high school students who wanted to take their commitment with God to the next level with their brothers."

The club goes in line with another Jesuit organization in Miami called La Agrupacion Catolica Universitaria. Meetings were held every second Thursday of the month and included gospel music, games such as ping pong and basketball, and lots of prayer and reflection.

After years of the house serving multiple purposes for the school, it is now being renovated for a new use. The house will now be the official retreat house, allowing students, faculty, staff, and also members of the Agrupacion Catolica Universitaria to have a place to meet, reflect, and pray.

There will also be offices, storage rooms, and conference rooms where meetings can take place. There will also be large meeting areas for the larger groups and most importantly, an area to hold mass.

“It’s going to look brand new when we’re done,” said Ricardo Echeverria '84, Director of Plant Operations for Belen Jesuit.

The construction began in mid June of 2017, and by now workers have taken apart most of the inside, taken out most of the walls that have separated the different areas, covered the pool, and shut off all electricity and plumbing. Echeverria hopes the project will be completed during the summer so that the Esto Vir can begin to use it when the school year begins.

The new casita will now be called the Esto Vir House and will be available to the community for retreats.

"The effort, thought, planning, and resources that have gone into making this a place that attracts young men to come and grow in their faith, while making friends, playing games, eating, and having fun is immeasurable," said Esto Vir founder senior Eric Lastres. "Once the project is complete, we will be opening the house up after school several days throughout the week for students to come and play some games, do some work, or just simply chill out."

By: Gabriel Aparicio ‘18 Echoes Editor

ATHLETICS

• The varsity football team finished the year with a 7-3 record and won the district for the fourth year in a row.

• The junior varsity finished with a record of 2-3. The team was short in depth this year as most of their players moved to the varsity team. The are expected to remain at the varsity level where they will have much needed experience on the field.

• The middle school football team finished with a 2-5 record. The middle school team showed great promise with their young quarterback and defense.

• The sixth grade finished with a stellar 4-2 record. The team did not have many experienced players, since this was the first time many of them had played football on a team. The future does look promising for this group of young men, and the program overall.

• The varsity cross country team finished the year with an undefeated record and capped the season with a state championship. This is the team's ninth state title. The

team will look to repeat the win next year as they are only graduating one runner.

• The middle school cross country team were the FLYRA State champions. Currently, Belen is the only school that has won this championship three times.

• The sixth grade cross country team had a great season this year. The team went undefeated throughout the year and were the ACC champions. They will be a force to reckon with next year when they move on to the middle school team.

• The varsity golf team had a tough season due to the hurricane. However, that did not stop the team from winning the District Championship.

• The middle school golf team had a very successful season finishing with a record of 4-1. The team defeated tough rivals and had consistent standout plays. The future for Middle School golf looks promising as it has six returning players from this year's team. The season was shortened due to Hurricane Irma and bad weather in the month of September.

• The varsity bowling team finished a tough regular season with a record of 5-3, led by the high averages from the bowlers. The team was greatly influenced by the returning athletes and only graduated three seniors. The young team will return next year to take on the district.

• During this swimming season the athletes trained hard with the goal of lowering their times. Even though everyone was not able to make it to regionals and states, everyone did their job by getting personal records. A total of six athletes made it to states where Aitor Fungairino won in two different events. One of which was the 200 freestyle that was two one-hundredths of a second away from a State record held by NCAA record holder and Olympic medalist Caeleb Dressel.

• Middle school swimming had a good season finishing 2-1, and finishing second overall at the Dade County Youth Fair Meet. The team was led by a heavy group of eighth graders who look to take advantage of their opportunities in high school next year. Many of the young swimmers continued to practice even after the official season was over in an effort to move one step closer to the much coveted varsity team next year.

Coach is Inducted in Hall of Fame

By: Giancarlo Benitez '19 Contributing writer

In early August 2017, at the Wyndham Hotel in Lake Buena Vista, Coach Fidel Albelo was inducted in the 17th Florida Chapter National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Described as a likeable and passionate coach he is said to be the ambassador of Miami-Dade County’s powerful wrestling community. He has been the wrestling coach at Belen Jesuit for twentyfour years during which time he has led his team to five top 10 FHSAA finishes in state competition. He also had nine individual champs and 20 place winners. This is a far cry from when he first joined Belen’s wrestling program in 1994 when it only had three members. He has since developed the sport in Belen to be one of the most highly respected wrestling programs in Florida.

A native of Cuba, Fidel Albelo was born January 2, 1959, the day after Fidel Castro took power of the island, to parents that were strong supporters of the revolution. His father, a taxi driver, and his mother, a school assistant, lived in a 300-square foot home along with his five brothers and sister. Due to the living situation, his parents sent him to a sports boarding school at age seven. It is here that the magic began.

“I started the sport when I was young in Cuba, there was really no other sport for me to participate in at the time,” said Albelo.

He became a top level amateur wrestler and was one of the few chosen to compete on a national level. Pursuing this career however, meant Albelo would have to surrender full custody to the state and continue his studies in the Soviet Union. Albelo’s parents were quick to forbid this option. His only other choice was to continue in Cuba competing in intercollegiate wrestling and remain living in a poverty stricken and oppressed society. Left with no other alternative, he began crafting a plan to escape the island.

