We continue to explore our global connections through our podcast, Viatorian Voices, and this week, we speak with Danilo José Hernández Cantarero of Honduras.
Honduran Viatorians gathered for prayer.
Though Danilo is not a Viatorian, he has worked and shared in community with Viatorians for many years, starting at his parish. After studying civil engineering, SERSO Honduras hired Danilo as an engineer technician, and over time, Danilo rose to become project manager, specializing in clean drinking water access. Then three years ago, he was asked to teach math to middle and high school students at our Centro Educativo San Viator (Saint Viator Educational Center).
The way he describes the Viatorian Community in Jutiapa, Honduras, will sound familiar to Americans. “Victor, Manolo, Jesús – they are our priests here in Jutiapa, but when you know them, you don’t look at them like a priest. You look at them like a friend, like a father, like a brother,” Danilo said. “Some priests will make levels. They may say, ‘I’m a priest. You are the lay people.’ But for us, I just call them Victor, Manolo, and Jesus. And that makes you feel so close to them. And it’s easy to share, to talk.”
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During a visit, Fr. Goio Esquibel, CSV, Provincial of Spain, receives commitments from new Honduran associates.
The Viatorian commitment to service and solidarity shines through SERSO Honduras, a community development and social advocacy organization. Danilo has led clean water projects in over 40 of the nearly 90 communities in the Jutiapa municipality. “We have changed Jutiapa to make it a better place to live, to grow up, and to study. So much of the quality of life that we have right now in Jutiapa is thanks to SERSO,” Danilo said. “When the people go to drink water and open the faucet, and you see the emotion – they have water for first time in their life. That happening is more precious than all the money you can get.”
The Viatorians in the Province of Spain sent members to Honduras in 1998. Over time, they got into parishes, started a school, established SERSO – a Honduran chapter of the Spain organization – and brought in Honduran lay associates. Danilo is fired up for the vitality and impact of his close-knit community and encourages others to jump in. “Go for it! Don’t be afraid! The world will always need people who want to serve others. The Viatorian spirit and the Viatorian Community has it – teaching, serving, leading projects,” Danilo said.
Get the whole story from Honduras and Danilo in Episode 107 of Viatorian Voices – the 7th in this international series – on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.