Meet a Viatorian: Associate Patrick Aller

by | Dec 30, 2025 | Mission Matters

Faithful discernment can help everyone find their vocations joyfully, whether in Church ministry, some other career, or a mix of the two. For Associate Patrick Aller, all he learned in faith formation through St. Viator Catholic Community youth ministry and sacramental prep, the Viatorian Youth Congress, and VYC leadership honed his discernment – of a career in hospitality and event planning and to Viatorian association.

“God made us to be ourselves. I know no one can be Pat better than Pat when it comes to event planning,” Patrick said. “All my tools, skills, and experience come from my taking initiative to respond to God’s invitations. Whether or not things shake out, you have to keep an openness to those things that may yet still be coming.”

When VYC resumed in-person in 2022, Patrick returned as YAC, bringing stability and continuity to the program with his experience.

Patrick was born and raised in Las Vegas, and he remembers a key moment in the St. Viator vestibule after Mass when he was 14. “My mom asked if I wanted to do Confirmation. My faith was there, but I didn’t really connect all the dots on things until I met Rosy and came to this moment,” Patrick said, affirming the support of Associate Rosy Hartz, Coordinator of Youth Ministry and Faith Formation. “I wasn’t totally sure, and Rosy encouraged me to step up and do it. Ever since, there’s been such a domino effect of getting more and more involved and learning more about the Viatorians.”

Patrick was confirmed at St. Viator and joined the parish delegation for VYC 2011. That growing involvement led to serving as a VYC Young Adult Leader in 2014, 2015, and 2016, and a Young Adult Coordinator in 2017. Then, after the pandemic moved VYC online for two years, Patrick returned as YAC again in 2022 to help restart the in-person program.

He had thought about entering pre-association as a young adult, but after graduating from UNLV and studying hospitality, he wanted some time to get started with his career and post-grad life. Patrick found opportunities in the hospitality industry during his first few years, including launching a few event planning brands with a startup. Then, when the pandemic stunted the industry, it spurred Patrick to make a shift.

“It took discernment to realize I really enjoy education and then connect to my Master’s program at Ottawa University,” Patrick said of that pandemic recession period. “My professors had said you do an MBA after working out in the world. I realized I had learned about myself, the hospitality field, and being driven to make others happy in those first few years, so I had gotten to a place of understanding and trust in God to make that leap.”

Patrick’s MBA and mid-20s were a time of maturation, professionally and spiritually. Patrick had a strong foundation of faith at home to build upon, especially from his mother who emigrated to the US from Peru, where she met Patrick’s dad and where Patrick’s brother was born. “Growing up in a Latino household, Catholicism is quite strict. I was fasting for Lent from when I was 6 years old! Getting into young adulthood, I discovered how faith was more dynamic than just hard rules. Through community life and social justice, I found something broader,” Patrick said.

That wider perspective came in part from Viatorians: Rosy and her husband, Associate Paul Hartz, who volunteers with youth ministry, helped Patrick find his footing in the parish; Associate Karen Cutler affirmed Patrick’s growth when she trained him and stood behind him for VYC; and former associate Brian Barrett was a great sounding board for both adult faith and career reflections.

Patrick (center, blue shirt) made his initial commitment as an associate at Provincial Assembly in 2024.

“When I came back to Las Vegas from my MBA in Kansas, Associate Kim Martinez picked up the invitations people had given me when I was younger and helped me connect the dots to give this a try. Then Associate Juliann Dwyer was so encouraging in actually handing me the application and getting me started,” Patrick said of discerning into formation. “For my generation, associates from the earlier waves and older generations set such a strong example around our region.”

Patrick entered pre-association in 2022 and made his initial commitment as an associate in 2024. Along the way, his hospitality career also continued to come into focus, as he found his clear gifts and passions for event and travel planning through outreach and experience.

“In the business world, you can’t stand by the punchbowl and see what happens. You never know until talking to someone what knowledge or connections there might be. Talking this out more and more can help you realize your specific calling in whatever niche. I’m focused on socializing with people and understanding where they’re coming from, learning people’s situations and helping them have the best time we can,” Patrick said about event and travel planning. “From there, God gives direction, and I know there’s always something out there God’s inviting me to be open to doing.”

(top photo) Patrick greets (left to right) Fr. Corey Brost, CSV, Jason Wilhite, and Br. Peter Lamick, CSV, at the end of VYC 2024, and (bottom photo) joins in a Henderson-Las Vegas region gathering later in 2024, sitting with (left to right) Fr. Edgar Suárez, CSV, Fr. Larry Lentz, CSV, Associate Anthony Gugino, Associate Romeo Perez, and Associate Deborah Perez.

Patrick continues to live and work in Las Vegas while anchoring his faith at St. Viator and service with youth ministry and around the local community. “I love volunteering at the parish and have grown to see it beyond just the parish and the Viatorian Community, such as the hospice center in my neighborhood where I’ve begun to help. I don’t want to limit living my faith to Viatorian events and our parish; I can bring my faith anywhere to whatever else I want to do,” Patrick said. “I can grab my Advent prayer book to read each day during walking breaks while working from home; I can say a prayer before playing volleyball with my friends.”

The Viatorians have played a big role in Patrick’s growth, and he will continue listening to God and the encouragement of these friends and mentors as he walks on his way. “As a kid, with faith, it was often about ‘I have to,’ but now as an adult, it’s ‘I want to,’” Patrick said. “It looks differently for different people. Just like different people choose different exercise regimens, different people find different habits for prayer and faith life as adults. You have to understand a bit how it won’t be perfect. Some periods will be tougher, but you build a muscle memory that you retain and keep coming back to.”

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