In 1980, after years of planning an escape, one friend grew paranoid and confessed of their plan. Albelo was arrested, and served one year in prison. His parents viewed him as a traitor and did not extend any sympathy towards him. Living in inhumane conditions, made Albelo stronger. He used this time to study and leave prison with a Physical Education degree and in pursuit of freedom.

That freedom would not come for another decade. Weary of his last attempt, he told no one of his plan of escape, not his parents, his wife, his daughter, his siblings, his friends, or the wrestlers he coached. A very secretive and intricate plan, straight out of a spy

novel, ensued alongside his two cousins. His final step was to divorce his wife to prevent his family from being targeted as the family of a defector. They would be treated violently. In the early morning hours of June 26, 1990, Albelo said his goodbyes to his family, while thinking he would never see them again. He set sail on his cousin’s five-foot motor boat full of hope yet aware of the risks and danger soon to confront him.

As feared, the sea was not kind to them. After just four hours of sailing, the motor exploded, leaving a hole at the base and spraying gasoline all over their food, water and clothing. Left with nothing to eat or drink, their nightmares were becoming more real by the minute. There was no one in site other than the sharks circling their boat and patiently waiting for an opportunity to take one of the men down. Albelo came close to this encounter but life had greater plans for him. Four days later and right at the point of surrendering themselves to the greater glory, a miracle, as Albelo has described it, happened. It was June 29, 1990 and a mild northward tide came to save them. They landed into a woman’s backyard in Elliott Key, just 22 miles south of Miami. Their uncontrollable elation made them quickly forget their odyssey. By the time the Coast Guard took them to Miami, word had spread that the rafters who reeked of gasoline had arrived and many reporters were waiting to snap their pictures and interview them.

Albelo bounced around for the following three years between homes of friends and relatives until he was offered a position as the wrestling coach of Belen Jesuit. He has been able to fulfill his lifelong dream and the rest is history. His daughter, now 37, is a lawyer, and remains in Cuba to live near her mother. Albelo has made several trips back to Cuba since 1997, once the laws became more lenient towards visitors, to see the daughter he left behind and to make peace with his parents. He has two more children living in the United States, a 5-year old daughter, and a 19-year old son who attends Loyola University in New Orleans. His two cousins also remain in the Miami area. They see each other occasionally and never bring up the journey that almost lead them to their deaths.

Albelo became a United States citizen in 2008. Wrestling has made him the man he is today and given him the opportunity of a lifetime.

“It [wrestling] has changed me completely, it has shown me discipline and toughness. Overall I just do it because I love the sport, ” said Albelo.

Tailgate Party 2017

WHY I GIVE BACK

Carlos A. Penin, P.E.

Class of 1973

When asked by the Alumni Association to write down some thoughts about “Why I Give Back”, my initial reaction was this is usually requested from either politicians or from “over the hill” Alumni. I immediately knew what category I fell into! More seriously, thinking of the many men that have graduated from Belen Jesuit, I am privileged and humbled to have this opportunity to share my thoughts.

I was born in Holguin, Cuba and came to Miami with my mother and three sisters in 1962. During the early years as a part of the Cuban American exile community, we learned how to share and to appreciate everything that we had.

I entered Belen in eighth grade and graduated in the class of 1973, my 41 classmates are my Belen brothers. My best man, my dentist, my lawyer, my doctors, my film editor, my cross country coach, my former mayor, to name a few from our class of 1973.

My father was from the class of 1945, he too had his brothers from his class. Sardina, Grau, Grave de Peralta, Rasco, Ferro, Abella, oh and the one whose passing in November 2016, closed down Calle Ocho in front of Versailles. My father and his Belen brothers met once a month at the Alumni lunches until health slowly diminished their numbers. Their generation gave time and talent like us, but unlike us, they had to give up their country, their homes, jobs and some even paid with their lives.

After I graduated I chose to study engineering in Miami Dade College (AA ’75), University of Florida (BS ’77) and FIU (MS ’82). I started my company in 1989, after working on projects such as the Julia Tuttle Causeway, the reconstruction of 7th and SW 8th Street, and Joe Robbie Stadium. My company has received many awards over the years because of our corporate growth and our community involvement.

My profession has given me many opportunities to give back. I’ve designed multiple projects in our Belen campus pro bono. These include: the Belen football field, the soccer field, the main school courtyard, the cross country hill, and most recently Arroyo Quad. I hope that by getting involved in the planning and design of these various projects, the school will continue to enrich the lives of the alumni, the current students and all future “Belenites”. These offer a place on the Belen campus to “exercise” the mind, the body and our soul.

My most rewarding experience has been speaking to the STEM students at the school. In 2010, I spoke to a group of young men about the engineering profession, I had the privilege of hiring one of them, five years later. My nephew Tomas Cacicedo (Class of 2012), who attended that night, carries on not only our Belen legacy, but the engineering tradition. Our company contributes by hiring summer interns and taking the time to mentor and guide them to become future engineers.

To be a leader you need to be passionately involved in your profession and in your community. You need to care about the issues affecting both. As engineers, we are trained to solve problems and we need to apply this in the public and the business worlds. I think that we can earn this by giving of my time, dedication and resources.

