St. Martin de Porres Church, Belize City

Bill Messmer, pastor of St. Ignatius Church in South Belize City, opened a school to accommodate students in the west part of his parish.

There is also a day care center, three school buildings housing pre-school through eighth grade accommodating 825 students, a soccer field, and a basketball court.

[6] The people of de Porres parish work together to respond to the problems of poverty and unemployment, and the ensuant crime, in the southwest part of Belize City.

They enjoy the support of two sister parishes in the United States, St. Francis Xavier in Kansas City, Missouri,[7] and Good Shepherd in Frankfort, Kentucky,[8] as well as partnerships and student immersion trips.

[9][10] Along with St. Peter Claver church in Punta Gorda, St. Martin's remains one of two parishes in Belize still pastored by the Society of Jesus (Jesuits).