Manuel Carbonell was born in Cuba on October 25, 1918, and graduated from el Colegio de Belen in 1936.

Manuel is considered among the greatest Cuban sculptors of his generation.

His most well-known work is the 53-foot bronze monument located on the Miami River Bridge titled “The Pillar of History and the Tequesta Family.”

He also sculpted "El Centinela del Rio" at Tequesta Point on Brickell Key and the statue of Our Lady for the Agrupacion Catolica Universitaria in 1972.

In 1983, because of his love for the Jesuits and his alma mater, Manuel sculpted four unique bronze pieces for the Belen Jesuit’s Chapel of the Immaculate Conception.

The first piece is the altar. It resembles a cave carved into a mountain. The gold-plated letters JHS represent the first three letters of the name of Jesus in Greek.

The second piece or pieces are the two candlesticks on either side of the altar. The base of one is the bull representing Luke and the other is the lion representing Mark.

The third piece, arguably the most important item, is the tabernacle, where we repose the Eucharist for adoration and after mass. To the side of the tabernacle, Manuel also designed a bronze candle holder for the sanctuary lamp. This lamp is always lit, indicating the sacramental presence of Jesus in the Tabernacle.

The fourth and final piece is the crucifix hanging over the altar. The bronze figure of Jesus Christ clearly expresses his suffering and passion in the brass crown of thorns and brass nails in his hands and feet.

Manuel also gifted Belen the large painting of the Blessed Mother that hangs behind the altar.

Manuel passed away in 2011 at 93 and was a prolific artist until his death. He is survived by his two sisters and their children.

He is posthumously inducted into the Belen Hall of Fame, class of 2023.