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In this episode, you can turn to the ancient Romans’ Via Appia and modern usage of the word “via” to understand more about why we call ourselves people “on the way.”

Then, we share the story as we have it of St. Viator, from his ministry as a reader at Mass – during a time when few people were literate – to his contemplative era as a desert monk with St. Just.

Finally, we invoke the name of St. Viator and ask for his intercession in a number of ways, not least through his namesake parishes and schools in our province and around the world as well as our house of hospitality for people seeking asylum named for this saint “on the way.”

Listen to this episode on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

Saint Viator, pray for us!

Associate John Ohlendorf

Discernment comes into focus when we can hear God’s invitations for us and identify our faithful responses, and Associate John Ohlendorf has that clarity in his Viatorian vocation.

“The Viatorian charism appeals to me: education, service to the holy altar, and a preferential option for those who are least cared for. The way it’s lived out by Viatorians speaks to me,” John said. “To be a Viatorian, I think, is to be a more liberal interpreter of the Catholic tradition. I don’t mean that they live outside the realm of the Church in any way – not at all. But I think they bring more openness to the interpretation of the Gospel; I think they are more welcoming to everybody; I think they offer a unique view of spirituality which I don’t find in other groups. I wanted to be associated that with that and to live out that same commitment to God and to the Church in the way that they do.”

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In Episode 120 of Viatorian Voices, John, who is now 92 years old, shares his exploration of God’s invitations for him. It goes back to childhood, when his positive experiences with the School Sisters of Notre Dame helped him realize he wanted to teach. After being drafted to the army and serving two years, John began a decades-long career as an English teacher and department chairperson in the St. Louis area. As his family settled in Bourbonnais, IL, he built himself a home there and joined them and Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church.

Top: the first few groups of associates gathered for an event at the Saint Viator HS residence in 2002 (John is back row, center); bottom: Associate Mary Finks, Associate Marilyn Mulcahy, and John enjoyed the 2022 Provincial Assembly in Bradley, IL, 23 years after their first commitments as the first US associates.

John became active at MBVM. So, Pastor Fr. James Crilly, CSV, drew him into the early explorations of Viatorian association in the 1990s, and John became one of the first associates in the US when he committed in 1999. The first few years involved some skepticism and uncertainty among the Viatorian religious, so Provincial Superior Fr. Charlie Bolser, CSV, had the associates lead a provincial assembly.

As they led the sessions and still saw discomfort among the group, John spoke up. “Out of frustration, I said to the group, ‘We’re here. We’re not going away. Deal with it,’” John said. “We weren’t going to give up and go away, so they had to accept it and to learn to live with it. Most of them did.”

John reflects more in this episode on the growth of association, the charism and community life of the Viatorians, and the way prospective Viatorians could discern God’s invitations for them. “If you think that association is service to the Church only or whatever ‘Father’ says, I would say it’s not for you,” John said. “If you believe that the two great commandments are love of God and service to your fellow beings, then Viatorian life is for you. As long as you don’t have to follow the rules and regulations of the Church rigidly but can live in a more liberal interpretation of what it means to be a Catholic, then you’re perfect for association or for the religious life as a Viatorian.”

Listen to all of Episode 120 on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

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Ernie (right) on the road with Vocation Director Fr. Ed Nowak, CSP (left).

Ernie Garrido, vocations recruiter for the Paulist Fathers, reflected on digital media as a source for ongoing faith formation, even after you head home from Mass or other faith community gatherings. “I always value that the Paulists aren’t just confined to my time with them at church or Mass. I could always go home and check out their websites or YouTube and see daily Mass or see Paulists preaching a parish mission,” Ernie said.

Zack Dmyterko, vocation director for the Alexian Brothers, loves a good story. The brothers offer him great stories to share, both from centuries-old history as well as authentic and fraternal religious life today. “We let people know we’re an older order with older brothers. We don’t pretend. We don’t hide them. We show the community as it is,” Zack said. “The brothers don’t go to morning prayer in habits or all dressed up. They say, ‘Post it [the photos]. That’s what we do. Show us exactly as we are.’”

Rory Dayton founded VocationCRM to assist religious communities with online promotion and relationship management. As he works on campaigns and designs, he sees a shift in social media that can inform how we share digital witness. “It’s not so much social anymore; it’s really turning into interest media,” Rory said, as algorithms serve content based on interests and not just who we follow or add as friends. “We can layer our Catholicism into the everyday aspects of life. As communicators and users of this media, we can integrate our Catholicism into any hobbies, interests, or lifestyles that resonate with people.”

