Gesu Church Long a Hub for Miamians

It has welcomed returning soldiers from as far back as the Spanish-American War. For the 1960 to 1962 mass exodus of schoolchildren from Cuba, it served as headquarters for Operation Pedro Pan.

Gesu Church, established in 1896, is South Florida’s oldest Catholic church. Industrialist Henry M. Flagler donated land for it at the request of Catholics Catherine and Joseph MacDonald. The area’s first Catholic church, a chapel on Spanish mission land where Jackson Memorial Hospital sits, had by then closed.

The first Gesu Church, built at a cost of $3,600, was made of wood. The New Orleans Mission of Jesus staffed it with Jesuits from Tampa, and Fr. Ambrose Fontan became the first pastor.

The original Gesu Church was replaced in 1922 by the current concrete Mission Revival structure, which was intended to accommodate as many as 800 people.

Gesu Church’s north and south walls illustrate the story of Mary and Jesus through polychromed crystal-leaded glass windows that were made in Germany.

Iron gates between the west entrance doors protect statues, including Jesus on the crucifix, and framed paintings that include an image of Mary praying. The altar is made of marble.

Gesu’s services, in Spanish as well as English, accommodate a diverse parish. The church’s name is, however, Italian for Jesus. Its full name: The Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church.

Gesu Church hears confessions daily, hosts a Bible study and prayer groups and prepares youngsters and adults for holy sacraments.

Gesu Church also boasts an elementary school and a senior center that serves free weekday lunches, offers computer classes and sells low-cost thrift store clothing.