Félix Varela
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Father Félix Varela Stamp, 1997
Joining the seminary faculty within a year of his ordination, he taught Philosophy, Physics, and Chemistry. In his position there, he taught many illustrious Cubans, including José Antonio Saco, Domingo del Monte, Dr. José de la Luz y Caballero, and Felipe Poey. Referring to Varela, Dr. De la Luz said; "As long as there is thought in Cuba, we will have to remember him, the one who taught us how to think." José Marti's teacher Rafael María de Mendive was also Varela's disciple.
Varela joined in a petition to the Spanish Crown for the independence of Latin America, and also published an essay which argued for the abolition of slavery in Cuba. For such ideas, he was sentenced to death by the government. Before he could be arrested, however, he sought refuge in Gibraltar and later emigrated to the United States, where he spent the rest of his life.
Varela was the founder of the first Spanish-language newspaper in the U.S., publishing many articles about human rights, as well as multiple essays on religious tolerance, cooperation between the English and Spanish-speaking communities, and the importance of education. He published other newspapers in Spanish, including "El Habanero" and "El Mensajero Semanal," and also published "The Protestant Abriger" and "Annotator" in New York.
In 1837, he was named Vicar General of the Diocese of New York, which then covered all of New York State and New Jersey. In this post, he played a major role in the way the American Church dealt with the tremendous influx of Irish refugees, that was just beginning at the time. He was later named a Doctor of Theology by St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland.
Nearly sixty years after his death in Florida, his body was returned to his homeland and laid to rest in the University of Havana's Aula Magna. Pope John Paul II beatified him. If canonized, he would be the first Cuban-born person to be honored on the altars of the Catholic church.
The Cuban government has created an award bearing his name, entitled the "Orden Félix Varela", which is awarded to those whom the government deems to have contributed to Cuban and worldwide culture. (See List of people awarded the Varela award (http://www.cubarte.cult.cu/global/loader.php?&cat=premio&cont=premiados.php&premioid=41).)
Felix Varela High School
Felix Varela High School (Home of the Vipers) opened on August 28, 2000, in dedication to the memory of Padre Felix Varela, in Miami, Florida. About 2,000 ninth and tenth graders (classes of 2003 and 2004) were enrolled in the first school year. The enrollment of Varela High grew sequentially after each school year as more incoming freshman enrolled. Eventually, the school reached the status as a full-fledged high school when it was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and there were students from the 9-12 grade levels.
