Peace and Justice
The United States Province is committed to promoting justice and peace in our world in a variety of ways.

At the Provincial level, great care is taken to ensure that our investments do not support corporations that would be in conflict with Catholic Social Teaching. The Center for Concern and the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility are valuable resources that assist the Provincial Treasurer and the Finance Committee of the Province in this area.

A Social Justice portfolio has been established that makes financial assistance available for grassroots organizations advocating for the marginalized as well as emergency assistance for individuals and families with whom the membership ministers. $50,000.00 is provided annually from this fund.

Additional funding has been granted annually to various projects sponsored or endorsed by the community from other community portfolios. Projects include, but are not limited to, requests for tuition assistance at either current or former Viatorian schools, financial support of the Belize, Colombia, and Ivory Coast Foundations, and Viatorian ministry subsidies.

At the parish level, concern for those “accounted of little importance” in today’s society is a priority. Emergency food, rental assistance, medical assistance, clothing, and furniture are provided by a number of our parishes on a case-by-case basis. Tuition scholarships are available at many of the parish schools. Financial support for persons with HIV/AIDS, victims of natural disasters, sharing parishes, homeless shelters, Catholic Charities, and advocacy organizations occurs at various levels depending on the size of the parish. Maternity BVM Parish in Bourbonnais, IL actively supports medical mission trips to our foundation in Belize.

St. Viator High School, the sole Viatorian owned and operated school of the province, demonstrates its commitment to peace and justice in a number of ways. Beginning in August, 2007 each of the 1060 students will be required to fulfill 100 service hours requirement prior to graduation. Financial scholarships are provided for 17% of the student population. By the year 2010, the goal is to provide $1,000,000 in assistance. Each year, six students are invited to become members of Peace Builders, an organization that promotes and supports student peace and justice initiatives. A course on Christian Ethics is a requirement for graduation.

St. Viator High School Campus Ministry program invites students to respond to the needs of others, especially the marginalized, by serving at soup kitchens, food pantries, and Habitat for Humanity. A Lenten Campaign raises $15,000.00 that supports Viatorian foundations as well as projects administered by service agencies. Finally, students contribute to a weekly Make-A-Change collection that is used to assist Catholic Charities clients who are in need.

For the past four years, a group of Viatorians has joined over 10,000 people in Fort Benning, Georgia, calling for the closure of the U.S. Army’s Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, formerly known as School of the Americas. Graduates have been linked to the murder, rape, and torture of civilians in their own countries. El Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero’s assassins have been linked to this institution.

In an effort to respond to the U.S. led invasion and occupation of Iraq, Family Gatherings For Peace, a Viatorian co-sponsored peace group, hosts inter-faith prayer gatherings and vigils for peace.

Individual Viatorians financially support and participate in numerous local, national, international organizations that seek to alleviate the suffering and injustice.