Gesu Catholic Church, Miami

The Gesu Catholic church is the oldest church in Miami. It was first established by a pioneer and landowning couple, William and Evelyn Wagner, in 1872. The full name of the church is The Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church but it is popularly called “Gesu” which is the Italian name for Jesus.

The Gesu Church relocated to its present site in 1896 on the land donated by Henry Flagler, a Presbyterian landowner. As the congregation outgrew the building, the more spacious structure was erected in 1925. The present church has the capacity of seating 800 parishioners. The altars are made of Italian marble and the temple has polychrome crystal leaded windows brought from Germany, portraying events in the life of Jesus and Mary. In 1974, the building was included in the National Register of Historic Places.

The Gesu Catholic Church has an elementary school run by Jesuits, established in 1961. On the site it has a canteen dining room that serves meals for the elderly through the week. The priests visit and offer their services to the sick in hospitals and convalescent homes. Throughout history, the church has welcomed members of the armed forces and refugees, particularly those who fled the communist regime in Cuba and refugees from Haiti.

The interior of the temple features intricate mosaics depicting the Six Days of Creation, the Hosts of Heaven, and the Stations of the Cross. The stained glass windows portray scenes from the life of Jesus and several scenes from the Old Testament.