Esto Vir Group
The Esto Vir Group remains active in the 2023-2024 academic year. The Group is led by Congregantes Erik Vieira and Jay Velasco of the Miami Chapter. During Lent, 23 members signed up for the Exodus 40 challenge during which they agreed to take on additional ascetic practices to grow in self-discipline and in their personal relationship with Christ. The additional practices include refraining from all soft drinks and other sweetened drinks as well as desserts, and fasting and abstaining from meat on Wednesdays in addition to Fridays.
There are also additional prayer and exercise obligations. The formation themes also center on Lent. On March 12, the Group participated in a discernment activity in which one member was blindfolded and asked to follow a predetermined white line by discerning the voices and commands of two other members playing the good and evil spirit respectively. Then they heard a presentation by Mr. Erik Cofiño, a theology teacher at Belen, on the prodigal son. On March 19, one of the juniors, Carlos Manuel Perez, gave an informative presentation on the Shroud of Turin and the importance of the resurrection of Jesus.
Members of the Esto Vir Group also prepared 240 easter eggs for the egg hunt the ACU will hold on Sunday, March 31 following Mass. The Esto Vir Group is the high school Marian Sodality attached to Belen and operated by the ACU and from which members are invited to continue formation in the ACU. To date, four members of the Group have continued formation with the ACU after obtaining a bachelor's degree, and one of those four, Marco Barbosa, became a Congregante. Two other members are in formation for Holy Orders: one in the Society of Jesus and the other the diocesan seminary.
