Belize’s First Concrete Catholic Church Needs BZ$160,000. Its Parish Is Walking, Running and Riding to Raise It

• St Joseph’s parish in King’s Park, Belize City, is raising BZ$160,000 for renovations
• The money is for the two principal buildings on the church compound
• The parish was founded in 1949 by Jesuit priest Rev John Cull
• Its church was the first Catholic institution in Belize housed in a concrete building

A Belize City parish is turning to its community to pay for repairs. Breaking Belize News reported on 6 July 2025 that St Joseph Church in King’s Park needs BZ$160,000 for much-needed renovations to the two principal buildings on its compound, and was staging a Walk, Run or Ride fundraiser on Saturday 12 July.

The parish has a notable place in the country’s church history. It was founded in 1949 by Jesuit priest Reverend John Cull, and its church, completed in 1969, was the first Catholic institution in Belize to be housed in a concrete building. The parish is now led by Reverend Amalio Chi.

Participants paid a fee of BZ$15, with event T-shirts on sale at the church office for the same price, and the parish opened a dedicated St Joseph Restoration Fund account at Atlantic Bank for donations.

The parish said its plans went beyond bricks and mortar. “The restoration effort is not limited to infrastructure alone. The parish is also focusing on community revitalization, with a series of events and outreach activities designed to strengthen fellowship and support among residents,” it said.

The appeal is typical of how Caribbean parishes pay for building work: a clear target, a dedicated bank account and a public event that brings the congregation and neighbours together. Concrete buildings from the mid-20th century, once seen as modern and durable, are now reaching the age when roofs, steel reinforcement and services need serious attention.

Many Jamaican churches were built in the same era and are facing the same bills. The St Joseph model, a named restoration fund held separately from general church income, is worth copying. It reassures donors that their money is going to the building, makes it easier for diaspora members to give directly, and gives church boards a clear record of what has been raised and spent.

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