Associate Kurt Paprocki graduated from Saint Viator High School in 2000, and after college, he returned as a Spanish teacher, starting in 2005-06. He has worked alongside Viatorians ever since, and in 2020, he joined the community as an associate.
Mr. Kurt Paprocki, right, works with a slightly older freshman – Fr. Charlie.
Turns out, it was Fr. Charles Bolser, CSV, who invited Kurt to consider association. Fr. Bolser had been president of Saint Viator when Kurt was a student, and they have remained in close contact.
“Over a two-year discernment period, I met with fellow pre-associates to discuss the Viatorian charism, the life and history of Fr. Louis Querbes and where we fit in to this giant puzzle,” Kurt says. “Our monthly meetings were something I looked forward to. I was among other pre-associates deciding on becoming part of something special.”
Another Viatorian who influenced him was Fr. Daniel Lydon, CSV, then a lay Spanish teacher at Saint Viator who taught Kurt as a freshman. Fr. John Eustice, CSV encouraged him to become active in Campus Ministry, and his involvement, especially with students on retreats, has deepened his faith.
Associate Kurt Paprocki and his Spanish class talking about the tensions in Catalonia with a native, via Skype.
“My hope is that students deepen their faith during these retreat experiences,” Kurt says. “I know they deepen mine.”
As a Spanish teacher, Kurt has worked to prepare his students for an increasingly global society. He often connects them with classrooms in Madrid and increasingly with their counterparts at Viatorian schools in Colombia.
“It’s important that our students at Saint Viator know that other students are out there experiencing similar yet somewhat different experiences as Viatorian young adults,” Kurt says. “Something as simple as seeing a red lion on the uniform of our fellow Viatorian students across the globe makes an impact.”
Mostly, he enjoys bringing his students to Mass in the Alumni Memorial Chapel at Saint Viator, say on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, where a Viatorian priest celebrates the liturgy in Spanish.
“It’s such a bonus when my students see Viatorian priests and brothers speaking in Spanish,” he says. “They get to see them as multi-talented individuals with numerous gifts. Hopefully, these Viatorians are paving the path for our students to become global learners after they graduate from Saint Viator — and remain Viatorians.”
More on Kurt from Viatorians.com:
- FEATURE: SVHS Kairos at 100 – The Wide-Reaching Impact of One Retreat (2025): Mr. Paprocki offered some reflections on the many ways he’s helped the Kairos program – and the students participating in Kairos have helped him – over 100+ retreats at SVHS.
- Celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (2024 | and also 2023): As Viatorians marked OLG around the province, Mr. Paprocki incorporated the original Spanish-language story of St. Juan Diego.
- Viatorian Founder Permeates This Retreat (2024): Mr. Paprocki was among many Viatorians who pitched in to help lead a sophomore retreat focused on Fr. Querbes.
- Forming Youth in Connecting Discipleship to Liturgy (2025) | Associates Lead Young People in Service (2024): Mr. Paprocki is a regular volunteer at Service & Song, the summer camp week where junior high students come to campus for liturgy and service outings.
- Associate Kurt Paprocki Recognized by His Peers (2024): Mr. Paprocki was elected the Fr. Querbes Award recipient for representing the spirit and mission of Saint Viator.
- This Viatorian (Fr. Charlie) Is a Lifelong Learner (2020): Mr. Paprocki brought his students to the chapel for Our Lady of Guadalupe feast day Masses, where Fr. Charlie realized his goal of celebrating Mass in Spanish after having studied with Kurt.
- Viatorians Celebrate Feast Day by Welcoming New Members (2020): Mr. Paprocki made his initial commitment to association just before St. Viator Day in 2020.
- Preparing Students for an Increasingly Global Society (2019): Mr. Paprocki facilitated a teleconference with Spanish-speakers in Spain.
- Fr. Charlie Personifying Lifelong Learning (2016): Fr. Charlie began sitting in on Spanish classes with Mr. Paprocki alongside Saint Viator students.
Updated July 9, 2025 by Associate Dan Masterton.