Fr. Eugene J. Weitzel, CSV, a graduate of the Viatorian sponsored Cathedral Boys’ High School in Springfield IL was ordained a priest on June 6, 1959.  He writes, “I would say if one is looking for true happiness and a real sense of giving, it can be found in religious life and/or the priesthood.  I have never been unhappy as a priest.”  He pronounced his first vows as a Viatorian on February 5, 1951.  “I believe that several of the Viatorians at Cathedral Boys’ High School were quite influential on me to decide to pursue the priesthood,” says Fr. Weitzel.  He also writes of the influence his mother had on his vocation.  When he entered the community, Fr. Weitzel had completed his B. A. in Philosophy from St. Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Indiana.  He later earned his M. A. in Education from De Paul University in Chicago, and his S.T.D. in Moral Theology from Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

Between 1951 and 1957 Fr. Weitzel taught at St. Philip High School in Chicago, Spalding Institute in Peoria, IL and Cathedral Boys High School in Springfield, IL.  His longest teaching tenure was at Griffin High School in Springfield, IL where he taught from 1959 to 1971.