Viatorian Community

What's New

Viatorians are participating in Days of Prayer and Action for the people of Colombia April 27-28. The day of action includes a post card campaign to U.S. representatives, encouraging them to support peace in Colombia by increasing humanitarian aid to victims of violence, ending military aid, ending aerial fumigations, and promoting a negotiated settlement to the conflict. For more information, please visit www.peaceincolombia.org Currently, 12 Viatorians live and study and/or minister in five local communities in Bogotá, Colombia.

Viatorians in the Arlington Heights/Chicago region gathered on Holy Thursday to celebrate Mass at the province center chapel. Fr. Thomas von Behren presided at the liturgy. Fr. George Auger offered the homily.

View Fr. Auger's Homily - Eucharist, Priesthood, Washing Feet

Viatorians and students from St. Viator High School joined the Sisters of the Living Word and area residents for a vigil commemorating the 5th anniversary of the war in Iraq. During the vigil, Iraqis and U.S. civilians and military personnel who have been killed, were remembered. The vigil was co-sponsored by the Viatorian Community.

On March March 10, Associates Herculana Bastarachea, Ayonie Briceno, Desideria and Rafael Cob, Glenda Francis, Juanita Jimenez, Haydee and Francisco Magana, Esteban Pasos, and Sylvia Vargas renewed their commitment as Viatorian associates for a period of three years. The ceremony took place at St. Francis Xavier Church in Corozal District, Belize. Superior General Fr. Mark Francis, who was making his official visitation of the Foundation of Belize, presided at the recommitment Mass. Also in attendance were Fr. Daniel Belanger, Fr. Christopher Glancy, and General Councilor Fr. Alain Ambeault.

The Viatorian Community of Bourbonnais-Kankakee held an evening for young people on the theme of vocation and call. Associates Ken and Michelle Barrie chaired the committee that planned the event. Other Viatorians involved in the evening were: Associates Mike and Susan Bourgeois, Marilyn Mulcahy, Mary Finks, John Ohlendorf, David Surprenant, Dan Lydon, Fr. John Peeters, Fr. Corey Brost, Br. Jason Nesbit and Br. John Eustice. The CND community of sisters were also an integral part of the evening. More than forty young men and women attended the event.

Please visit www.nrcat.org to send a message to President Bush to request that he sign, not veto, the anti-torture provision of the Intelligence Authorization Bill.

Several Viatorians throughout the province recently contacted their U.S. senators and representatives urging them to meet our country's commitment to fighting global poverty by supporting the Jubilee Act
(H.R. 2634/S. 2166). Jubilee Act calls for the debt cancellation for up to twenty-five impoverished countries. For more information, please visit www.jubileeusa.org/measureup

2008 Lenten Reflections written by Viatorians view

Three young men attended the annual Vocation Discernment Weekend February 15-17 at the Province Center in Arlington Heights. The retreat, hosted by the Viatorian Vocation Team, had as its theme: The Vow of Chastity: Radical Witness to a Love-Starved World. A team of 10 Viatorians shared their stories and experience as religious men. Fabián Pedraza (West Palm Beach, Florida), Bill Geis (Las Vegas, Nevada), and Michael Marshall (Chicago), took time out of their ordinary routines in order to reflect on God’s call in their lives. retreat information

On January 11, 2008, Viatorians joined with thousands of others throughout the United States calling for the closing of Guantánamo. Fr. Corey Brost, Br. John Eustice, Br. Michael Gosch and Associate Daniel Lydon chose the site of the Arlington Heights train station to call attention to the human rights abuses that have taken and continue to take place at this military prison.

At its December 12, 2007 meeting, the Viatorian provincial council voted to divest itself of investments in corporations that do business with the government of Sudan in order to put pressure on the Sudanese government to end the genocide that is taking place. For more information on the crisis in Darfur, Sudan, please visit www.SaveDarfur.org

It has been over five years since hundreds of people have been held at Guantánomo. Many have been tortured and held in legal limbo without charges or trials. For more info on closing Guantánamo, please visit www.tearitdown.org

United States Catholic Conference of Bishops’ position on the war in Iraq Statement | Q and A

The National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) invites parishes to join 1000 congregations across the country in showing Rory Kennedy's HBO documentary "Ghosts of Abu Ghraib" during the week of October 21-28, 2007. This film digs beneath the headlines to investigate the psychological and political context in which torture occurred and to ask critical questions about impact and accountability. NRCAT provides a free copy of the DVD, along with a packet of supporting materials, to each of the 1000 congregations participating in this "Spotlight on Torture" project. For more information, please visit www.tortureisamoralissue.org

On August 20, Belizeans braced themselves for Hurricane Dean that was quickly approaching the northern shores of Belize. 24 hours later, the people of Corozal District, where fifteen Viatorian associates and professed live and minister, were dealing with the aftermath of this category five storm. The Viatorian Community has created a relief fund to help with the rebuilding of homes and schools and the purchasing of food, medicine, and school supplies. Donations are being accepted at The Clerics of St. Viator, 1212 East Euclid Ave, Arlington Heights, Illinois, 60004.

The Viatorian Community gathered July 31-August 2 for the annual Provincial Assembly. This year’s assembly included the celebration of the 125th Anniversary of the Province of Chicago. The assembly was celebrated in the Kankakee/Bourbonnais area where the Viatorians began their ministry in the United States.

The following eight Viatorians celebrated Jubilees in 2007:


1	2	3	4

5	6	7	8
Fr. Mark Francis, CSV celebrated 25 years of priesthood (5). Fr. Daniel Hall, CSV celebrated 25 years of religious life (2). Fr. John Milton, CSV celebrated 50 years of priesthood (4). Fr. Robert Cooney, CSV celebrated 50 years of priesthood (1). Fr. Thomas McCarthy, CSV celebrated 60 years of religious life (6). Fr. William Mayer, CSV celebrated 60 years of religious life (3). Fr. Kenneth Morris, CSV celebrated 60 years of religious life (7). Fr. Francis White, CSV celebrated 70 years of religious life (8).

Fr. Corey Brost, CSV has recently written Gospel Connections for Teens (Cycle A), published by St. Mary’s Press. This series of reflections offers teens an opportunity to prepare for Sunday Mass. Each reflection contains the Gospel reading for each Sunday accompanied by insights offered by Fr. Brost.

To order a copy, call toll free (800) 533-8095 or visit www.smp.org | Cycle A | Cycle B | Cycle C
Gospel Connections for Teens (Cycle B) and Gospel Connections for Teens (Cycle C) are also available.

National Religious Campaign Against Torture
NRCAT Decries President Bush’s Executive Order Governing CIA Treatment of Detainees Press Release

Ordination of Daniel R. Belanger
On June 1, Bishop Joseph A. Pepe of the Diocese of Las Vegas ordained Daniel R. Belanger at St. Thomas More parish in Henderson Nevada where he served his diaconate year. Fr. Belanger presided at a Mass of Thanksgiving on June 2 at the parish. Congratulations Dan.