Habemvs Papam: Benedictvm XVI
By Kyle Shinseki @ 4:49 PM :: 267 Views
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While at first glance His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI may appear to have little in common with a Christian Life Community with its roots in Havana, Cuba, a closer look at the German Pontiff's life reflects a depth of understanding of the struggles and triumphs of the ACU. His personal trials living under a totalitarian government, his long-standing ties to Latin America, and his call to action for the laity are but a few connections that our new Pope shares with agrupados.

Not unlike many agrupados, our Holy Father was confronted early in his life with the realities of an anti-Catholic totalitarian government. At the tender age of 5, the then Joseph Ratzinger was forced to resettle with his family in a new town because of his father's open criticism of nationalist socialism. Later in life, following the example of his father, he left his position as professor at Tübingen University, in response to a violent explosion of Marxist theology at the school. Pope Benedict XVI has made clear how he intends to work to reverse the decades of impact such secular movements have had in Europe and beyond.

For more than a quarter of a century, His Holiness has been a link between the Vatican and Latin America, where the ACU has its beginnings. In September 1978, he attended the Congreso Mariológico Internacional in Guayaquil, Ecuador in representation of Pope John Paul I. He later went on to fight against the growth of Liberation Theology in Latin America. Ironically, one of the greatest proponents of this Marxist-inspired movement was Leonardo Boff, a former student of the Holy Father from Brazil. The ACU's Spiritual Director, Father Llorente, undoubtedly can relate to the pain of betrayal of a former pupil.

Finally, as former Prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, the Holy Father has an intimate understanding of the challenges we face as lay Catholics, particularly in light of moral and religious relativism. Yet he places his faith in the laity's critical role in the Church. As such, he addressed the laity at his Inauguration Mass by saying, "I greet you, members of the lay faithful, immersed in the great task of building up the Kingdom of God which spreads throughout the world, in every area of life." Particularly poignant for us as agrupados are the words, "in every area of life," as we are challenged to respond to the phrase "en cada primer puesto, un agrupado (in each top position, an agrupado)."

Pope John Paul II: 1920-2005
By Kyle Shinseki @ 4:48 PM :: 271 Views
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Throughout his life, Pope John Paul II set forth a tremendous example for all agrupados. His unwavering faithfulness to the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, his great devotion for the Blessed Virgin Mary, and his dedication to Catholic youth should serve as an inspiration for the ACU as we continue on our journey of faith. John Paul II's message of "Be Not Afraid" resonates deeply with our motto of "Esto Vir" given the challenges we have faced historically as an institution as well as the Christian witness we are called to bear in our everyday lives as students and professionals.

While a staunch fighter for social justice and human rights, John Paul II never failed to understand and demonstrate how all of our apostolic works must be guided by Christ's teachings. The Pope gave voice to the voiceless - unborn children, those living under oppressive regimes, and the terminally ill. His unflinching defense of human life prevented abortion from being declared a "universal human right," while his fearless efforts to defend the Catholic heritage of his people will always be remembered by Poles throughout the world. But perhaps the most salient example of how he defended the sanctity of human life was the courage with which he faced his last days on earth.

Throughout his life, John Paul II maintained a deep love for our Blessed Mother. He turned to her in his greatest moments of need, most notably when an attempt was made on his life. He promoted a renewed emphasis on Mary throughout the Church, made frequent visits to the sites of her apparitions, and gave us five new mysteries to contemplate while praying the rosary. The Pope canonized the first indigenous saint, Juan Diego, witness to the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of Mexico and Queen of the Americas.

Finally, John Paul II sought to inspire the youth of today to reject the world's material temptations and seek God's presence in their lives. Millions of youth throughout the world attended World Youth Days with the Pope and many of these young lives were deeply moved by his presence. In fact, more than a few religious vocations are products of these gatherings. The Pope delivered a message to the youth of Cuba during his historical visit to the island in 1998, where he stated, "Cuba´s future depends on you, on how you build your character and on how you translate into action your commitment to transform the world."

Jesús Maestro Residence
By Kyle Shinseki @ 3:48 PM :: 322 Views
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Construction work on "La Residencia Jesús Maestro" speeds along, right on schedule. The last floor has been laid and the building reached it's intended height. "La Obra" is not complete by any stretch of the imagination. We now enter the "Fit-Up" phase. Progress at this stage will appear less evident, but there is a lot to get done.

William Cueto, Esq
By Kyle Shinseki @ 12:00 AM :: 541 Views
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William Cueto is an Agrupado whose balanced and exemplary life reflects the ideals of the ACU. Willy is a corporate attorney working for a Fortune 500 company, and he is the immediate past president of the American Corporate Counsel Association-South Florida Chapter, and currently chairs the pro bono committee, representing over 200 in-house corporate attorneys.