Hear more from Ernie, Zack, Rory, and Jesús Leyva of NRVC and Global Sisters Report in Episode 119 of Viatorian Voices on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

Br. Peter (right) enjoys a meal with (left to right) Fr. John Alexander Avellaneda, CSV, Pre-Novice Ángel Felipe Vásquez, Br. Edwin Barreto, CSV, and Br. P. Enrique Medina, CSV.

Learning a second language can be helpful professionally, can make traveling or experiencing another culture more accessible, and connect us more with neighbors. Each of these things are true for Br. Peter Lamick, CSV, with another unique layer added: “I really wanted to have a Spanish learning experience living with other Viatorians,” Br. Peter said. “I certainly could study Spanish here in Chicago, and there’s plenty of opportunities to practice. But I wanted to live with our guys and have the opportunity to learn and use my Spanish while also trying to get to know them.”

This summer, Br. Peter spent 10 weeks living in Colombia, and he shared stories and reflections from this experience on Episode 118 of Viatorian Voices: Conversations on the Way.

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He moved into Casa San Justo (Saint Just House), our house of formation in Bogotá, with our three postulantes (pre-novices), formation director Fr. John Alexander Avellaneda, Br. Edwin Barreto, CSV, and Br. Juan David Ramírez, CSV – plus a short overlap with Fr. Juan Carlos Ubaque, CSV, before he moved to Rome for studies.

During his time in Tunja, Br. Peter enjoyed time with Fr. Fredy Contreras, CSV (left), and Fr. Pedro Herrera, CSV (second from left), as well as Danilo José Hernández Cantarero (right), a teacher from Centro Educativo San Viator (Saint Viator Educational Center) in Jutiapa, Honduras, who was making a professional visit to our Tunja school with a colleague.

In addition to lively community life, it is a convenient base to take public transit across Bogotá to an international language school where he could study Spanish. “When I arrived in Colombia, my Spanish was very basic – greetings and that type of thing. Then by the time I left, I felt like I could have like conversations with my confreres in Spanish,” Br. Peter said.

Br. Peter joined meals, prayer, and social life with his housemates, both at home and around town. He took a weekend in Tunja to stay with our community there – Fr. Fredy Contreras, CSV, Fr. Pedro Herrera, CSV, and Br. Carlos Suárez, CSV – and take part in their youth day, even giving a Spanish-language talk to an auditorium of high school students. He went out with one pre-novice for a weekend at his family home.

One big takeaway for Br. Peter was how well the pre-novices could articulate our charism and their potential vocations. “They had such a grasp of the charism. They could communicate it. They could tell me about it. And they could really clearly articulate why they had intentionally chosen to enter the Viatorians as opposed to another congregation,” Br. Peter said. “They could clearly tell me that they had this attraction to the Viatorian charism and the way we work with young people, our passion for education, and a certain spirituality with the way we connect with people.”

Listen to all of Br. Peter’s stories and reflections on Episode 118, available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Sr. Amy Mejia, SSCM

St. Patrick and Sacred Heart pastoral staff member Sr. Amy Mejia, SSCM, found her vocational home with the Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary, first as a consecrated layperson and then, as life circumstances later allowed, as a religious sister. She shared about this on Episode 117 of Viatorian Voices.

“A lot of congregations have different things they offer where people can live out the spirituality of the congregation,” Sr. Amy said. Her community offers lay consecration, servant companionship, and affiliation, not unlike Viatorian association. “In 2014, I went through formation for consecration, made my private vows, and renewed those a couple of times. So, I actually lived that way for eight years. Then, I came to a point where I was able to transition to religious life and really felt that was where God was calling me to be.”

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Left to right: Sr. Amy, Sr. Kathleen Mulcahy, SSCM, Sr. Evelyn Varboncoeur, SSCM, Servant Companion Monica Phan, Sr. Mary Kay Moran, SSCM, and Novice Annemarie Davies.

Sr. Amy is a mother and grandmother. Once her adult children were stably independent, she sought out religious life and loved the fit with the Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary. Their charism is faith, family, and self-giving, including a culture of sisters’ remaining close to their biological families who then become part of the SSCM community in a way. She is one of several sisters who are mothers of adult children.

Sr. Amy applied for religious formation, completed her novitiate earlier this year, and professed first vows in April. Based at the provincial house and retreat center in Kankakee, IL, Sr. Amy’s first ministry as a sister has been with Viatorian parishes, St. Patrick Parish in Kankakee and Sacred Heart Church in Pembroke Township, IL. She affirms the responsiveness of St. Patrick to its growing Hispanic community as well as the profound hospitality at Sacred Heart.

“I don’t know that you’ll find in other parishes the sort of welcome and acceptance between the cultures as you do at Sacred Heart,” Sr. Amy said, of the Black and Hispanic communities that come together at our parish. “I think it’s rare that you’d go into a culturally mixed parish and find that the parish really works together and accepts each other’s customs. Their different ways of singing, their different ways of celebrating the Mass – it’s just kind of all combined into one, and people enjoy that there.”

