Agrupacion Catolica Universitaria
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The Agrupacion Catolica Universitaria (ACU) is a Christian Life Community (CVX-CLC) composed of professional Catholic men.
[edit] Description
The ACU is one of the few Hispanic Catholic professional organizations with a focus of developing lay Catholic leaders for society. Members of the ACU are known as agrupados or congregantes. The ACU emphasizes balance among spiritual, professional and apostolic life. Agrupados are expected to lead an exemplary life, imitate Jesus Christ, bear witness to his message, and help make society more Godly.
Organizationally, the ACU is based on Jesuit formational principles. Its methods emphacize Marian reflection and the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Spiritual development is achieved through weekly discussions on pertinent Catholic topics, community service, and annual participation in Spiritual Exercises.
The motto of the ACU is "Esto Vir" (from 1 Kings 2:2), which, translated from its Latin, means "to be a man".
The university's mission statement is: "Inspired by Ignatian spirituality, we are consecrated sons of the Virgin Mary called to build and defend the Catholic Church by individually and collectively influencing society towards the high standard of Christ, through our balanced spiritual, professional, and apostolic lives, all for the Greater Glory of God."
[edit] History of the ACU
During the 1920s in Cuba, the keepers of the Catholic faith were mostly women and children. At the time, young men would typically become nominal Catholics once they graduated high school. In 1925, Spaniard Fr. Felipe Rey de Castro became the principal of Colegio de Belén, a Jesuit school in the suburbs of Havana. Fr. Rey de Castro used the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit order, to motivate his students.
In 1926, Fr. Rey de Castro met with the graduating class and asked them to stay together while at the University of Havana, live a life centered on prayer and the sacraments, and strive for academic excellence. Annual spiritual exercises helped to form a community of university students and young professionals who shared the Ignatian model. From this small group developed the ACU of today.
Following the rise to power of Fidel Castro, the ACU left Cuba. Since then, it has expanded within the U.S. to include houses in Atlanta, Orlando, San Juan, New York and Washington, DC. The base of the ACU, in Miami, Florida, is led by Father Amando Llorente.
