Fr. Pat Render, CSV, who lives at St. Patrick Church in Kankakee, was delighted to see Viv with the VYC 2022 group as they went on pilgrimage around the Bourbonnais-Kankakee region.
Sometimes, big decisions and major life choices can get quite complex and frustrating, and a more basic approach can solve a lot. For Viatorian Youth Leader Viviana Tellez, a simple realization went a long way for her discernment. “I always found myself going back into ministry work. And I wondered – why? It’s because I have so much fun doing this,” Viv said.
When she was a student at Melrose Park High School, Viv would not have guessed what was ahead of her. She went on to Dominican University for college (where some Viatorians have studied, too), where she studied Sociology, Women’s and Gender Studies, and Latinx-American Studies. All the while, atop her foundation from her family and St. Viator Parish, the building blocks were assembling toward a pastoral ministry career – a student ministry job in retreats and vocations at DU, serving as a Young Adult Leader for the Viatorian Youth Congress in 2022 and 2025, and then connecting with the Pathways@CTU program and the Viatorians’ Fr. John Linnan, CSV Scholarship.
“I didn’t think I would ever be studying theology, especially in grad school,” Viv said.
Well, now she’s in her second year at Catholic Theological Union, partway to completing a master’s degree, and beginning an internship in high school campus ministry. It all started at St. Viator – with her mom, Associate Susanna Tellez, bringing her to church; her youth group with Associate Hector Obregon-Luna; professed Viatorians such as Fr. Charlie Bolser, CSV, Fr. Moses Mesh, CSV, and Fr. Patrick Render, CSV; and mentorship from VYC leaders such as Associates Karen Cutler and Rosy Hartz and Fr. John Eustice, CSV.
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In Episode 95 of Viatorian Voices, hear how Viviana identified God’s invitations to ministry and how she is well into responding in her young adult life. Listen now on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.