Congregant Spotlight
Spotlight on our six new Congregants that made their consecration on December 3rd at the Belen Chapel
Neyton was born in Miami and is of Nicaraguan descent. He attended Mast Academy High School in Key Biscayne. He is currently a Junior at the University of Miami majoring in aerospace engineering.
He was the recipient of the Enrique Baloyra Award given in recognition of the Most Exemplary Aspirant of the Year. Enrique Baloyra became a Congregant in Cuba, was one of the founders of the ACU student group in Gainesville, Florida, and was a professor at the University of Miami. Professor Baloyra is the root of four generations of Agrupados from the Washington, D.C. Chapter.
Neyton’s sponsor (padrino) was Sean Festa. Sean is also from the UM student group and became a Congregant during the 90th Anniversary Mass last year at Gesu.
Neyton Baltodano at ambo
Neyton Baltodano receiving the Enrique Baloyra Award
Marco is from Miami and both of his parents are from Peru. He was homeschooled for high school and was an active member of the ACU-sponsored Esto Vir Group at Belen. He has the distinction of being the first Esto Vir alum to become an ACU Congregant.
Marco will be graduating this month from Florida International University with a finance and international business degree. He will be starting law school in the fall, but has not yet decided which school he will be attending.
He leads a weekly bible study at the UCatholic ACU Student Residence.
Last year he traveled with several Agrupados from the Miami Chapter to experience the famous Atlanta Chapter lechón.
In October, he was part of a group of Agrupados, led by our Miami Chapter President Cesar Guerrero, that visited nearby Ave Maria University to introduce the students there to the ACU and Ignatian Spirituality.
Marco received the Jose Maria Rouco Award for the most Comprehensive Marian Essay. Jose Maria Rouco was one of the founders of the ACU, having made his consecration in 1933, two years after its establishment.
Marco’s sponsor (padrino) was Erik Vieira.
Marco Barbosa receiving his medal
Marco Barbosa receiving the Jose Maria Rouco Award
Nicolas is from Miami and is the son of our Vice President, Carlos Muñiz.
He recently graduated from Florida International University with a finance major. He currently works as a financial analyst at 626 Holdings, a medical equipment supplier in Boca Raton.
Nico participated in the ACU Camino Ignaciano trip to Spain last summer.
He also went last year with several Agrupados from the Miami Chapter to experience the famous Atlanta Chapter lechón.
Nicolas’ sponsor (padrino) was his father, Carlos Muñiz.
Nicolas Muñiz receiving his medal
Nicolas Muñiz receiving communion
Nicolas Muñiz signing the Book of the Congregation
Jakub was born in Poland as were both of his parents. The family experienced communism and emigrated to New York when Jakub was five years old. They eventually came down to Florida where they established a home in Palm Beach County.
He credits UCatholic and the ACU for deepening his faith. As a resident of the UCatholic ACU Student Residence he bonded with fellow Agrupado/residents as only such an experience can offer.
Jakub will be graduating this month from the University of Miami with a degree in biology. He will continue his studies in order to become a medical doctor.
Jakub’s sponsor (padrino) was Enrique Canton, M.D.
Jakub Pawlowski at the ambo
Jakub Pawlowski receiving his medal
Jakub Pawlowski with Fr. Leo Siquera at the 2022 Baccalaureate Mass
Father Phillip H. Tran was born in Long Beach, California. His parents were born in Vietnam and relocated to South Florida after leaving California.
Father Tran attended John Paul II High School in Boca Raton and graduated in 2008 from the University of Miami with a degree in neuroscience. He credits his priestly vocation in part to UCatholic, the University of Miami’s Campus Ministry program. Shortly after graduating from UM, he entered the seminary and was ordained to the priesthood in May of 2015. After a short parish assignment at the Church of the Little Flower in Coral Gables, he was appointed by Archbishop Thomas Wenski to be the first full-time Catholic Chaplain of the University of Miami.
In 2019 he founded the ACU University of Miami student group.
Last year he received the difficult assignment of serving as the pastor of not one, but two, rural parishes in Beaumont, Texas.
Father Tran’s sponsor (padrino) was Father Christian A. Saenz, S.J.
Fr. Phillip Tran receiving his medal
Fr. Phillip Tran signing the Book of the Congregation
Father Richard J. Vigoa was born in Miami Beach, Florida. Both of his parents were born in Cuba. After a brief career in finance, he discerned his priestly vocation and became a priest in May of 2008.
His first assignment was as parochial vicar of St. Michael the Archangel Church in Miami where he also taught at its elementary school.
He then went on to become the priest-secretary for Archbishop Thomas Wenski. In 2019 after nine and half years at that assignment (just short of competing his ten-year commitment) he was assigned to fill a pressing need at St. Augustine Church and Catholic Student Center in Coral Gables. St. Augustine’s pastor, Monsignor Tomás Marín had suddenly passed away after a short battle with cancer. Father Vigoa was appointed administrator of the parish, a temporary assignment.
Father Vigoa fell in love with the parish, its parishioners, and especially UCatholic, the University of Miami’s Campus Ministry program administered by St. Augustine Parish. He petitioned to remain at St. Augustine. Archbishop Wenski granted his request and Father Vigoa was installed as Pastor of St. Augustine earlier this year.
Father Vigoa’s sponsor (padrino) was Erik Vieira.
Fr. Richard Vigoa receiving his medal
Fr. Richard Vigoa signing the Book of the Congregation
Fr. Richard Vigoa preaching at the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe in St. Augustine Parish