In summary, I give back to honor the sacrifices of the alumni before us, to serve the physical infrastructure needs of the Belen of today and to encourage and mentor by example future engineers and alumni of Belen Jesuit School. I hope to be a good role model for future entrepreneurs and engineers. I am privileged to be a part of this fantastic group of Men for Others. Finally, I encourage and challenge other alumni to contribute with your time, talent and treasures to make our school an even better life changing experience.

WMAGIS

His Feeding

flock

By: Andres Maza ‘18 Echoes Editor

hen Crescencio Ruiz graduated from Belen in 1976 from the ‘dust bowl’, he took with him far too many memories of the school. Among his favorites was the time during his junior and senior years when he and his friends played a daily ten-minute version of the game show “The Price is Right!” This idea was the brainchild of two of his most talented classmates, Harry Martinez and Julio Ruiz. The idea of the show was not to win prizes, but to have the best reactions when the game show host called your name and said “Come on down!”

At first, the classmates were the audience, clapping and cheering on as Julio or Harry would scream, contort, faint, or whatever else came to their minds when the game show host (Rafael Portuondo) called on them. Pretty soon, the audience grew to other juniors, seniors, faculty and even administrators who came to witness the phenomenon. It still brings a smile to his face every time he thinks about it. The faculty, administration, and upper classmen brought together by laughter, if for only 10 minutes every day.

“Other than my parents, Belen was the place where I learned what it takes to live a good life,” said Ruiz. “To be the best at what I do, lead by example, be generous with my gifts, be humble, never give up, and trust in God for He is in all things.”

According to Ruiz, those are the most important lessons that he learned during his years at Belen. Jesuits like Fathers Azcoitia, Ripoll, Alberto Garcia, Llorente, and Cartaya, and men and women such as Pat Collins, Leo Nunez, Sigrid Bango, and Armando Rodriguez were the ones who conveyed the knowledge through their example.

Today, Ruiz is the Chief Financial Officer of Cool J’s Group, a retailer and distributor of athletic footwear and apparel here in South Florida. His mornings are spent reviewing company banking and financial information and consulting with the CEO to take any action that may be required. Afternoons are spent in vendor meetings or in discharging, which is working with his staff. He manages a group of young and energetic people, who are always willing to work and learn something new. Ruiz admits that this is probably one of his favorite things to do at work.

The evenings are dedicated to his family, and many times to Belen. As an active member of the Alumni Association and member of the Board of Directors, a role which gives him the opportunity to keep in touch with many of his Belen brothers, Ruiz is able to engage in charity functions, sporting activities, meetings, and other social events with his classmates.

Four years ago, Ruiz started the Helping Hands event, a charity event where organizers package thousands of meals for the most needy in the world, those who are stricken with poverty and famine in West Africa. The project was brought to him by Carlos Batlle, who was the president of the Alumni Association at the time. He was on an advisory board of Catholic Relief Services, which coordinates Helping Hands worldwide. With the financial collaboration of Belen’s Alumni, the Knights

of Columbus, and the participation of students from Belen and other catholic high schools and middle schools in this area, the organization was able to increase the packing of 20,000 meals from the first try to 35,000 meals this past spring. This event feeds the hungry, but it also serves to unite the community in doing something for others.

His favorite project by far, is the Gesu Thanksgiving Dinner and Christmas Toy Drive. It is truly an inspiration to see the look on a child’s face when they get to pick the toy that he or she wants. There is also the gratitude on the faces of the senior citizens when they receive their Publix gift card or a Thanksgiving turkey. More inspiring still, is the generosity of his Belen brothers who are always more than willing to help collect the goods and help to distribute them. According to Ruiz, this is a privilege to witness year in and year out. The financial contribution of the Belen

alumni and Raul Puga from the Hasbro Corporation, together with the hard work of the boys from Belen makes these events happen.

“We are Jesuit educated, and as such, all of the gifts we are given – time, treasure, talent, and education are to be placed at the service of others,” said Ruiz. “It is not optional to give back, it is a responsibility that we all share.”

For Ruiz, ‘Men for Others’ is not merely a motto, it is the way in which all Belen graduates live their lives. The values and morals established by those who taught him years ago are still very much alive and kicking in his eagerness to give back to those in need. He also firmly believes that it is in giving that one truly receives.

Ruiz has been happily married to the love of his life, Laura, for almost 30 years. Together they have three children: Cristina Maria, Juan Ignacio, and Maria Teresa.

“God has blessed me with an incredible companion -supportive, dedicated, loving, and most importantly, faithful. Because of Laura, God is at the center of our family life always,” said Ruiz. His children grew up surrounded by the Belen community, whether it was at school, in summer camp, attending Belen’s religious, social and athletic events, and many more. Ruiz believes that the attitudes and teachings that they have been exposed to are in no small part a big reason why they have grown up to be responsible, God fearing and generous young men and women.

Moving Forward The Strategic Plan

By: Teresa Martinez Director of Communications

“Every fire needs to be stoked,” wrote Father Willie García-Tuñón, SJ,'87 in the opening letter of the Strategic Plan. Referencing St. Ignatius of Loyola’s quote to “go forth and set the world on fire”, Father Willie reminded us that “the winds of change are constant and blow stronger and faster than ever before” at Belen Jesuit.

