Jul 21, 2023
Back to Galleries
The 14,000-square-foot building, dedicated May 1, 2022, draws from several motifs. It uses both the “lateral chapel” design, popular in western Europe for centuries, and the “hall” structure developed by Germany for concerts and lectures.
Early well-wishers gather May 1, 2022, for the dedication of the Chapel of Our Lady of Bethlehem, on the premises of the Belen Jesuit Preparatory School.
The large Alma Mater statue was created with a donation from a woman in gratitude for the comfort the school gave her after her husband died.
Early members of the Jesuit order are remembered in bas-reliefs at each side of the entrance.
Early members of the Jesuit order are remembered in bas-reliefs at each side of the entrance.
A baldacchino, or shallow dome, arches over the chancel.
Paschal candle stands in front of the main crucifix.
Bas-relief of a dove, symbolizing the Holy Spirit, flies over the main altar.
First-class relic of St. Ignatius of Loyola - a bit of a femur bone - was set into the edge of the altar.
Statue of St. Frances Xavier, a pioneer in the Society of Jesus, brandishes a cross in Our Lady of Belen Chapel. He took the Gospel deep into Asia in the 16th century.
Statue of St. Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, looks heavenward in Our Lady of Belen Chapel. His book has the Jesuit motto, "Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam," Latin for "For the Greater Glory of God."
Sunburst with IHS emblazons the altar. The initials stand for "In Hoc Signo," short for "In Hoc Signo Vinces" - "By This Sign Conquer."
Statuette of Our Lady of Belen presides over the chapel from a pillar at the back. The 15 Stars of David - a reminder of the Jewish roots of Christianity - stand for the Holy Trinity plus the original 12 disciples.
The statuette looks dressed in fabric, but it's artfully carved and treated wood.
Mary's pillar has three symbols inlaid in marble: a dove, for the Holy Spirit who came upon her; a Star of David, for her birth into Judaism; and a Fleur De Lis, a symbolic lily, for her purity.
St. Jose de Anchieta is featured in one of 10 artworks of Jesuit martyrs and missionaries, painted by Spanish artist Raul Berzosa. Anchieta, who said the first Mass at the founding of Sao Paulo, Brazil, is shown here writing a poem for Mary in the wet sand at a beach.
St. Francis Borgia is featured in one of 10 artworks of Jesuit martyrs and missionaries, painted by Spanish artist Raul Berzosa. The 16th century saint declined two offers to become a cardinal, instead becoming General of the Society of Jesus.
St. Jean de Brebeuf is featured in one of 10 artworks of Jesuit martyrs and missionaries, painted by Spanish artist Raul Berzosa. Brebeuf, who ministered in 17th century Quebec, is shown dying under torture from Iroquois Indians.
Father Walter Ciszek is featured in one of 10 artworks of Jesuit martyrs and missionaries, painted by Spanish artist Raul Berzosa. A Polish immigrant in Pennsylvania, Father Ciszek entered the Soviet Union as a Byzantine Rite priest. The painting shows him saying Mass in a Soviet labor camp.
St. Peter Claver is featured in one of 10 artworks of Jesuit martyrs and missionaries, painted by Spanish artist Raul Berzosa. The Spanish-born Claver ministered in Colombia, where he taught and baptized more than 300,000 African slaves.
St. Roque Gonzalez is featured in one of 10 artworks of Jesuit martyrs and missionaries, painted by Spanish artist Raul Berzosa. Martyred by a South American chieftain, he was the first Paraguayan native ever canonized.
St. Rene Goupil is featured in one of 10 artworks of Jesuit martyrs and missionaries, painted by Spanish artist Raul Berzosa. The 17th century Goupil first served the sick and wounded as a layman at a mission near Quebec. He joined the Society of Jesus just a few days before he was martyred by Mohawks.
St. Alberto Hurtado is featured in one of 10 artworks of Jesuit martyrs and missionaries, painted by Spanish artist Raul Berzosa. A strong advocate of Catholic social teaching, Hurtado founded a trade union association, plus a home for homeless children, in his native Chile.
The Martyrs of La Florida is the subject of this, one of 10 artworks of Jesuit martyrs and missionaries, painted by Spanish artist Raul Berzosa. The painting honors more than 50 martyrs of various religious orders who are being considered for canonization. Featured are fathers Pedro Martinez, left, and Juan Bautista de Segura.
Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro is the subject of one of 10 artworks of Jesuit martyrs and missionaries, painted by Spanish artist Raul Berzosa. Pro ministered in his native Mexico despite a wave of government anti-Catholicism in the 1920s. The painting shows how he faced a firing squad: his arms stretched in cruciform position, holding a cross and a rosary.
Mural of El Colegio de Belen, the former Jesuit school in Havana, overlooks the lobby of the two-story administration building for the Belen Jesuit Preparatory School.
St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, looks heavenward in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception, the original chapel at the Belen Jesuit School.
St. Frances Xavier, a pioneer in the Society of Jesus, looks heavenward in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception, the original chapel at the Belen Jesuit School.
Painting of the Assumption of Mary stands behind the altar at the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception.
St. Aloysius de Gonzaga carries a plague patient in this statue at the Belen Jesuit Preparatory School. The 16th century Jesuit saint then caught the illness himself and died at the age of 23.