Sr. Amy professed first vows as a religious sister in April.

As she begins her religious life, Sr. Amy has some keen insights for all of us in our vocational discernment – perhaps most importantly that it is lifelong. “Even though you might say, ‘Okay, I feel like I’m being called to religious life or the priesthood; I’m going to make a call to a vocations director; and now I’m applying and moving in’ – you’re not done discerning. You’re still discerning even after that,” Sr. Amy said. “So, just remembering: that discernment is a continuous thing.”

Sr. Amy shares more about finding her home as both a religious sister and a mother and grandmother, about working with Viatorians and our parish communities, and about careful and prayerful vocational discernment. Catch all of Episode 117 with Sr. Amy on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

The YALs had the welcome table ready on Monday afternoon, complete with t-shirts and folders for all the delegates about to arrive.

Viatorians believe that young people invite us to be daring, creative, and imaginative and that through them new things come to life (Viatorian Spirituality 3.2.2). As part of living this out, we train Young Adult Leaders (YALs) to take charge of our Viatorian Youth Congress (VYC), a Catholic, Viatorian summer retreat for teens.

Young adults have all kinds of opportunities for travel, earning summer income, or undertaking career-oriented internships. So, in Episode 116 of Viatorian Voices, we asked this year’s leaders: why commit a week of your summer to leading VYC?

Their witness is a potent reminder of why Viatorians place so much trust and confidence in young people and dedicate ourselves to helping them become leaders.

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“Going to Saint Viator was a distinct blessing in my life that brought to me where I am, fed me spiritually, supported my growth and development,” YAL Aidan McLeod, a Saint Viator High School (Arlington Heights, IL) alumnus, said. “During the school year and summer, I see my friends all the time. I can’t come be with the Viatorian Community the same way now that I’m at college. So, VYC is a distinct opportunity for me to be around the Viatorians.”

“I know what it’s like to be a teenager growing into your faith, and all the conflicting thoughts, how much it changes you, how much it makes you doubt yourself and your faith – and how much it helps to have someone you can talk and relate to who isn’t a priest or an adult,” YAL Amanda Mallous, a St. Viator Parish School (Las Vegas) alumnus. “I really want to help with that.”

In 2023, Saint Viator High School alumni Emma Ziebka (left) and Trevor Lyon (middle) showed Br. Peter Lamick, CSV (right), around campus. Trevor hosted Br. Peter for a talk with his men’s spirituality group and then Br. Peter gathered some young adults for dinner. Everyone came together later for evening Mass, and the Jesuits celebrating Mass invited Br. Peter up to greet the congregation.

In addition to young alumni of our schools and parish youth ministries, we have a few leaders who met us through our wider outreach. YAL Felipe Moreno of Orem, UT, met Viatorians at our exhibit booth at SEEK, a Catholic young adult conference, and YAL Cecilia Wiedel met the Viatorians through our campus visits to her school, Creighton University, where she is friends with Saint Viator High School alumni, including fellow YAL Trevor Lyon. “The Viatorians have a very vivacious charism – live life to the fullest by going where God wants you to go,” Cecilia said. “VYC is a combination of a lot of things I love: travel, retreat, youth, and the Viatorians. So, I said yes!”

Episode 116 and the full Viatorian Voices archive is available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

VYC 2026 began today at Casa Iskali – Our Lady of Guadalupe Campus in Des Plaines, IL. Delegations of teens from schools and parishes in Illinois and Nevada came with campus and youth ministers and other adult chaperones for the four-day program that runs through Thursday afternoon.

Br. Juan David with the Colegio San Viator lion – at other times, he’s the one playing the mascot!

Br. Juan David Ramírez, CSV, was not a great student in elementary school and, as he got older, he did not quite know what we wanted to do with his life. So, how did he become a teacher – and a Viatorian religious?

The Venerable Louis Querbes trusted in Providence, and that may have played a part in Br. Juan David’s vocation, too. As someone who has always loved comics, stories, characters, and culture, Br. Juan David is skilled at origami. When he was a teen, his aunt – who was a teacher – invited him to teach her students the paper craft.

“It was a very enriching experience, and after that, I said I would like to teach,” Br. Juan David said. “In high school, my aunts and my cousins helped me to feel good with mathematics, so then I decided to present to the pedagogical university for math licensure.”

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For his student-teaching, Br. Juan David’s university placed him at Colegio San Viator in Bogotá. With a long commute from his home in another part of the city, Br. Juan David would arrive early by bus. On those cold mornings, he stepped inside to wait in the chapel and keep warm until his supervised teaching with Fr. Edwin Ruiz, CSV, began later in the morning.