Published in August 2017, the Strategic Plan outlines the direction of the school for the next 3 to 5 years. The plan identifies four pillars – Strengthening our Catholic, Jesuit Identity, Academic Excellence, Forming Well-Rounded Men, and Enhancing Our Brotherhood —which will serve as a road map to further the educational experience of students, parents, and alumni.

Since August, every element in the Strategic Plan has been worked on by members of the administration, board advisors, faculty, staff, and alumni board of directors. Students have been challenged to “run to the fire” and excel in all that they do. Father Willie has encouraged them to move out of their comfort zones, to raise their standards and not simply sit back on their laurels.

“The pillars laid out in the Strategic Plan can be universally accepted by anyone who reads them,” said Phil Fernandez '94, Executive Director of Advancement and Alumni Relations. “The blueprint provided by each one is what begins to set us (Belen Jesuit) apart from other schools. Over the next few years we will work collectively to ensure that this vision becomes a realization so that the future of Belen Jesuit remains strong and we continue our mission of educating the future leaders of Miami and beyond.”

Pillar I: Catholic, Jesuit Identity

“We need to light a fire within each of our young men,” said Roberto E. Artiz, Director of Campus Ministry. “Through Campus Ministry we invite our students to explore their heart and the world in transformative ways with us, from ministering to the homeless in the streets of Miami to finding solidarity with people in need throughout the world; from encountering God while on retreats, to encountering

your true calling in life through spiritual direction.”

Through those efforts and by increasing the opportunities for students to participate in the Spiritual Exercises, strengthening the middle school Campus Ministry program, and reinvigorating our theology curriculum, we will unequivocally continue to form men of Christian values and conviction.

Both its Catholic and Jesuit identity contribute to making Belen Jesuit unique among other centers of education in the region. In order to strengthen that identity, we need to look past Campus Ministry and the Theology curriculum and strengthen the spiritual formation of the faculty and staff.

The Master Plan for the school has been revised and updated. Included in the plan is the construction of Our Lady of Belen chapel.

“The dream is to have a place on campus where the spiritual and sacramental needs of the whole school community can be addressed,” said Father Willie. “The Chapel of Our Lady in the Garrido Family Plaza will remain at the heart of our campus and a place for daily mass and reflection. The new chapel will provide a place for the entire middle or high school to gather for prayer and mass. It will be a place where alumni can return to get married or to have their child baptized. It will be a place where HE will be present at every moment.”

Since its founding in Havana, Cuba in 1854 and forced relocation in Miami in 1961, Belen Jesuit has been committed to providing a Jesuit education to as many young men as possible. Never forgetting our humble beginnings in Little Havana, we want to make sure that money is not an obstacle when a family desires a Catholic Jesuit education for their son. The Financial Assistance Program has provided much needed help annually to twenty-five percent of enrolled students, but we believe we can do more and reach a greater part of our South Florida community. Belen Jesuit’s population is largely Hispanic and the Strategic Plan calls for us to look at our diversity in terms of socioeconomic and racial aspects so that we can represent a more diverse student population.

“We are excited to announce that we will begin working with the nonprofit group, Breakthrough Miami,” said Lucila E. Marazita-Espinosa, Director of Admissions. “Much like our mission and values, Breakthrough Miami’s mission is to provide an academic enrichment program that uses a student-teaching-students

Cover Story

model to ensure that motivated, under-resourced middle-school students have access to excellent high-school opportunities, graduate from high school on time, and attend college. By partnering with this organization we will be able to share our Catholic faith, Jesuit spirituality, and the Ignatian tradition of serving those in greatest need.”

Pillar II: Academic Excellence

The Jesuits have long been associated with their devotion to education. In fact, worldwide there are 3,730 Jesuit schools, of which there are 30 Jesuit colleges and 81 pre-secondary and secondary schools in North America with a shared goal of developing competent, compassionate and committed leaders in the service of the Church and society. In Florida, there are two, our brothers in Jesuit Tampa and Belen Jesuit in Miami. The Strategic Plan outlines the importance of investing in our facilities, developing challenging and forward-looking academic programs in order to secure our position as one of the leading academic institutions in the nation.

Belen Jesuit is one of the state’s best college preparatory schools and has annually been ranked as one of the nation’s top 50 Catholic high schools by The Cardinal Newman Society. Additionally, Belen Jesuit has been regularly ranked a top Catholic school in Miami by Niche. Despite these accolades we can be better.

“The magis teaches us to strive to do more and that’s what we should always expect of ourselves,” said Jose E. Roca '84, principal. “We should constantly be looking for innovative methods and techniques of educating our students. With technology quickly evolving we need to be at the forefront of an ever-changing world so that we are preparing men who are engaged and socially conscientious citizens.”

Pillar III: Forming Well-Rounded Men

One distinctive aspect of Jesuit education is the emphasis on teaching “the whole person” —mind, body, and spirit. The Strategic Plan emphasizes Belen Jesuit’s desire to educate a man for others who will not only serve his community but has

also taken time to better himself.

