Agrupación Catolica Universitaria

University Formation Chapters and Missions

The Agrupación Catolica Universitaria (ACU) is a Marian Sodality, also known as a Sodality of our Lady. It was founded in the early 1930’s at the University of Havana with the purpose of forging university students to be leaders in their profession for the propagation of the faith in their Universities, professions, families and community with a goal of bringing society back to Christ through their spirituality, professions and apostolic actions. In short, it is a lifelong Fraternity of men formed in a common Catholic curriculum, with aspirituality based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, with a special devotion to Our Blessed Virgin Mary, seeking to change the world for the better through Christ. Although exiled from Cuba due to the Communist Revolution in the early 1960’s, it continues to operate, with its Headquarters in Miami Florida and additional Chapters in Atlanta, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico. In addition, through our members, we support missions to University of Florida, Texas A&M, and University of Michigan students.Below are brief descriptions of some of the major student formation groups and pictures of their events. Included are Atlanta, Ga., Washington, DC, San Juan PR, Miami, FL, Houston/College Station, TX, St. Mary’s at Univ of Mich, and the University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.

Atlanta, GA

The Atlanta student group was founded in 1978 and meets regularly on Sundays with the professional leaders and instructors for the group. In addition to weekly student formation, the group conducts activities with the students including home cooked meals at the professionals’ homes, an annual Pig Roast weekend, and an annual retreat at the Ignatius House on the Chattahoochee River. There are also opportunities to mentor with alumni from the Atlanta universities in medicine, engineering, and other professions.

Washington DC

The DC Chapter has a property blocks from the CUA campus which includes housing for up to 4 adult students. The chapter has operated for some sixty plus years and has regular student formation meetings at the DC house. Activities include guest lecturers from the area universities, an annual retreat, meeting meals, family weekends, and coordinated apostolic works (community Catholic service opportunities).

San Juan, Puerto Rico

The Puerto Rico chapter, operating since the 1960’s, holds weekly formation meetings at its offices at the Interamerican University Student Center. In addition to formation, it offers mentorship, connections with faculty members, special courses coordinated with various faculty members, and an annual retreat.

Miami, Florida

Miami has several student formation groups, principally based at UM, FIU and for Graduate Students across the city. All of these have access to the retreats offered in Miami several times a year. Students from other universities (e.g. MDC, Barry, etc) may participate in any of the above groups.

1. UM: The UM student formation group operates from the St. Augustine Catholic Mens’ Honor Society and meets weekly at St. Augustine. The group has various activities in addition to weekly formation including and active mentorship program, sports games and community service projects.

2. FIU: The FIU formation group started in the fall of 2024 and has grown rapidly, meeting principally at the ACU headquarters and supporting St. Agatha parish. The group has every other week meetings as well as sports events outings.

3. Graduate Students/Young Professionals: The Young Professionals and Graduate Students formation group meets every other week, usually Saturday mornings or Tuesday evening rotating between members’ homes and the ACU house. The group offers family events, activities like paintball and game nights, as well as participation inretreats, service projects and other activities.

Texas A&M/College Station/Houston

The Texas A&M students,, as well as some from Houston colleges, meet in College Station weekly during the school year with their Instructor. The students are offered support to attend ACU retreats across the country and hold various activities including bowling and lunches. Many are involved in community service projects at St. Mary’s College Parish at Texas A&M.

University of Michigan/St. Mary’s Campus Ministry

The ACU supports the Campus Ministry program for University of Michigan at St. Mary Student Parish, where one of our members who became a priest is the Pastor. An ACU team has helped provide a Lenten retreat hosted by the Cristeros Hispanic Catholic student group at the parish recently, and the ACU provides ongoing support to the parish’s programs.

University of Florida/Gainesville

The ACU has an ongoing monthly presence at St. Augustine Parish for the University of Florida. ACU members travel to Gainesville monthly to provide education on spirituality for the men’s group, organize tail gating events for the Catholic students, as well as dinners and activities in conjunction with the campus ministry program.

ACU Chapters and Missions Contact Page

  • Dr. Manuel Anton, III - (786) 417-4607

    ACU President and UM Graduate Students

  • Dr. Alex Saker - (770) 855-4884

    Atlanta Chapter President

  • Alex Navarro - (703) 906-2875

    Washington, D.C. Chapter President

  • Fr. Kyle Shinseki - (734) 663-0557

    University of Michigan/Ann Arbor

  • Ramiro Rodriguez - (404) 374-5843

    College Station/Texas A&M

  • Andy Manrara - (305) 992-7944

    Gainesville/UF

  • Ernie Leon - (305) 979-9973

    University of Miami

  • Willie Cueto - (786) 514-6200

    Florida International University

  • Leo Vidal - (787) 379-8378

    San Juan, Puerto Rico

  • Erik Vieria - (352) 263-7201

    Administrator