Earlier this month, treasurers who serve Viatorian provinces and regions gathered with our General Direction for a hybrid in-person/videoconference summit in Chile.
Provincial Superior of Canada Br. Jean-Marc St. Jacques, CSV, talked with Provincial Treasurer Fr. Tom von Behren, CSV, as Br. Carlos listened in for interpretation.
Fr. Fredy Contreras, CSV, of Colombia serves the worldwide community as general treasurer, and he directed the September 9-11 meeting. Provincial Treasurer Fr. Tom von Behren, CSV, represented our province in person along with Chief Financial Officer Associate Jim Thomas, who had to join by videoconference after flight cancellations prevented him from joining in person.
In late November, representatives from around the worldwide congregation of the Clerics of St. Viator will meet in Madrid for an extraordinary general chapter. Our congregation convenes a general chapter on an ordinary basis every six years for major discussions and elections of leadership, as happened in 2024 and will happen next in 2030; this extraordinary 2026 meeting has been called to discuss reconfiguration scenarios for the congregation.
In Chile, Fr. Fredy led intentional discussions on finances to prepare for the chapter meeting. “Being together in person makes a big difference. We all got snapshots of the financial situations in the provinces and regions, both challenges and positives. It started some momentum here that can inform what we’ll discuss in Madrid,” Fr. Tom said. “It made space for us to talk extensively about solidarity and discuss our obligations to one another as an international community that is made up of provinces and regions. We need to find ways to sustain the charism, mission, and community life.”
Left to right: Fr. Marcelo Lamas, CSV, Provincial Superior of Chile; Fr. Fredy Contreras, CSV, General Treasurer; Fr. Tom von Behren, CSV, Provincial Treasurer of Chicago; Fr. Eduardo Millán, CSV, Director of Novices; Br. Tomás Villalobos, CSV, of Chile; Br. Carlos Flórez, CSV, interpreter; Br. Julián Moro, CSV, Provincial Councilor for Chile; Sra. Marlene Barreda; Br. Julián Camilo Torres, Novice from Colombia; Br. Jean-Marc St. Jacques, CSV, Provincial Superior of Canada.
Br. Carlos Flórez, CSV, also participated as a Spanish-English interpreter, helping to strengthen communication and fraternity among a group that also included French speakers. Additionally, since the meeting was hosted at our shared Latin American-Caribbean novitiate site in Puente Alto, Br. Julián Camilo Torres, our novice from Colombia, visited with the group.
“It was definitely a highlight to get to know Br. Julián and also Br. Sebastian, our novice from Chile,” Fr. Tom said. “It was a pleasure to visit with confreres in Chile. I’d been there several times, but this was so positive to reconnect with them. It was great to rekindle friendships and tell stories. Chile has always been known in our community for hospitality and warm welcome, and they did not disappoint.”
For the extraordinary general chapter, the religious in the US elected Fr. Tom and Fr. John Eustice, CSV, and the religious in Colombia elected Fr. John Alexander Avellaneda, CSV. Fr. Mick Egan, CSV, will also take part by privilege of being a former superior general, and Fr. Mark Francis, CSV, will take part ex oficio as Provincial Superior (Fr. Mark is also a former superior general). Br. Carlos and Br. Marc-Innocent Prophéte, CSV, of Haiti, who is ministering and studying in our province, will assist as interpreters.