VYC 2026: The Calm After the Storm

Every retreat is a little different, and this was uniquely true for the 2026 Viatorian Youth Congress. On Monday, as VYC was to begin, severe storms engulfed the Midwest, including tornado-producing storms in northeastern Illinois.

As tornado sirens blared, our Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church delegation paused their northward drive from Bourbonnais, IL, to take safe shelter. Additionally, our St. Viator Catholic Community and St. Thomas More Catholic Community delegations’ flight from Las Vegas was diverted to Omaha, NE, to wait out the weather. Thankfully, these delegations arrived safely, if a bit late.

They joined delegations from Cristo Rey St. Martin from Waukegan, IL, St. Patrick Parish from Kankakee, IL, and Saint Viator High School from Arlington Heights, IL. The Young Adult Leaders and Fr. John Eustice, CSV, shuffled plans, and those already gathered had some spontaneous fun and then prepared a grand welcome for late-arriving friends.

On Tuesday morning, VYC then took off unencumbered. The retreat includes prayer and liturgy, talks on Viatorian identity, small-group discussions, social time, and special Viatorian activities: youth-led liturgy planning, youth interviews of Viatorians, and a slate of prayer workshops given by Viatorians.

The variety of formation touchpoints creates many opportunities for Viatorians. Provincial Superior Fr. Mark Francis, CSV, St. Viator Parochial Vicar Fr. Jhobany Orduz, CSV, and Fr. John celebrated Masses, and MBVM Pastor Fr. Jason Nesbit, CSV, and Director of Novices Fr. Dan Lydon, CSV, joined Fr. John and Fr. Jhobany to offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Associates Ann Perez and Patrick McGarry gave key talks. A huge crew of Viatorians sat for interviews, and several adults led prayer workshops.

Associate Cathy Abrahamian led a large-group session on the rosary, sharing about the Venerable Louis Querbes and his Marian devotion. “Fr. Querbes consecrated his ministry to Mary and enrolled a group of women in his parish in a confraternity of the rosary. Then, he worked hard to overcome the resistance of local men to coming to Mass,” Cathy said. “There was a lot to do, and he credited the change in the community to the women’s prayer to Mary.”

Then, delegates broke into various small-group workshops. Young Adult Leader Trevor Lyon facilitated a workshop about prayer with music. “Rather than specifically Christian music, I’m exploring mainstream songs and reimagining the messages that those songs convey to us,” Trevor said. “We look at songs that participants love, and we explore values from those songs that they can use to grow through their prayer.”

Associate Randy Baker offered his perennial “Holy Moments” workshop. “I want to help young people spot God in their daily lives as they go about their usual activities and find how God is there, every day, in little things. This can help them find the moments where they encounter God or bring God into others’ lives,” Randy said.

Associate Deborah Perez taught young people about meditation and led a meditation with them on the story of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. “After practicing breathing and tension release, I use the story’s details to bring them into the scene. We look at the figure of Jesus, how Martha interacts with him, and then interact with Jesus ourselves,” Deborah said. “We incorporate time to rest in this, and close using a prayer with Martha.”

The four days culminated in a commissioning Mass on Thursday afternoon, during which delegates and first-time-participant adults received Viatorian medals. Teen delegates, young adult leaders, Viatorians, and adult partners were sent forth to proclaim Jesus Christ and the Gospel and raise communities where faith is lived, deepened, and celebrated.

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