Bellarmine Mothers' Guild - Bellarmine College Preparatory

Bellarmine Mothers' Guild - Bellarmine College Preparatory
Bellarmine Mothers' Guild
Welcome
News & Events
BMG Executive Board
Fashion Show
Adult Spiritual Life
History & Mission
Welcome to the Bellarmine Mothers’ Guild webpage!
All moms with a currently enrolled full-time student at Bellarmine are automatically members of the Bellarmine Mothers’ Guild (BMG).
For 95 years, the BMG has been one of the major groups working to build a community between the school, students, and their parents. The BMG holds many opportunities for mothers to share in their child’s high school education, enrich the Bellarmine community, and make new friends.
All mothers are welcome and encouraged to attend the BMG monthly meetings held on the first Tuesday evening of each month at the Liccardo Center (no December meeting). In addition, all mothers are welcome to participate in the various social and spiritual events offered throughout the school year.
GO BELLS!
Bellarmine Mothers' Guild
Click Here for the BMG 2025-26 Calendar of Events
2025-2026 Executive Board
President: Marisa Huber
President-Elect:
Bindu Garapaty
Treasurer: Nandini Shah
Fashion Show Chair: Jodi Buyyounouski
Vice President of Cultural Engagement: Lupe Ramírez-Steele
Vice President of Events: Elisa Schweizer
Vice President of Operations: Melissa Ruiz
Vice President of Spiritual Life: Joanna Whitley
Bright Nights, City Lights!
Bellarmine Mothers' Guild 71st Annual Fashion Show
November 22, 2025
We’re excited to share more about the Bellarmine Fashion Show, which benefits the Direct Tuition Assistance Fund and the Tuition Assistance Endowment. Each year the Bellarmine Mothers' Guild raises vital funds through this event, helping numerous students access the exceptional Jesuit education we offer at Bellarmine. We greatly appreciate your continued support.
Fashion Show Website
Fashion Show Facebook Page
We're so glad you're here! We would like to invite you to join us at our many upcoming events tailored for all Bellarmine mothers & caretakers of any faith and background. We are joined together in prayer for our students, families, each other, and the Bellarmine faculty, staff & community. Our gatherings enable us to support one another, share love, encouragement and to celebrate what God has done for us, our families and our communities.
The Spiritual Life Offerings are only a part of the many of the Bellarmine Mothers' Guild events
Here is what the Adult Spiritual Life is planning for the 2025/26 school year:
Grandparents Day Mass & Brunch - Sunday, November 9th
Mother-Son Liturgy & Celebration - Sunday, January 11th
Women's Retreat – Saturday, February 28
*please check the BMG calendar for the entire list of events.
Thank You!
Thank you for your consideration and your willingness to get to know us through all the wonderful events and gatherings available to you to enjoy. We hope you take this opportunity to make a lasting impact not only on your own lives, but the lives of others around you, and especially your family.
On behalf of the Adult Spiritual Life team of volunteers welcome to the community.
Founded in 1929
The Bellarmine Mothers’ Guild was founded to help build community between the faculty and parents and offer support in rebuilding the aged campus. Bringing mothers and families together was the original goal of the Guild as families lived in a wider geography than today. At the time of the Mothers’ Guild founding, San Jose was a farming community and students traveled from the Peninsula by train or lived on campus in what is now O’Donnell Hall.
Mothers' Guild board members hosted other ‘area’ families in their homes before school started each year for Mass and refreshments as a means to get to know each other.  It wasn’t long before phone trees were established to keep in touch (party lines greatly aided that effort!) and soon other activities were organized such as card parties, telephone bridge and rummage sales.
The first Mothers’ Guild President was Mrs. George O’Connell and the Guild charged annual dues of $2, which could be paid in installment – a big contribution in those early days of the Great Depression. However, even in those trying times, the Mothers’ Guild worked hard to raise funds for campus improvement.  In 1953, the Mothers’ Guild joined with the Dads’ Club to co-sponsor the precursor to the Golden Bell Auction, which was originally a dinner dance.
That same year, a long-standing tradition of the Mothers’ Guild began – the annual Fashion Show for Tuition Assistance.  The first several fashion shows were held in homes on the Peninsula, and as they grew in success, the venue also grew – the Hyatt Cabana in Palo Alto, the Marriott in Santa Clara, the Fairmont San Jose Hotel to the Santa Clara Convention Center where the show is held today.  The original poolside Fashion Shows served afternoon tea to several dozen women and today over 2000 people are seated for at Luncheon and Dinner shows.  The endowment from the Fashion Show for Tuition Assistance has grown to over $3 million.
For 100 years, our mission has remained the same:
To foster a spirit of Christian friendship among and within Bellarmine families in support of the activities of the Bellarmine community.
To promote the principles of Jesuit Education in the tradition of the Ignatian philosophy in collaboration with the school administration.
To support projects that encompass the needs and goals of Bellarmine College Preparatory.
To act as role models through volunteering.
To foster the spirit of men and women for and with others.
Please help us continue to build upon the rich history of the Mothers’ Guild. Join us as we raise funds for tuition assistance, support the Bellarmine community, and foster friendships through welcoming social and spiritual events.
Communications
Moms should keep their eyes on the Bellarmine Weekly Connect that comes via email and check
BLUE
Questions?
If you have any questions about the Mothers' Guild, send an email to
moms@bcp.org