Fr. Juan Carlos
Fr. Juan Carlos Ubaque, CSV, has written a new Viatorian song, Anciano Obispo, Joven Testigo, that’s been recorded professionally in a music studio and published to Spotify and YouTube.
As we established Colegio San Viator in Tunja in 2017, the Viatorians serving there prioritized establishing and developing the Viatorian identity of the community from the start. The school is celebrating its tenth year, and many Viatorians have served here in its first decade: Fr. Pedro Herrera, CSV, Fr. Fredy Contreras, CSV, Fr. Juan Carlos Ubaque, CSV, Br. John Alexander Avellaneda, CSV, Br. Juan David Ramirez, CSV, Br. Carlos Suárez, CSV, Br. Enrique Medina, CSV, and Fr. Edwin Ruiz, CSV.
Over time, students have come to know the charism of the congregation, the story of the Venerable Louis Querbes, and the story of St. Viator and St. Just.
The cover art for the song.
St. Just was the Bishop of Lyon with whom St. Viator ministered as a lector and catechist in the city cathedral. They faced a tragedy in Lyon. When a bandit escaped a mob by seeking sanctuary in the cathedral, St. Just protected the man but released him after insisting the mob agree to due process through a trial; however, the mob renegged and killed the bandit. St. Just felt he must leave his office and take to ascetic penitence in the Egyptian desert, and St. Viator joined him.
Over time, Fr. Juan Carlos had ideas for songs to help express and deepen Viatorian identity, and began writing lyrics for a song about St. Just. “Back in February 2017, I started to write some phrases that shared some of what we imagine about the life of St. Just – as a witness of the Gospel of Christ and as a strong and resilient testimony of integrity and courage that without a doubt inspired our patron, Saint Viator,” Fr. Juan Carlos said.
Fr. Juan Carlos eventually wrote a refrain and verses for a full song. Then Ximena Silva, a teacher in the school, worked on a simple melody that could be easily sung by the school community and composed the song, using his lyrics. “These lyrics and melody share the life of a humble, brave person who definitely is a role model for children and young people, and now the song is being sung in the school,” Fr. Juan Carlos said. “Later, Fr. Pedro Herrera, CSV, supported our recording the song in a music studio, and now it has been published on Spotify so other people will be able to learn about this great person.”
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Here is the refrain in Spanish and English:
San Justo / Saint Just
anciano obispo, joven testigo / elder bishop, young witness
defensor de los sencillos / defender of the humble
maestro de Viator / teacher of Viator
luz de Lyon, testigo de Cristo / light of Lyon, witness of Christ
siervo de Dios / servant of God
The song, available on Spotify and YouTube, was written by Fr. Juan Carlos, composed by Ximena, sung by Alejandro Cardona, with background vocals and keyboards by José David Mendoza, and engineering by Carlos Ballesteros. Stay tuned for more, too – Fr. Juan Carlos has written more songs, and the group hopes to continue recording in the coming months.