“We emphasize that the work done in the classroom, out on a field or court, or in the service of others is always for the greater glory of God,” said Roca. “This is achieved through educating the whole person (Cura Personalis) and striving for the more (Magis). Each student’s spiritual, emotional, and academic needs are addressed through a spiritual, school, and college counselor that is assigned to each student beginning the first day of class.”

Pillar IV: Enhancing Our Brotherhood

There is no question that the network of Belen alumni is strong. Made up of over 7,000 men, the Alumni Association has members throughout the world and spread throughout the United States. The majority of alumni, however, live in South Florida and maintain a close relationship to the school. The Strategic Plan issues the challenge to invest in reaching out to all alumni, far and wide, in order to extend spiritual and faith formation, increase alumni participation in school activities, provide mentorship opportunities and develop a culture of giving.

“Belen is a special place and regardless of when we graduated our experiences and time we spent at Belen bring us closer,” said Alumni Association Executive Director Carlos Bravo ’86. “The Alumni Tour is a way to reengage alumni who live outside of South Florida, update them on the status of the school, and an opportunity to reminisce.”

Alumni also have the opportunity to share their professional experience with students and are often asked to come address classes. Service to the community and working alongside school clubs has helped to inspire students to take community service to another level. These opportunities often lead to mentorships which ultimately lead to a strengthened brotherhood.

Lastly, Belen is what it is today thanks to the generosity of many, but in particular alumni who choose to give back. Through the expansion of the Annual Fund and Capital giving the future is as bright as ever and the execution of the Strategic Plan is possible. Anyone wishing to get involved or to learn more about the Strategic Plan is encouraged to contact Executive Director for Advancement Phil Fernandez via email at ffernandez@belenjesuit.org or call 786-621-4102.

10 QUESTIONS FOR 1 ALUMNUS

By: Jose Toledo '18 Echoes Senior Editor

Tom Llamas '97

Mr. Llamas is an Emmy award-winning journalist, anchor of ABC News “World News Tonight" weekend editions, and Chief National Correspondent reporting for all ABC News programs and platforms. In 2016 Tom was the most used correspondent of any broadcast network garnering the most air time for a single reporter in a decade. He uses his talents and resources to mentor young journalists and teach them the value of objective journalism with the purpose of helping others.

Q. How did you know you wanted to be a journalist?

"WPLG anchor Louie Aguirre, who is a Belen alumnus, came to speak to our Language Arts class. I remember he said 'if you like to write, check out the news business'. That summer at the age of 15 I got my first internship at Telemundo Channel 51. I helped answer phones, but also got to go out in the field and do interviews and help cover stories. I realized it was a job that gave you the opportunity to do impactful work, but also gave you a ringside seat to the day’s main event."

Q. What is your most memorable experience as a professional journalist?

"There have been a lot of incredible moments. In 2015 I had the opportunity to speak with Pope Francis during our ABC News town hall with the pontiff. Covering President Trump for more than 500 days was a truly historic assignment. I got to know our President very well. We had a lot of memorable on camera exchanges, so he definitely got to know me. Recently, I was able to lead ABC News coverage of Hurricane Harvey anchoring World News Tonight from Houston."

Q. What is the toughest part of your job?

"Most people think the toughest part is the travel and being away from my family, or the danger of covering several assignments. It’s

never easy dealing with those situations. But what is far more difficult, as many reporters have said, is that on many days you meet people on the worst days of their lives. Whether they’re the victim of a senseless crime, or a wildfire has just burned down their home, or they’ve lost a major election, you’re trained to stay objective but as a human you feel that person’s grief."

Q. What is one thing you learned at Belen that you value most?

"Cuban history and the reasons why I, like most of my classmates, ended up in a school in Miami and not Havana. El Exilio is a very personal and unique experience that bonds the Belen community. The way Belen taught the history, politics, and the repercussions of the communist revolution and its impact across Latin America and the world was truly a life lesson. Most of us grew up listening to our family’s journey to the United States. At Belen we were able to share these stories and learn about one of the most defining moments of our heritage at a micro and macro level."

Q. While in Belen, who do you feel impacted you the most and how?

"Every year at Belen I had teachers or coaches that impacted or challenged me in some way Here are three who had a major impact. Eugene Zoller required us to read the Miami Herald in his 8th grade

Civics class. That homework assignment was truly a game changer. I remember reading stories about the recovery after Hurricane Andrew, President Bill Clinton, Jorge Mas Canosa and Dave Barry’s column. Mr. Zoller made you highlight all the proper nouns so there was no way of skimming the article; you had to read it. Also his pan con lechon and the way he hawked it, “pawn cone letch-on”, was legendary. In 9th grade we took Language Arts which was taught by Cristina Ramirez. The class was essentially an overview to the field of Communications. We wrote essays and opinion pieces that we shared with the class and we even shot a movie. We also had Belen alumni who came to the class to talk about their careers in journalism and media. It was a real eye-opener and the first time I realized this was something I wanted to do with my life. Finally I give a lot of credit to Leo Williams. I don’t think I would hold the position I have today without the help and encouragement from Mr. Williams when I was a student at Belen. His speech and drama courses in 11th and 12th grade were instrumental. There are aspects of storytelling, public speaking, and knowing your audience that he taught us and that I still use today."

