Holy Redeemer Catholic Parish, Belize City

In the first half of the 19th century, merchants accounted for most of the Catholic presence in Belize Town – several Spaniards, the German Cramer brothers, the Portuguese Melhados, and the Frenchman Richards.

Bertolio came to build the first Catholic church in Belize Town, for Holy Redeemer Parish.

[1]: 75  As mission superior residing in Belize Town, he functioned also as pastor of Holy Redeemer parish.

Land was obtained from Belize Estate and Produce Company (BEC) for building a rectory, school, and church.

[1]: 78f  The church building, dedicated in 1858, would be enlarged and restored over the next century and become the present Holy Redeemer Cathedral, home to both the parish and the bishop.

The Mercy Sisters came to Belize in 1883 and assumed the task of running Holy Redeemer girls’ and boys' primary schools.

Cassian Gillett founded a "Select School" for young men at Holy Redeemer rectory.

It opened with 14 boys in 1887, grew to 35 by 1890, and to 65 by 1896, when it was dedicated to St. John Berchmans and moved to a new building at the back of the parish rectory.

In 1954 St. John’s Teacher Training College was established using borrowed classrooms at Holy Redeemer Primary School.

Marion M. Ganey, while assistant pastor at the Cathedral, organized youth clubs and Golden Gloves boxing tournaments,[8] and went on to found the credit union and cooperative movement in Belize.

Facundo Castillo became vicar general of the diocese and the first diocesan priest to serve as pastor at Holy Redeemer parish.

[10] The Mercy Sisters of Belize have their motherhouse in the parish, along with a spirituality center[11] and St. Catherine Academy.