St. Theresa: Preparation for ‘heaven and Harvard’

By Priscilla A. Greear - Florida Catholic

CORAL GABLES | In 1925, the same year Coral Gables was established, Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Augustine opened a school for 70 students on six acres on the city’s highest elevation �Indian Mound Trail� laying the foundation for Catholic education to transform generations.

On the cusp of Catholic Schools Week, St. Theresa’s families and parishioners overflowed from the Church of the Little Flower for the school’s 90th anniversary Mass and reception on school grounds. Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez, a school grandparent whose wife and three children are alumni, presented a declaration naming Jan. 30 as St. Theresa School 90th Anniversary Day in Miami-Dade County.

Home and School Board president Rafael Peñalver praised the leadership of the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles and other faculty and staff, 25 percent of whom are alumni. His two children and his brother’s all attend St. Theresa, and his sister is a graduate.

“The love and care the faculty and sisters here give kids is just amazing; total dedication to our children and a commitment to excellence, academic excellence and spiritual excellence. They prepare these kids to go to heaven and to go to Harvard,” he said in an interview.

At the Mass, a combined St. Theresa and Little Flower Schola Cantorum led the congregation in song, including Therese’s Canticle of Love composed by members of the Carmelites, the order that has staffed the school since 1991. Student council president Marcel van Hemert welcomed the congregants.

In the homily, the pastor Father Michael Davis told how Sisters of St. Joseph purchased the land for $45,000 from city founder George Merrick and constructed the original Spanish colonial structure featuring detailed stucco and reliefs that convey Merrick’s Mediterranean visions.

St. Theresa School opened as St. Joseph’s Academy, serving both middle and high school. By spring 1926, the Church of the Little Flower opened its doors, followed by Coral Gables First United Methodist and the University of Miami.

But in September 1926 a hurricane struck, blowing out doors and windows and even hurling a piano over a rail from the second story music room. The resilient sisters immediately began rebuilding.

In 1932, the name was changed to St. Theresa and it was turned into the parish school. With population growth following World War II, new building space was constructed. By 1956, 1,200 were enrolled, and in 1958 the high school grades closed. As the numbers of St. Joseph Sisters declined, the parish invited the Carmelites to come in 1991.

“The Sisters of St. Joseph served Little Flower faithfully and diligently for 65 years,” said Father Davis. “The Carmelite Sisters have beautifully, inspiringly and competently directed the school ever since�Notice what God has done through nine decades of Catholic education and how many lives have been touched by this wonderful parish school.”

Among 1958 graduates was Carter Burrus, a current guidance counselor and former history teacher at Christopher Columbus High School who displays his St. Theresa’s diploma in his office alongside his doctorate. “Kids would say, ‘Why would someone hang their middle school degree?’ Because it’s special �it’s St. Theresa’s!”

Last year he dropped in on St. Joseph sisters at their residence in St. Augustine and visited his seventh grade teacher. “I went in the parlor and she came in �every single episode, every bad thing I did in seventh grade, she remembered it,” he said chuckling.

Class of ’68 alumnus Dr. Jose Centurion, a Gables cardiologist whose four children are also alumni, recalled how he and friends used to cut across Granada Golf Course to bike to school. After school, the sisters carefully monitored them as they played sports outside before heading to the youth center.

In those days, he and other Cuban Americans comprised less than 10 percent of the student body.

“When they took us here when we didn’t have anything. They were very, very kind to us. It was a very good education...I can’t think of a group that has helped to mold more kids than St. Theresa’s,” said Centurion, recalling the introduction of high-tech overhead projectors during middle school.

St. Joseph Sisters also gave him his first job, cutting grass at Mercy Hospital, and set him on his path to practice medicine and serve the indigent with the St. John Bosco Medical Clinic.  

“They instilled in us that sense of caring and sense of patience to help others,” he said. “I don’t think my kids or I would be where we are if it wouldn’t have been for St. Theresa’s.”

Eighth grader Theresa Cortinas said she was honored to sing in the Mass along with her mother Kathleen. She also serves on the student council and her father, Carlos Cortinas, is one of eight sibling graduates.

“This 90th anniversary Mass was probably one of the most special Masses we’ve ever had here at St. Theresa’s,” said Theresa, who was named after the school. “It’s a very nurturing and Christ-centered environment. It’s geared towards education and faith. Students feel welcome here. It’s a just a great environment and the teachers are friendly. There are very good teachers.”

The mayor’s wife, Lourdes Gimenez, proudly recalled being told once in her work as a public school principal that she ran her school like a nun.

“The foundation we received not only academically but for life, you don’t get anywhere. You work together, pray together, study together. We still keep in touch,” she said. “It was that special gift and spirit in the way (the sisters) talked to us, in the way they formed religious belief on being good people and what’s important in life: Be good and don’t look at who (is who). Be good to people just like Jesus would.”

Class of 1946 graduate Louise Bennett taught at the school for 27 years. Her five children and three grandchildren all attended. “I live today like I learned to live at St. Theresa’s.”

In her day they didn’t wear uniforms and classes weren’t exactly small. “Sometimes there used to be 40 in a class when I was in school” but the nuns managed it just fine, she added.

The school now has 987 students in Pre-K-8 with the majority Cuban American but growing numbers from Venezuela and across Latin America, said the principal, Sister Caridad Sandoval.

The Catholic core permeates the school, from participation in sacraments to presentations on saints during morning assembly. “The spiritual focus�it seems to be kind of like the air we breathe,” said the Carmelite, who joined the staff three years ago. “What I see is a beautiful family spirit.”

Peñalver has worked to increase parent engagement.

“My idea has been to empower parents to feel they are St. Theresa...The priests, nuns, lay teachers and above all the students are all this one family,” he said. “It’s a great feeling to be part of something greater than yourself, a 90-year tradition of excellence and Catholic values in the children. It’s great to see the tradition of excellence continue and we’re looking forward to the 100th.”