Br. Juan David has taught math at the school for many years, but he also gets involved with cultural expressions and student activities.

“The teachers saw that a university student was coming early in the morning and was always going to the chapel. They said, ‘We are going to talk to the Viatorians about him,’” Br. Juan David said.

After discernment with Fr. Fredy Contreras, CSV, and initial formation between Colombia and Chile, Br. Juan David’s life as a vowed religious began with a big moment: our new school in Tunja was just a couple years old, and our leadership and the brothers who were ministering there wanted him to join them – and they asked him on his first day in vows.

“Yes! Okay! I will. So, another big change, but it was okay,” Br. Juan David said. “Pedro [Herrera], Fredy, and Juan Carlos [Ubaque] were very close with me and always helping me to feel part of the community of Tunja.”

Br. Juan David also enjoys comics conventions, characters, and costumes (left) and remains a skillful origami artist (right).

Get the whole story on Br. Juan David’s trajectory from struggling young student to professional math teacher, how his personality continues to thrive in religious life, and what prompted him now to return to Bogotá to begin theological studies with a view toward ordination.

Episode 115 is available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

For three weeks earlier this summer, Fr. John was a chaplain at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. Scouting groups come from all over the country for treks, and among a staff of over 1,000 people, chaplains from various faith traditions minister to them. Fr. John served alongside other Catholic chaplains in celebrating Mass, and then, with the staff of chaplains, going out for pastoral visits on the trails and assisting with camp operations.

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Fr. John was part of a staff of over 1,000 people who make Philmont hum!

Fr. John is an Eagle Scout – as are three other Viatorians – and his love of nature is rooted largely in his Scouting experience from his youth. This chaplaincy brings together many parts of his vocation: as a Catholic priest, he is celebrating the Sacraments and providing pastoral care; as a Viatorian, he is accompanying young people and sharing about our charism; as a vocation minister, he is giving witness to Viatorian life and resourcing potential discerners – some of whom have kept in touch and continued this exploration.

Fr. John’s duties including celebrated Mass at some unique chapels around the ranch.

“I had the opportunity to work with young adults on staff. All of us were in a common mission of providing for young people as well as being curious about how God present in our every day,” Fr. John said. “I brought a few young staff members with me to the backcountry camps to bring Eucharist – to the outdoors, to where young people had been on the trail for four or five days, to be in an outdoor three-sided chapel with people seeking God. It’s not just the celebration of the Mass but also the journey getting there on the roads, on the trails.”

Fr. John affirms the amazing staff, the fellow chaplains, his teammate Catholic priests from other religious orders, and the fantastic culture and program at Philmont. And as someone who came of age in Scouting in the 1990s and now ministers to Scouts in the 2020s, Fr. John sees and affirms the evolution of Scouting’s hospitality and welcome.

Did you know Scouting is an international activity? Viatorians in Spain help lead Scouting troops, too. Hear more in Ep. 104 of Viatorian Voices!

“Scouting has changed completely. Number one, we have a lot of young women who are a part of it, earning Eagle Scout. When I grew up, it was that girls should do their own thing. But now, what a wonderful way to show the Body of Christ together, working toward a common goal,” Fr. John said. “In recent years, Scouting has been opened to LGBTQ+ youth. Some might wonder if as a Catholic priest you’d be against that. Well, no, we’re for walking with people on a journey. Everyone is made good, as it says in Genesis. Being on staff with people who identify differently is really a blessing.”

Listen to all of Episode 114 of Viatorian Voices on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

the group shot from Service & Song 2025 last June

Service & Song is a long-running camp hosted at the high school for middle school students. The five days are grounded in communal prayer, built around service activities on campus and out in the community and at service organizations, and oriented toward service-learning.

High school students lead the small groups and activities, and Viatorians and adult helpers support the program, with Associate Ann Perez, the school’s Vice President for Mission and Identity, at the helm. Ann shares in greater depth about this program in Episode 113 of Viatorian Voices.

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“The purpose of Service & Song is to help our high school students and our middle school students understand the mission of the Viatorians – to proclaim Jesus Christ and raise communities where faith is lived, deepened, and celebrated,” Ann said. “So, we try to do all those things within a week, in a few hours each day, and welcome middle school students to our community in this very specific way.”

a few highlights from 2025

Locally, Saint Viator High School strives to live out this mission through the particular community life of the school. Service & Song is a way for adults and students to put this in action and begin to share it with middle school students who will hopefully join them in the coming years. “Our mission and vision at Saint Viator High School is to help students discern who God wants them to be, to discover what the world needs, and then transform the communities around them – either right here at Saint Viator or out at all the service sites,” Ann said.

