The Viatorian Community purchased a house in Bogotá to serve as a dedicated house of formation and named it Casa San Justo (St. Just House), in honor of the bishop of Lyon who was St. Viator’s companion. After several months of renovation and preparation, it’s now open and home to its first Viatorians.
The new plaque on the home’s brick wall.
Casa San Justo now houses the Foundation of Colombia’s postulantes (postulants, a similar phase of formation to American pre-novices), Director de Postulantes (Pre-Novitiate Director) Fr. Dan Lydon, CSV, and house director Fr. Juan Carlos Ubaque, CSV, whose primary ministry is Vocation Director for the foundation.
As Fr. Dan gets settled in Colombia, he couldn’t be more grateful for his Colombian brothers, especially his new housemate Fr. Juan Carlos. “There’s no way I could’ve done this all on my own,” Fr. Dan said. “We’re a team. He’s been a great teacher and companion, and I have a great person to share ideas, reflections, and plans with.”
Architects and contractors did the big stuff, and Fr. Juan Carlos and Fr. Dan pitched in with some of the tidying, cleaning, and prepping as this new home came together for move-in time.
In addition to helping clean and prepare this new home, Fr. Juan Carlos has been bringing Fr. Dan around with him to work together in various pastoral ministries, including the Sacrament of Reconciliation for local communities, celebrating Mass, and visiting with elderly neighbors. While Fr. Dan is a fluent Spanish speaker and frequently ministered in Spanish in the US, he wants to get to know Colombia better. “I’ve been going with him, learning the culture, and getting accustomed to the ministry here,” Fr. Dan said.
While his Colombian brothers help him get acclimated to places like Alkosto HiperAhorro (comparable to Costco) and the go-to spots for daily needs, Fr. Dan is beginning formal plans for our three postulantes, who return from a summer break shortly. They’ll fully move in to Casa San Justo and begin their next “semester” of formation with him.
Fr. Dan envisions mixing substantial faith formation and prayer with practical pastoral and liturgical experience. “We want to help them overcome reticence and shyness and become very able to dive into community and relationships with people. We want them to gain experience serving the holy altar. And we want them to do catechesis, particularly working with youth and helping young people to learn the faith,” Fr. Dan said.
Left: During his visit to help lead the community retreat, Fr. Mark Francis, CSV, Provincial was able to join the community for a meal (L-R: Brian, Fr. Mark, Fr. Dan, Julián, and Fr. Juan Carlos [Andrés was away]). Right: Between breaks and travel, the five new housemates have squeezed in a few first meals together (L-R: Fr. Dan, Brian, Julián, Andrés, and Fr. Juan Carlos).
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Already, Fr. Dan imagines the nearby community of elderly neighbors as a great spot for interpersonal and pastoral experience, and he values the ministry experience awaiting in the rich liturgical life of the city, especially Parroquia San Viator (Saint Viator Parish), as opportunities for them to serve at Mass.
Postulante Julián Torres is in his second of two years of postulancy, so he and the Viatorian Community would soon mutually discern his continuation on to novitiate in Chile, which could begin early next year.
Postulantes Brian Stiv Santana Monsalve and Andrés Julián Rozo Fontecha are in their first year, and Fr. Dan will seek to find a nice balance between their formation in community life and their full-time studies in Bogotá: Brian is studying psychology, and Andrés is studying civil law.
They can now come together comfortably under one roof, as they settle into Casa San Justo and, in shared home life, raise this community of faith.