Metal sculpture sinks a hoop in front of the athletic building at the Belen Jesuit Preparatory School.
St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, holds a skull and cross as a reminder of his Lenten Spiritual Exercises on mortality.
The large Alma Mater statue was created with a donation from a woman in gratitude for the comfort the school gave her after her husband died.
Early members of the Jesuit order are remembered in bas-reliefs at each side of the entrance.
Early members of the Jesuit order are remembered in bas-reliefs at each side of the entrance.
A baldacchino, or shallow dome, arches over the chancel.
Paschal candle stands in front of the main crucifix.
Bas-relief of a dove, symbolizing the Holy Spirit, flies over the main altar.
First-class relic of St. Ignatius of Loyola - a bit of a femur bone - was set into the edge of the altar.
Statue of St. Frances Xavier, a pioneer in the Society of Jesus, brandishes a cross in Our Lady of Belen Chapel. He took the Gospel deep into Asia in the 16th century.
Statue of St. Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, looks heavenward in Our Lady of Belen Chapel. His book has the Jesuit motto, "Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam," Latin for "For the Greater Glory of God."
Sunburst with IHS emblazons the altar. The initials stand for "In Hoc Signo," short for "In Hoc Signo Vinces" - "By This Sign Conquer."
Statuette of Our Lady of Belen presides over the chapel from a pillar at the back. The 15 Stars of David - a reminder of the Jewish roots of Christianity - stand for the Holy Trinity plus the original 12 disciples.
The statuette looks dressed in fabric, but it's artfully carved and treated wood.
Mary's pillar has three symbols inlaid in marble: a dove, for the Holy Spirit who came upon her; a Star of David, for her birth into Judaism; and a Fleur De Lis, a symbolic lily, for her purity.
St. Jose de Anchieta is featured in one of 10 artworks of Jesuit martyrs and missionaries, painted by Spanish artist Raul Berzosa. Anchieta, who said the first Mass at the founding of Sao Paulo, Brazil, is shown here writing a poem for Mary in the wet sand at a beach.
St. Francis Borgia is featured in one of 10 artworks of Jesuit martyrs and missionaries, painted by Spanish artist Raul Berzosa. The 16th century saint declined two offers to become a cardinal, instead becoming General of the Society of Jesus.
St. Jean de Brebeuf is featured in one of 10 artworks of Jesuit martyrs and missionaries, painted by Spanish artist Raul Berzosa. Brebeuf, who ministered in 17th century Quebec, is shown dying under torture from Iroquois Indians.
Father Walter Ciszek is featured in one of 10 artworks of Jesuit martyrs and missionaries, painted by Spanish artist Raul Berzosa. A Polish immigrant in Pennsylvania, Father Ciszek entered the Soviet Union as a Byzantine Rite priest. The painting shows him saying Mass in a Soviet labor camp.
St. Peter Claver is featured in one of 10 artworks of Jesuit martyrs and missionaries, painted by Spanish artist Raul Berzosa. The Spanish-born Claver ministered in Colombia, where he taught and baptized more than 300,000 African slaves.
St. Roque Gonzalez is featured in one of 10 artworks of Jesuit martyrs and missionaries, painted by Spanish artist Raul Berzosa. Martyred by a South American chieftain, he was the first Paraguayan native ever canonized.
St. Rene Goupil is featured in one of 10 artworks of Jesuit martyrs and missionaries, painted by Spanish artist Raul Berzosa. The 17th century Goupil first served the sick and wounded as a layman at a mission near Quebec. He joined the Society of Jesus just a few days before he was martyred by Mohawks.
St. Alberto Hurtado is featured in one of 10 artworks of Jesuit martyrs and missionaries, painted by Spanish artist Raul Berzosa. A strong advocate of Catholic social teaching, Hurtado founded a trade union association, plus a home for homeless children, in his native Chile.
The Martyrs of La Florida is the subject of this, one of 10 artworks of Jesuit martyrs and missionaries, painted by Spanish artist Raul Berzosa. The painting honors more than 50 martyrs of various religious orders who are being considered for canonization. Featured are fathers Pedro Martinez, left, and Juan Bautista de Segura.
Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro is the subject of one of 10 artworks of Jesuit martyrs and missionaries, painted by Spanish artist Raul Berzosa. Pro ministered in his native Mexico despite a wave of government anti-Catholicism in the 1920s. The painting shows how he faced a firing squad: his arms stretched in cruciform position, holding a cross and a rosary.
Mural of El Colegio de Belen, the former Jesuit school in Havana, overlooks the lobby of the two-story administration building for the Belen Jesuit Preparatory School.
St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, looks heavenward in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception, the original chapel at the Belen Jesuit School.
St. Frances Xavier, a pioneer in the Society of Jesus, looks heavenward in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception, the original chapel at the Belen Jesuit School.
Painting of the Assumption of Mary stands behind the altar at the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception.
St. Aloysius de Gonzaga carries a plague patient in this statue at the Belen Jesuit Preparatory School. The 16th century Jesuit saint then caught the illness himself and died at the age of 23.
Metal sculpture sinks a hoop in front of the athletic building at the Belen Jesuit Preparatory School.
St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, holds a skull and cross as a reminder of his Lenten Spiritual Exercises on mortality.
Photography: JIM DAVIS | FC