Q. What is your fondest memory of Belen?

"My years at Belen were some of the best times of my life so I have a lot of great memories. One of those memories was our senior year play "The Boys Next Door", which dealt with people from a special needs home. It was a very powerful performance and we had a lot of fantastic actors. But what I remember most was the set. Our teacher Leo Williams went out of his way to construct this magnificent set. I remember we came back after a weekend for rehearsals and we were blown away. It looked Broadway quality and was all hand made. I’ll also look back on Belen as a place where I forged so many great friendships. Then and now those friends are brothers to me."

Q. Is there one funny Belen moment that still makes you laugh?

"In junior year we were in Mr. Jose Roca’s algebra class and suddenly the door swings open and a large bag is thrown into the room. Nobody knew what was in the bag. As Mr. Roca slowly approached it, the bag started to move. A student then emerges out of the bag, acts like he’s lost, then runs out of the class. There was also a day when a teacher didn’t show up and there must have been a miscommunication about the substitute. The class decided to

see how many students could stand on a student’s desk. You’d be surprised how many Belen guys can fit on one desk. Eventually Mr. Leo Nunez walks in, sees dozens of kids standing on the desk, and blurts out in his deep baritone voice “what the dickens?”

Q. How do you give back to your community?

"I mentor a lot of young journalists both inside and outside of ABC. My wife and I go back to our alma mater Loyola University New Orleans to teach seminars. We also donate to charities focused on helping children. My family is also very involved in helping and working with Gesu Church in downtown Miami."

Q. What do you regard as the most important thing in your life?

"My family. Being the best husband and father that I can be are what matters most."

Q. If you could go back and change one thing, what would it be?

"I missed out on the service trip to the Dominican Republic after graduation. I know Belen does them every year so I hope to do one in the future with my family."

Vocation to Family Vocation to Marriage announcements

• Jessica Napuri and Jonathan Salum ‘02

• Jenevieve Bunassar and Gaston Fontela ‘03

• Bianca Barrionuevo and Victor Soto ‘03

• Claudia Begert and Jorge Gomez-Moller '06

• Tomas Xavier, son of Jesus Ayo ’91

• Rafael Ignacio and Mateo Alessandro, sons of Nestor Machado '91

• Mila Sofia, daughter of Eduardo Martinez '92

• Caroline Evie, daughter of Eduardo Alleyn '94

• Jorge Ignacio, son of Jose Amaro ’99

• Krystal Orejas and Arturo Cepero '06

• Ali Ferradas and Ricardo Escobar ‘07

• Ana Ruiz-Castañeda and Javier Ramos ‘07

• Sofia Verdeja and Adrian Gonzalez ‘11

• Elena and Jorge Fernandez-Ceballos '61 celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary

• Mario Carlos, son of Mario Pascual ’99

• Jorge Adrian, son of Jorge Conforme ‘00

• Gabriel Alexander, son of Thomas Pla '00

• Jack Ignacio, son of Michael Ortiz '02

• Megan Ariel, daughter of Milton Collantes '03

• Victoria Sofia, daughter of Marino Baez ’05

• Fernando Santiago, son of Ferny Aran '06 and grandson of Fernando S. Aran '75

• Emma Claire, daughter of Robert Hildreth ‘08

In Memoriam

In loving memory of our alumni friends

Family and Friends announcements

• Perfecto (Kitico) Arango ‘44

• Fr. Francisco Pérez-Lerena, SJ '44

• Vicente Suarez-Real ‘44

• Fernando Alvarez-Tabio ‘53

• Angel “Farruco” Gonzalez Perez '56

• Manuel "Cawy" Comella '57

• Gaspar Zas '57

• Amado Garcia Fournier '60

• Carlos Sanchez Ruiz '61

• Jorge Palacio ’67

• Raul Davalos '73

• Andres Quintero ‘78

• Alex Rodriguez ‘90

• Elena York Sanchez, wife of Manuel Sanchez '41, mother of Manuel '77 and Anthony Sanchez '81, grandmother of Andres Roberto '15 and Manuel Francisco Sanchez '15

• Esperanza, wife of Carlos Busot ‘56

• Virginia Godoy, wife of Gustavo Godoy '61

• Mercedes Jenkins-Suarez, wife of Felipe Suarez ‘66

• Bertha Alcazar, wife of Federico Poey '48, mother of Fred Poey '80 and grandmother of Freddy Poey '11

• Olga Aguirre, wife of Rafael Aguirre ’42

• Beatriz Estrada, mother of Vicente Estrada ‘56

• Adelaida Badenes, mother of Belen Professor and Counselor Maria Moreno

• Lilia Fernandez, mother of Rodrigo Fernandez '60

• Juana Ordoñez, mother of Andres ’60, Miguel ’68, Jose ’80, Adolfo ’81, Ricardo ’83 and Rafael Jimenez ’86 and grandmother of Andres ’87, Javier ’89, Gabriel ’91, David ’94, Nicolas ’05 and Zachary Jimenez ’19 and great-grandmother of Andrés ’22 and Lucas Jimenez ’23

• Maura Pau-Llosa, mother of Ricardo Pau-Llosa '71

• Elisa Rodriguez, mother of Juan '74 and Ernie Rodriguez '82, and grandmother of AJ Rodriguez '13

