Eric Lastres First Vows
Eric Lastres is a 2018 graduate of Belen Jesuit Preparatory School in Miami. At the end of his sophomore year in High School, Eric approached Fr. Willie García-Tuñón, S.J., president of Belen, with a desire to establish a group at the high school that would specifically focus on deepening Catholic formation. Fr. Willie recognized this genuine desire and enlisted members of the ACU to help Eric bring this desire to fruition. Through this collaboration, the Esto Vir Group, the high school Marian Sodality at Belen, was established. During his final two years at Belen, Eric nourished the seed that he himself planted and which continues to thrive today. Attached is a picture of the first group of students that made their consecration into the Esto Vir Sodality together with Eric in 2018.
After graduating Belen, Eric completed a bachelor's in civil engineering at the University of Florida in just three years. He then decided to enter the Society of Jesus and just recently completed the Novitiate program, the first two years of formation, in Santiago, Dominican Republic.
On Saturday, August 5, 2023, Eric will profess his first vows to the Society. These first vows are poverty, chastity, and obedience, in imitation of Christ, and include a promise to proceed with Jesuit formation.
Fr. Martin Lenk, S.J., Provincial of the Caribbean Province, will celebrate the Mass and receive the vows. Fr. Lenk will be joined by numerous other Jesuit priests. Following the Mass there will be a reception in the Sarria Family Dining Hall. RSVP is required to attend the reception. Here are the details:
Date: Saturday, August 5, 2023
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: Our Lady of Belen Chapel
If you desire to attend the reception, you must RSVP at this link: RSVP – Eric Lastres, S.J. '18 - Profession of First Vows – Belen Jesuit Preparatory School - Our Lady of Belen Chapel, Sat Aug 5, 2023 (tickettailor.com)
You do not need to RSVP for the Mass. You MUST RSVP for the reception.
The Mass will be live streamed on the Belen YouTube Channel.
Eric will continue his education at St. Louis University in Missouri and strive to complete a Master's in Philosophy and Theology for Ministry.
You can watch Eric Lastres' contribution to the Ignatian F.Y.I series here: (1) Living Fully Alive | Ignatian F.Y.I. - YouTube