Read these archival stories on Service & Song from 2025, 2024, 2022, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, and 2013.

The service activities include a food drive in the school’s neighborhood, a full-group service visit to Feed My Starving Children, and partnerships with Salute, Inc. for veterans, Laudato Si’ gardens at parishes, and Journeys: The Road Home for people experiencing homelessness. Ann hopes this Viatorian formation furthers students’ sense of vocation. “When we talk about the corporal works of mercy, the themes of Catholic Social Teaching, and lives of the saints [over the three-year rotation], in just one week, it all tries to incorporate a whole life of mission,” Ann said. “Hopefully, it will then be continued after – long after!”

Service & Song 2026 takes place June 22-26. Catch all of Episode 113 on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

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Last summer, Dianne (right) shared in a ministry conference with Saint Viator HS Vice President for Mission Associate Ann Perez (left) and former Cristo Rey St. Viator campus minister Rosie Rinaldo (middle).

Pre-Associate Dianne Marshall worked with Viatorians for a few years at Saint Viator High School in Arlington Heights, IL. Now, as Director of Faith Formation for Youth and Children at St. Patrick Parish in Lake Forest, IL, she will become another Viatorian who brings our charism to ministry outside our sponsored institutions, thanks in part to pre-association formation.

“Becoming an associate allows me to remain connected to this community that I really value, and it also allows me to bring the Viatorian charism to the work that I do,” Dianne said. “I still very much work with youth and try to empower them to take care of those considered of little importance.”

Pre-Associate Jason Valle got married at St. Viator Church in Las Vegas, and after a few moves and time at other parishes, his family is back at St. Viator. He’s helping with youth ministry there, and Jason also works with teens, teaching broadcast media at Bishop Gorman High School. This common thread of walking with youth became clear to him in formation.

Jason (back middle) took part in the archdiocesan conference last year with many Viatorians from Bishop Gorman and St. Viator Catholic Community and Parish School.

“I realized I’ve worked with kids my whole life. At 18 years old, I became a YMCA youth counselor. I sort of mentored them before I really knew what mentoring was,” Jason said. “Now at St. Viator, I can be there to be a part of it, too. Youth ministry works for me because it gives me an opportunity to talk to more kids, which is fantastic.”

This episode shares more about what goes into these two years of formation, what realizations and insights it yielded for these two, and how it helped them discern to commit as Viatorians.

Dianne discerned a draw to the breadth and reach of the charism, which she can carry and live out her ministry: “After taking some time in prayer and reflection, especially over Holy Week, I really realized that the Viatorians are bigger than just the organizations that they run.”

And Jason echoed a frequent Viatorian inspiration for generous service, especially of young people and people accounted of little importance: “Wherever St. Viator needs me is where I want to be. I see myself being wherever God pulls me. I figure I’ll pay attention, see what God puts in my path, and that’s where I’ll go.”

Listen to Episode 112 and all episodes of Viatorian Voices on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Amanda (left) and MBVM Director of Communications Julie Worby (right) leading Camp MOSH in summer 2025.

St. George and Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parishes in Bourbonnais, IL, are a little different from each other: St. George has a smaller amount of families and stands along a country road on an open rural campus, while Maternity BVM has a larger amount of families and is tucked in between a busy main road and a college campus. Yet, they share Viatorian identity, with Viatorian pastors at each for a long, long time and, for the last two years, a shared youth ministry with Coordinator of Viatorian Youth Ministry Amanda Fierce.

A major common trait Amanda witnesses is the deep welcome and hospitality of the people in both parishes, which helps animate youth ministry. “You have a pretty even mix of public school kids and private school kids who are Bishop McNamara Catholic School students. We do our best to balance that, regardless of where you go to school, you’re part of our youth ministry,” Amanda said, on Episode 111 of Viatorian Voices. “We want all of them there, and we encourage relationships among all our students, too.”

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To build on this mix on schools, Amanda has established strong relationships with the parish religious education directors, and she teaches 7th graders in the program at Maternity. “We want to keep families involved and see this as a 12-plus-year commitment,” Amanda said. “Once you get to kindergarten, you’re starting religious education or attending Catholic school, and we have programming for you all the way through high school.”

Amanda (left) took four teens to Kairos with Saint Viator High School so that they could experience the retreat and help restart the Bourbonnais Kairos program this summer.

In walking with young people and partnering with families, Amanda strives to help everyone feel well at home in these Viatorian parishes. She believes that faith can take deep root and grow through this community, and as young people discern their passion for service and ministry, Amanda appreciates the ever-present Viatorian example. “Fr. Jason, Fr. Moses, and Fr. Pat are all very approachable in their homilies, in the way they show up at events, in knowing what’s going at the kids’ schools. They care about families here,” Amanda said. “There are lots of adults, both professed and lay, who are already living this Viatorian way, and we get to work side-by-side with these people. What a blessing that I don’t have to look far to find them.”

