The Gesu Church is a historic Roman Catholic church in Miami

Miami, Florida

Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...

, Florida

Florida

Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...

. It is located at 118 Northeast 2nd Street. On July 18, 1974, it was added to the U.S.

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 National Register of Historic Places

National Register of Historic Places

The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...

. The church was built in 1896 and is the oldest Catholic Church in Miami.

Description

The Gesu Church is significant for its important role in the religious history of Miami and as a reflection of the City's growth and development. In addition, the buildings are excellent examples of religious architecture and noteworthy for the excellence of its design, craftsmanship, and detailing.

Gesu is Miami's oldest Catholic parish and has served the religious and humanitarian needs of the community for over a century. The growth of the parish closely parallels the development of the City of Miami.

Miami's first Catholic service was conducted in 1872 when Father Dufau, who had been sent to South Florida by Bishop John Marcellus Peter Augustine Verot, P.S.S. of St. Augustine, celebrated Mass and confirmed the pioneer family of William J. Wagner. Wagner constructed a small wooden church on his homestead in 1875, and this became Miami's first house of worship.

The Holy Name Parish (now Gesu) was organized in 1896 and the pastor was Father Ambrose Fontan, S.J. A new church was constructed in 1897 on land donated by Henry Flagler. As Miami's population and the Holy Name congregation expanded, the need for a larger church became evident. A cornerstone was subsequently laid on December 10, 1920, on the site of the earlier church, and the new building was dedicated in 1925. The Gesu Parish School opened in 1905 with six grades and 60 students. The original school name was The Academy of the Sisters of St. Joseph St. Catherine's Convent. The school was also known as St. Catherine's Convent School and St. Catherine's Academy. There were four graduates in the first high school graduating class of 1913. The Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Augustine, Florida, were the teaching staff at the school.

A new five story school was built in 1926 and the name changed to Gesu Parish School. It was located at 130 Northeast 2nd Street. The last Gesu High School graduation was in 1953. There were 40 graduates in that class. The last eighth grade graduation was in 1982 when the school was closed. The school was demolished in 1984.

In 1961, Belen Jesuit Preparatory School was established in the United States. The fourth floor of the Gesu School became the first site of Belen Jesuit Preparatory School. The faculty, like many other priests and religious, had been expelled from Cuba

Cuba

The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...

 by the government of Fidel Castro

Fidel Castro

Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...

, an alumnus of the school. In October 1962, Belen Jesuit moved to 824 Southwest 7th Avenue; and, in 1981, to 500 S.W. 127th Avenue.

Gesu Church continues to serve as one of the three downtown churches and was recently restored to its original appearance. The parish has been staffed by the Jesuits of Antilles province since 2004. Previously it was staffed by the Jesuits of New Orleans province. Father Eduardo "Eddy" Alvarez, S.J. is the pastor. The church seating capacity is 700 plus 150 in choir balcony.

Leadership

Below are lists of individuals who have led the church and school since their founding.

Church Pastors

• Rev. Ambrose Fontan, S.J. (1896–1898)
• Rev. James Moore, S.J. (1898 [Only 4 Months])
• Rev. Ambrose Fontan, S.J. (1898–1903)
• Rev. Patrick Kennedy, S.J. (1903–1908)
• Rev. Alexander B. Friend (1908–1914)
• Rev. James McLaughlin, S.J. (1914–1929)
• Rev. Edward Cummings, S.J. (1929–1930)
• Rev. Michael McNally, S.J. (1930–1934)
• Rev. Florence D. Sullivan, S.J. (1934–1945)
• Rev. John H. McAtee, S.J. (1945–1949)
• Rev. John Druhan, S.J. (1949–1953)
• Rev. Harold Gaudin, S.J. (1953–1959)
• Rev. John Sweeney, S.J. (1959–1970)
• Rev. Michael English, S.J. (1970–1971)
• Rev. Ignatius Fabacher, S.J. (1971–1975)
• Rev. John Edwards, S.J. (1975–1983)
• Rev. James Donald Pearce, S.J. (1983–1991)
• Rev. George Casey, S.J. (1991–1993)
• Rev. Thomas J. Madden, S.J. (1993–2002)
• Rev. William Mayer, S.J. (2002–2004)
• Rev. Eduardo J. Alvarez, S.J. (2004–Present)

Current Pastor

Rev. Eduardo J. Alvarez, S.J. (born in 1945 in Cuba

Cuba

The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...

) graduated from Belen Jesuit Preparatory School

Belen Jesuit Preparatory School

Belen Jesuit Preparatory School is a Roman Catholic preparatory school in Miami, Florida operated by The Society of Jesus. It was established in Cuba by the Jesuits in 1854, but moved to the United States after the communist government of Fidel Castro, himself an alumnus, took power and expelled...

 in 1963. He received a master of arts degree from St. Michael's College

University of St. Michael's College

The University of St. Michael's College is a college of the University of Toronto, founded in 1852 by the Congregation of St. Basil of Annonay, France. While mainly an undergraduate college for liberal arts and sciences, St. Michael's retains its Roman Catholic affiliation through its postgraduate...

 and a master's degree in education from Barry University

Barry University

Barry University is a private, Catholic university, which was founded in 1940 in Miami Shores, Florida, a suburb north of Downtown Miami. It is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami....

. Prior to becoming pastor at Gesu Church, he taught at Belen Jesuit Preparatory School and was its chaplain (1975–2004).

School Principals

• Sister M. Euphemia Sullivan (1905–1909)
• Sister Margaret Mary Hanlon (1909–1922)
• Unknown (1922–1934)
• Sister Francis of Assissi Byrne (Sister F. Assissium) (1934–1941)
• Sister Francis of Assissi Byrne (Sister F. Assissium), Mother Theresa Joseph Brown (1941–1942)
• Rev. Godfrey S. Cook, Sister M. Celestine Hehir (1942–1945)
• Sister Mary Herbert Rogero (1945–1952)
• Mother Theresa Joseph Brown (1952–1958)
• Sister St. Anne Stone (1958–1961)
• Sister Teresa Maria O'Donovan (1961–1967)
• Sister Margaret Therese Schaufler (1967–1971)
• Sister M. Trinita McCarthy (1971–1979)
• Sister Mary Ester Flanagan (1979–1981)
• Sister Breedeen Connolly (1981–1985)