Fr. Amando Llorente, SJ

Remembering Fr. Llorente

Amando Llorente was born in a small agricultural town close to river and mountains and to St. James Way, near Leon, Spain. As a young man he practiced and loved wresting enough to publish a small book on the subject (Luche Leonesa). He was ordained into the priesthood on September 8, 1948 and assigned to youth ministry., serving the Church in Cuba at the Calvary Espiritual Exercises Retreat House. Yet the actions of Divine Providence were clearly at work in the selection of Fr. Llorente as successor to ACU’s founder, showing itself through a series of happenings over the years that eliminated all other possible candidates, erstwhile bringing Fr. Llorente closer to an end that he never suspected. The Consejo said on February 29, 1952 that “his complete commitment to the work of Fr. Rey, with whom he shared affinity of sentiments and projects, had the new Director arrive with ample knowledge of the ideas and initiatives that seethed in the great heart of the much missed founder. The succession took place without a step being lost or a need to make any abrupt changes. Fr. Llorente would go on to usher in the dynamic or outreach phase of the ACU in Cuba that garnered the ACU the title of worldwide “model university congregation.” He went on to inspire the faith of martyrs in young agrupados that opposed the communist takeover that exiled the ACU. He restored and grew the ACU in the U.S.A., amidst a cultural tsunami brought on by the sexual revolution. With deep humility, tireless unconditional service to agrupados, family, friends and to the entire Miami Catholic community, the latter through direction of countless Spiritual Exercises (he was, arguably, the most experienced director since St. Ignatius), he toiled with unending hope for 58 years, serving the Lord and assuring the ACU’s long term survival.

Fr. Amando Llorente, exemplary man of God, pray for us.