Hear more on these two parishes, the mix of socializing and fun with prayer and service, and how Amanda tries to offer an attractive and balanced community to teens and their families. Episode 111 is available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

That day when that the world met the first American pope will likely remain a prominent memory for many Catholics, Americans, and Viatorians. So, we asked a few Viatorians to share the stories of where they were, what they were doing, and who they were with, as the Church and the world received this news and first met Cardinal Robert Prevost, OSA, as Pope Leo XIV.

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Pre-Associate Patrick McGarry was navigating the torpor of teaching high school students in May. Then, this exciting news and the chance to watch live with students broke up the sluggish days – at least for him and the teachers. “Ms. Bruett-Fedell and I looked at each other and jumped up and down. And I ran through the hallways, ecstatically screaming, ‘He’s an American! We have an American pope!” Patrick said. “No one seemed quite as excited as we were, haha.”

As a longtime veteran of the broadcast news business, Associate Dan Schwarz has been in newsrooms for a lot of big stories over the years, but there was something one-of-a-kind about May 8, 2025.

Associate Dan Schwarz juggled the hustle of a workday in a broadcast newsroom, following the news while praying and celebrating. “I was behind the door in my office, and I cried. What a blessing for our Catholic Church! What a thrill for me being from Chicago!” Dan said. “Then, I opened my door and got back to work – and talked about it the rest of the day with anybody who wanted to talk!”

And Fr. Charlie Bolser, CSV, was delighted for a pope with a heart for the poor – and the White Sox. “Number one, he was a Southside boy. I thought that was fantastic. And Augustinian – we’re familiar with them, and they’re very good people. And working in South America as a missionary, I was very impressed with that experience and background,” Fr. Charlie said. “Then I heard finally that he was a Chicago White Sox fan! I thought, ‘Holy cow, now I have to watch. This guy’s really got my attention.'”

Hear from these Viatorians, Associate Dan Masterton, Fr. John Eustice, CSV, and of course, the Viatorian who remembers this pope as “Bob” – Fr. Mark Francis, CSV, Provincial. It’s all in Episode 110 of Viatorian Voices, available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

As we celebrate the first year of Leo’s papacy, we encourage you to remember and reflect on where you were when this exciting news broke and how you and others with you reacted and responded. We also invite you to join us in praying with gratitude for Pope Leo XIV, his prophetic witness, faithful leadership, and continued health and vitality.

In addition to excerpts from the guests in our eight full episodes with members from eight countries, this ninth episode features reflections from Japan, Chile, and Peru.

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Fr. William served in Japan for many years. Here, he celebrated memorial Mass at Rakusei school (top) and a Mass at a local church (bottom) in 2023.

Fr. William Serge Bationo, CSV, is a native of Burkina Faso who served for many years in Japan, where Viatorians founded a school in 1952 that continues serving hundreds of students today. Fr. William invited Associate Oshima Yukinobu to share a bit about our school. “Each morning begins with prayer together with the students, and during the religious activities, we reflect on and savor the Gospel,” Oshima said. “Once a month, we hold prayer meetings with associates. I would like to continue sharing with others how we are loved by God, and to pray together for peace and for the world’s Viatorian Community.”

In sharing the joy of our vocation, Fr. William added his reflection. “A vocation is not something imposed from outside – it is a quiet invitation that grows within you, often through your desire to serve, teach, and walk with others,” Fr. William said. “The Viatorian charism is beautiful because it is rooted in community life, faith, and the commitment to accompany young people.”

Fr. Rodrigo Andrade, CSV, of Chile offered a Spanish-language reflection, shared alongside an English translation. “Jump in and take a risk. Discern. Put your life into the hands of God,” Fr. Rodrigo said. “Pray. Discern well. Consider spiritual direction. Hang in there, and dare to discover the adventure of being a Christian today! A hug to you all!”

Associate Geber Rodriguez sent his affection and reflection on behalf of our community in Peru. “Our Viatorian Community is a space that shows that faith isn’t only a feeling but something rooted in announcing the good news of Jesus Christ,” Geber said. “[Vocation is] staking your life on the joy that doesn’t depend on certain styles, successes, or approval, but on knowing that you’ve been called again and again. You feel the spark of God’s knocking on your door. Don’t be afraid. Through listening and responding, sometimes in the middle of noise, a question appears that won’t leave – and if you feel called to something more, then it becomes up to you to respond.”

