Gesu Church (Miami, Florida)

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Gesu Church
U.S. National Register of Historic Places

Location:	Miami, Florida
Added to NRHP:	July 18, 1974

This article is about the church in Florida. For the church in Wisconsin, see Gesu Church (Milwaukee, Wisconsin).

The Gesu Church is a historic church in Miami, Florida. It is located at 118 Northeast 2nd Street. On July 18, 1974, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

[edit] 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. There were four graduates in the first high school graduating class of 1913.

A new five story school was built in 1926 and the name changed to Gesu Parish School. The last Gesu High School graduation was in 1953. The last eighth grade graduation was in 1982 when the school was closed. The school was demolished in 1983. In 1961, Belen Jesuit School is established in the United States. The fourth floor of the Gesu Church became the first site of Belen Jesuit Preparatory School. The faculty, like many other priests and religious, had been expelled from Cuba by the government of Fidel Castro, an alumnus of the school. In October 1962, Belen Jesuit moved to SW 8 Street and 7 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.

[edit] Pastor

Rev. Eduardo J. Alvarez, S.J. (born in 1945 in Cuba) graduated from Belen Jesuit Preparatory School in 1963. He received a master of arts degree from St. Michael's College and a master's degree in education from Barry University. Prior to becoming pastor at Gesu Church, he taught at Belen Jesuit Preparatory School and was its chaplain (1975-2004).