ILS’s next-door neighbor, the shrine that dedicated to Our Lady of Charity featuring a chapel overlooking Biscayne Bay has long been a spiritual home for Cubans and Catholics across South Florida, making feast days some of the most crowded events of the year, including this upcoming Monday, September 8, the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which may draw hundreds of pilgrims to the shrine, and which explains why the school will be closed on that day.
Just steps away from the shrine, ILS, will close not for academic, but for practical reasons. The large crowd set to descend at La Ermita could overwhelm the limited parking and the surrounding streets, making it so that students and teachers alike wouldn’t be able to find a place to park.
“I am very happy that we don’t have school on Monday because otherwise I don’t know where I would’ve been able to park, making me late for school,” said junior Raffaela Mandis.
For the students, the day off is not just a holiday, but it is also a reminder of the community’s deep connection to Mary. Many families attend Mass at the Ermita together, blending faith and culture year after year.
“I am glad that we don’t have school Monday because my family and I plan on attending the celebration, and not having to skip school makes it much easier,” said junior Ashley Gomez.
The celebration itself is filled with music, flowers, and devotion. As many different types of people arrive, the La Ermita becomes a shelter for diversity and for celebration, leading to a symbol of unity and hope.