We invite you to discover the diversity and unity of expression present in our global Viatorian Community, and reflect on the common thread of our charism and community life. Episode 109, which concludes our global solidarity series, can be found on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

Spanish quotations interpreted into English – thanks to Fr. Dan Lydon, CSV, for assisting with interpretation.

Associate Claire Fayolle

Our global solidarity podcast series takes us next to France to talk with Associate Claire Fayolle.

Claire is a retired infant and child psychologist. She sent her kids to Catholic school and belongs to a Viatorian parish that she loves. Over time, Viatorians invited her to become part of the Viatorian Community, too. “They asked me to join them, and I thought it’s a very good idea to pray together, to meditate on the Bible together, to think together on mission for poor and migrant people, to prepare liturgy for the parish – and live in fraternity together for some moments each week,” Claire said – she made her initial commitment in 2020.

Some members of the Viatorian Community in France together for an outdoor gathering.

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The Viatorian Community in France strives to live the charism through ongoing discernment of the signs of the times, and right now, they especially feel called to integral ecology and accompaniment of immigrants. “We try to be to receptive, discerning prophetic signs in what emerges in society, in the Church, and in the world,” Claire said. “We participate in France in ‘Green Church,’ walking to church or using Metro and buses. And we help an association for migrants with lodging, money, administration, and political advocacy.”

In Church life, French Viatorians face the familiar struggle of various liturgical practices and preferences among active Catholics. Claire observes that others are more traditional while Viatorians are more modern, but she hopes that Viatorian inclusion and hospitality can catalyze unity. “With the community and the priests, we try to find, all together, a common style and have celebrations with peace and good spirit,” Claire said. “It is a real job to find union together. It’s a long work, but the life of faith for us is one of a participative assembly.”

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Hear all of Claire’s reflections in Episode 108 on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. As we continue to connect with each country of the worldwide Viatorian Community, you can listen to the whole playlist on YouTube (linked here and embedded above) or scroll through Episodes 101-108 in your preferred podcast app.

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.

Fr. Maurice Kouadio, CSV, of Ivory Coast

Fr. Maurice professed first vows in 2006. After several years as a brother, he requested studies for priesthood, but was initially asked to wait and continue his ministry in schools. Then in 2020, he began studies for priesthood and was ordained a priest in 2024. He serves as director of the school Groupe Scolaire Saint-Viateur in Bouaké, which includes nursery, primary, and secondary schools, and he is also vicar to the quasi-parish that utilizes the school chapel there.

Much like in our familiar communities in the US, Fr. Maurice shares how our reputation there is connected to education. “The Church and the community here, I can say, is growing more and more – through education, helping young people to be well educated, intellectually and socially,” Fr. Maurice said. “When thinking about Viatorians, we think about schools. Our schools are counted among the best schools of the country. So, Viatorians here are well known as good educators.”

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Left to right, Fr. Maurice with General Councilor Fr. Gerardo Soto, CSV, Vicar General Fr. Víctor Cámara, CSV, and Superior General Fr. Nestor Fils-Aimé, CSV, during their pastoral visit to Ivory Coast.

In Viatorian Community life, our outreach into new countries starts with a root province bringing our charism to another culture, but it isn’t typical foreign mission. Our foundations are meant to be places where the charism takes unique root in a new culture with the people of that country. In Ivory Coast, the Province of France planted seeds that are flourishing, especially in Ivorian vocations. Fr. Maurice expressed his gratitude and sense of responsibility that Ivory Coast is now a region, the last step before perhaps becoming a province one day.

“The community in Ivory Coast has been funded by the Province of France. Since some years, we noticed that there is no more vocations in France. So, our duty here is to be more responsible, so that we can get the upper level, which is a province, and so that we can help our mother province,” Fr. Maurice said. “It means that we have to work hard. Our Viatorian charism must be set up in Ivory Coast, so that we can have more and more vocations to continue the mission of the church and also the charism of our founder Father Louis Querbes.”

So, what does Fr. Maurice say to young people and discerners? “Welcome! They’ll be welcome!” Fr. Maurice exclaimed. “The Viatorian Community is like a tree, and association and religious life are the two main branches. We need each other to carry out the charism of our founder, his initial dream to have a community where we have lay people and religious.”

Listen to all of Episode 106 with Fr. Maurice on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. To view all of the episodes in this series, use the playlist embedded above and linked here. (Editor’s note: For those who struggle understanding English speakers with accents, we recommend watching/listening on YouTube, where we review the subtitles and edit them for maximum accuracy for each episode to support our listeners with increased accessibility.)

Associates Julien and Esther have three children.

As we continue our series of podcast episodes with Viatorians from other countries, we welcome Associate Julien Magloire Oubda of Burkina Faso.

