ACU history in the first person, plus Abraham, the Father of the Faith of Three Major Religions and their Holy Sites In Jerusalem

As a lead-in to a recent presentation to the ACU University of Miami student group, Roberto Vich, shared some details of ACU history that he experienced.

 He explained that he became an ACU Congregant under exigent circumstances on May 8, 1961 during a Mass celebrated by Father Llorente at the residence of the Spanish ambassador to Cuba. That was the last pase a Congregate (Congregant consecration) that took place in Cuba. His padrino (sponsor) was Juan ("Juanín") Pereira Varela, an ACU martyr. The circumstances surrounding Juanín's death involved a covert operation in which Juanín was detained along with two others. Juanín stepped forward and took full responsibility for the incident thereby sparing the life of the other two. Juanín was summarily executed.

 Roberto showed the students a case, which he continues to cherish to this day, holding a memorial card of Juanín's funeral Mass (see nearby photo of the case). It also has the original cord which once held Juanín's Aspirant medal. That cord is significant to Roberto because Juanín's Aspirant cord was used in an improvised way in Roberto's consecration rite. Because no other cords were available, Roberto's Congregant medal was affixed to Juanín's Aspirant cord in order to hold Roberto's consecration medal.

 Roberto went on to share his faith experience at the ACU, now spanning over 60 years, including the help and guidance ACU priests provided him.

 He then tied the origin of our faith, and the faith of Jews and Muslims, to Abraham. The talk also gave a brief overview of the holy sites of Christians, Jews, and Muslims in Jerusalem, all of which are in close proximity to each other.

 Roberto just started to mentor a first year architecture student.