Bellarmine Mothers' Guild

Welcome to the Bellarmine Mothers' Guild!

For 97 years, the Bellarmine Mothers' Guild (BMG) has brought current Bell Moms together to support the school through fundraisers and events, while building lasting connections and friendships across the Bellarmine College Prep parent community.

Each year, the BMG organizes in a wide range of community traditions and events, including the annual BMG Fashion Show benefitting Bellarmine's Direct Tuition Assistance Fund, the Eid Celebration in partnership with the Muslim Student Association, and Faculty & Staff Appreciation Breakfasts hosted throughout the school year. These are just a few social, service, and spiritual opportunities that Bellarmine moms can get involved with.

All moms with a currently enrolled full-time student at Bellarmine are automatically members of the BMG, and there are many ways to get involved with our initiatives throughout the school year based on your interests and availability. Moms are welcome and encouraged to learn about these opportunities at our BMG Socials at the Liccardo Center on campus on the first Tuesday evening of each month during the school year (excluding December). Our monthly BMG Socials are a great way to learn about what's happening with the Mothers' Guild and how you can contribute, whether as a one-time volunteer or in a leadership or other ongoing capacity.

We look forward to welcoming you and helping you find community within the BMG during your family's time at Bellarmine. Go Bells!

The Bellarmine Mothers' Guild

2026-2027 Event Calendar

2026-2027 Executive Board

• President: Bindu Garapaty 
• President-Elect: Katie Vieceli
• Treasurer: Jayna Mistry-Toprani
• Fashion Show Chair: Kim Davis
• Fashion Show Chair-Elect: Natalia Cuenca
• Vice President of Cultural Engagement: Erin Caliboso
• Vice President of Events: Anna Almejo
• Vice President of Operations: Erin Mannas
• Vice President of Spiritual Life: Michelle Barrall

La BELLA Vita!

Bellarmine Mothers' Guild 72nd Annual Fashion Show
November 21, 2026

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

You are warmly invited to join us for the many opportunities available to moms, parents, and extended community members of every faith and background to pause, reflect, pray, and connect with one another.  Our Adult Spiritual Life events are welcoming spaces where we can share, support one another, deepen friendships, and celebrate God’s grace all around us. We hope you will find in them moments of peace, gratitude, laughter, and renewal.

2026-2027 Annual Adult Spiritual Life Events

• Mother-Son Liturgy* - Sunday, October 11
• Grandparents Day Mass & Brunch* - Sunday, November 8
• Father-Son Christmas Mass & Brunch* - Sunday, December 13
• Interfaith Women's Retreat - Saturday, February 27
• Mothers' Guild End of Year Celebration - Tuesday, May 11 

*Event begins with a Mass

Moms in Prayer (MIP)

MIP is an informal, interfaith group that gathers in prayer, reflection, encouragement, and sharing. It is a wonderful opportunity to develop new friendships, learn about Bellarmine, and deepen your faith. Time is set aside at each gathering throughout the year to ensure that every student and faculty member is held in prayer by name.  

Whether you attend regularly or simply come when you are able, you are always welcome. Please join us on campus on Tuesdays from 8:35am to 9:30am in the Coffey-Costa Room in Liccardo Center. Please confirm the date and location in the Weekly Connection in case of schedule changes. MIP does not meet when school is not in session.

We hope you will join us as we pray for one another, give thanks for our sons and the Bellarmine community, and make space for faith, reflection, and prayer in our lives.  

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 BCP faculty and parents, and to support the rebuilding of a then-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 the 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 Direct 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, the Santa Clara Convention Center, and now the Signia by Hilton (formerly the Fairmont San Jose) where the show is held today. The original poolside Fashion Shows served afternoon tea to several dozen women, and today over 2,000 people are seated for Luncheon and Dinner shows. The endowment from the Fashion Show for Direct 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 being 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.