• Marta Arboleya, mother of Carlos Arboleya '75

• Aida Ferrer Ibarria, mother of Rick Ibarria '75 and former Belen Professor Sigrid Bango

• Ophelia Bared, mother of Pablo Bared '78

• Gisela Sanchez-Medina, mother of Roland Sanchez-Medina ’83

• Carmen Garcia-Menocal, mother of Alfredo Garcia-Menocal ’90

• Vivian Hernandez Lizaso, mother of Antonino Hernandez '90

• Annabel Sanchez, mother of Michael Sanchez '06

• Marta Teresita Cazañas Permuy, mother of Ignacio '81, Pedro '82, Fr. Frank SJ ‘85, Alejandro '88, and Eugene Permuy '89 and grandmother of Antonio Permuy '14

• Esther Gonzalez, grandmother of Francisco González ’13

• Maria Figarola, mother-in-law of Carlos Arazoza ’78

• Enriqueta Lesteiro, mother of Belen Professor Marlene Urbay

• Francisco Plantada, father of Frank Plantada ’78 and grandfather of Christopher Plantada ‘01

• Dr. Basilio Garcia, father of Basilio Garcia '16

• Arturo N. Silva, father of Arturo Silva '77 and grandfather of Eduardo '91, Andres '92, and Gabriel Dieppa ‘96 and Daniel Silva '16

• Eddy Gonzalez, father of Alexis Gonzalez ’92

• Jorge Cao, father of Belen HR Administrator Virginia Trujillo

• Rosa Zayas, grandmother of German ’90 and Eddie Delgado ‘91

• Violeta Hermida, grandmother of Andres ’11, Adrian '15 and Pedro Hermida ’23 and mother-in-law of Belen Counselor Teresa Gutierrez

• Raul Alvarez Obregon, brother of Jose Alvarez Obregon '60

• Oscar Ramirez, brother of Giorgio Ramirez '92 and Belen Professor Cristina Ramirez

Class Notes

1940s, 50s, 60s

Fr. Marcelino Garcia, SJ Sagua published "Mis 25 Años en Belen Jesuit", available at most major bookstores.

Class of ’56 alumni at the monthly luncheon in Casa Paco.

Miriam and Rosendo Ferran '57 with His Eminence, Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York, at the Annual Red Mass in White Plains, NY

Emilio Cueto ‘60 was recognized by the Cultural Section of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Cuba with the “Monsignor Carlos Manuel de Cespedes Award”.

Humberto Rodríguez, José Fernandez, Andres Jimenez, Ricardo Paez, Pedro Castello, Eduardo G. Del Valle, and Julio Lago ’60 in Miami’s Dolphin Mall.

Jorge Fernandez Ceballos, Ivan Danger, Siro del Castillo, Juan Rodríguez-Kohly, Juan Perez, Manuel Huerta and Mauricio Astorga ‘61 get together for lunch.

1970s

Former Mayor of Miami Manny Diaz '73 was a guest speaker at the Leadership Florida conference held at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables.

1980s

Sergio Gonzalez '81 was named Senior Vice President of Advancement at Brown University.

Dr. Francisco Blanco '83 (with Cesar Cantos '23) contributed to the Builders Club Halloween candy buyback project.

Louis Aguirre '84 was hired as an anchor and reporter at WPLG-Local 10 in South Florida.

Dr. Pablo Uribasterra '86 was elected Chief of Staff at Memorial Hospital Miramar.

1990s

Jose Lopez-Varela and Rolando Diaz '87 completed the 2017 Marine Corps Marathon in our Nation's Capital.

Gustavo Lopez '91 was named Senior Vice President of Business Affairs for Ole Communications.

Ramon Branger '92 completed his 2nd New York City Marathon, his 8th overall.

Edgard Perez '92 competed in the Florida Ironman Triathlon in Panama City Beach.

2010s

Dr. Danny Peña '96 (with Israel Salabarria '23) contributed to the Builders Club Halloween candy buy-back project.

Alex Burgos '98 was named Vice President of Federal Policy, Government Relations, and Communications of TechNet.

2000s

George Jalil '02, pictured with family and friends, graduated with an MBA from the University of Texas.

Richard Laviña '03 was featured in a CNN Money article as an innovator in the field of Accounting.

Jorge Jordan '05, pictured with wife Kristen and daughter Ellie, graduated from St. Thomas University Law School.

Matthew Agramonte '10, pictured with his family, received a Juris Doctor from the University of Miami.

Tomas Cacicedo ‘12 received a Master’s Degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Miami.

Nestor Montoya '12 was hired as a reporter at WBBH-NBC2 in Fort Myers, Florida.

Cristian Garcia '13 received a full athletic scholarship in football to the University of Florida.

John Medina '13, Safety on the Trinity College Football Team was named to the New England Small College Athletic Conference All Conference Second Team.

Jorge Orta, Maria Mosello, Brandon Almeida, Eric De Cardenas, Jose E. Roca, Alex Romero and Juan I. Ruiz of the Class of 2013 in England during their European trip.

Hector Formoso-Murias '15 was selected a USRowing's Fan's Choice Award Finalist for Collegiate Athlete of the Year.

GALLERY OF REUNIONS 1957

GALLERY OF REUNIONS 2007

GALLERY OF REUNIONS 1992

ALUMNI GATHERINGS

ALUMNI GATHERINGS

current students and future Wolverines spanning 4 decades enjoying some fun on Sanibel Island with family members

Members of the Class of 1984 and other Alumni and faculty at a memorial Mass in the Belen Chapel on the 1-Year anniversary of the passing of Mark Zanonni '84

OF THE SCHOOL PRESIDENT

There is a photograph that recently has been circulated among my family that I cherish very much. It is a very old, black and white picture. In it, you can see my grandmother in a beautiful white wedding dress being escorted down the aisle by her father as they make their way towards my grandfather standing at the foot of the altar. My grandmother carries a bouquet of flowers in her hand so long that the last of what looks like gardenias is barely off the ground. My grandfather, in a black tailcoat tuxedo with white bowtie and matching boutonniere, looks eager to get the wedding mass started. He stares down the aisle as he sees his bride slowly making her way towards him. You can almost hear the organ playing the wedding march as they approach.

That picture was taken on January 10, 1947 in the main chapel of Belen. It’s where my grandparents were married, just under the image of the school’s patroness, Our Lady of Belen. They were married for 67 years with only her death, three years ago, separating them. My grandfather, an alumnus from the class of 1940, tells me that he always dreamed of being married in the Belen chapel because it held so many great memories for him. His wedding was the best memory of all.

For over 50 years, the older Belen alumni have reminisced about their beautiful chapel. They have often asked why Belen in Miami does not have such a structure where memories like the one my grandfather has can be made. I agree. The small, round chapel nestled in our school’s central patio has served our community well since 1981, but it is time to expand our horizons. It is time to respond to decades of inquiries about a newer, larger, more adequate space for worship.

The recent strategic plan that outlines the roadmap our school will be taking for the next few years, clearly expresses that our top priority is to strengthen our Catholic-Jesuit identity. The construction of the Our Lady of Belen Chapel is one of the more significant steps in addressing this priority. Expecting to break ground early in the Fall, the chapel will be located at the entrance of our school campus (southeast corner of the property) as a testament to our commitment to the faith that has made all things possible for Belen Jesuit. Under the direction of architect Jorge Hernández ’74, the new chapel will be at the service of students, faculty, and alumni. The new chapel will be a place where

extraordinary memories will be made. Currently, the campus continues to ring with the sounds of construction. With the completion of the Gian Zumpano Aquatic Center sometime in March, begins the construction of Arroyo Quad. The space where the old pool is located will be renovated into a park that will recognize the extraordinary Jesuit priests and brothers who helped build and served Belen in Miami. Of these, Fr. Felipe Arroyo, S.J. who envisioned the new campus in west Miami and was president when the school moved from Little Havana, will be especially commemorated thanks to a generous donation from the de la Cruz family.

Finally, I would be remiss if I did not take the opportunity in this edition of the alumni magazine to thank Tommy de Quesada ’94 for his many years of service to the Belen Jesuit community. After 25 years as a teacher, mentor, and Dean of Men, Mr. DQ will be moving on to Fairfield Jesuit Prep in Fairfield, Connecticut where he will serve as the school’s principal. Few have served our students with his level of dedication and passion. It is no surprise that more recent alumni have included him in the prestigious category of “Belegend.” While we are sad to see him go, we are excited for him and proud that a national search for an educational leader recognized the talent in one of ours.

As you flip through the pages of this edition of the alumni magazine, don’t forget that the great things that we have accomplished throughout the years have much to do with the support of our alumni. If you still haven’t registered to participate in the annual fund, please take a moment to do so. Your contribution makes possible our work. Belen Jesuit is committed to working towards the fulfillment of our mission, to educate young men in the tradition of St. Ignatius of Loyola.

Auspice Maria, Fr. Willie '87

Belen Alumni Association of Jesuit Schools from Cuba and Miami Alumni Office

500 Southwest 127 Avenue

Miami, Florida 33184

Miami, Florida Permit No. 1277

Calendar of events

March

Mar 2

Monthly Alumni Mass - Gesu (Noon)

Mar 23 Monthly Alumni Luncheon (Noon)

May

May 4

Monthly Alumni Mass - Gesu (Noon)

May 19-21 Wall of Martyrs Ceremony

May 22 Alumni Pin Ceremony and Mass

May 23 Commencement Exercises

May 25 Monthly Alumni Luncheon (Noon)

July

July 6

Monthly Alumni Mass - Gesu (Noon)

July 21-23 Colegio Dolores - Annual Reunion

July 31 Feast of St. Ignatius

April

Apr 6

Monthly Alumni Mass - Gesu (Noon)

Apr 14 Alumni Night

Apr 24 Northern Trust Luncheon (Noon)

Apr 27 Monthly Alumni Luncheon (Noon)

June

June 1

Monthly Alumni Mass - Gesu (Noon)

June 29 Monthly Alumni Luncheon (Noon)

August

Aug 3

Monthly Alumni Mass - Gesu (Noon)

Aug 31 Monthly Alumni Luncheon (Noon)