Julien and his wife, Esther, committed as Viatorian associates in 2023. Julien first met the Viatorians as part of the inaugural class at Groupe Escolare Saint Viateur in Ouagadougou, and he credits Fr. Jean-Marc Provost, CSV, and the Canadian Viatorians who brought the charism to his country with starting something great.

“Being part of the first group of students gave me a close and personal experience of who Viatorians are,” Julien said, in Episode 105 of Viatorian Voices. “From the very beginning, I was struck by simplicity, their closeness to people, and the very human way they live their faith. The Viatorians’ witness gradually led me to reflect more deeply and to pray to discern God’s call.”

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Julien describes the religious plurality in Burkina Faso, which is a Muslim-majority country; the breadth of ministries in which Viatorians serve there, including schools; and the feeling of Burkinabe Viatorians at being made a region last year – an elevated status that comes with a bit more self-governance and representation in international leadership, with the hope to one day become a province.

Julien was a delegate of Burkina Faso to the Fourth Viatorian General Assembly in 2025. Here he is visiting Vourles on the assembly pilgrimage (left) and lectoring at daily Mass (right).

“This reflects not only the numerical growth but also the human, spiritual, and institutional maturity. We see this as a sign of hope from the international Viatorian Community,” Julien said. “We are focused on strengthening formation, developing new ministry, promoting local vocations, and making an even more meaningful contribution to the Viatorian mission at the international level.”

Many Burkinabe continue to discern into Viatorian religious life and association, and Julien has words of encouragement for Viatorian discerners. “Meet Viatorians; share in their life; become involved in their activities; and observe how they live their faith in daily life. Concretely, experience is often more meaningful than long explanation,” Julien said. “Viatorian life, whether lived as a religious or as an associate, is a beautiful way to serve the Church and society while growing both as a person and spiritually.”

To hear all of Julien’s reflections on his vocation as a Viatorian Associate and our Viatorian Community in the Region of Burkina Faso, listen to Episode 105 on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. (Editor’s note: For those who struggle understanding English speakers with accents, we recommend watching/listening on YouTube, where we review the subtitles and edit them for maximum accuracy for each episode to support our listeners with increased accessibility.)

Colegio Fátima held special celebrations to mark their 75th anniversary last year.

All three of these Viatorians work as teachers, including teaching English, at Colegio Fátima, a Viatorian school in Madrid founded by our community in 1950 (website | Instagram).

Like in other countries, Viatorians in Spain work in many schools and parishes, both urban and rural. Then, Ilse and Javier are part of a unique Viatorian ministry. “We have three Scouts groups in Spain – one here at Colegio Fátima, one at San Viator in Madrid, and one in Vitoria,” Ilse said. “They are all affiliated with the schools, and all the groups are accompanied by Viatorians.”

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Br. JJ, Ilse, and Javier joined us via Zoom from Colegio Fátima.

In the Viatorian spirit of walking with young people, they find hope – even as members age and retire – in young adults who were part of Scouts as kids and now lead with them as young adults, or alumni from their school who are now training alongside them to become teachers. “It would be good to work even more with [young adults]. We work now with children and teenagers, and I think this [growth] is our challenge for the future,” Br. JJ said.

One key ministry of the Province of Spain is SERSO. Short for servicio (service) and solidaridad (solidarity), the organization brings together Viatorians and our communities to fundraise and collect items for people and projects in the developing world, especially areas of countries where Viatorians serve. While the financial support and practical contributions make a difference abroad, the literacy in charity and justice is huge for forming young people and communities right there in Spain, too. “Little students can participate, and even they know these donations go to SERSO and help. It is creating the feeling of being an international community,” Javier said.

Ilse, Javier, and Br. JJ discuss their first encounters with the community, the Viatorians and the Catholic Church in Spain, and our ministries in the countries – and conclude with a word of encourage for invitation and accompaniment. Listen to all of Episode 104 on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

Fr. Alain Ambeault, CSV

As we seek deeper internationality with all parts of our global Viatorian Community, we are continuing our series of podcast episodes with Viatorians from other countries. In this episode, we check in with our neighbors to the north, learning about our community in Canada by speaking with Fr. Alain Ambeault, CSV.

“The Viatorians in Canada, like everywhere else, have always been involved in education, but at the same time, they always had an openness to something else,” Fr. Alain said. “They developed complimentary perspectives to education – about arts, cinema, liturgy, presence to young people, ministry to disadvantaged people.”

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Br. Carlos Flórez, CSV (left), served as a General Councilor to Fr. Alain, and Fr. Tom von Behren, CSV (second from left), was Provincial Superior during Fr. Alain’s term. Fr. Alain concelebrated Mass for the diaconate ordination of Br. John Alexander Avellaneda, CSV (second from right), at Maternity BVM in Bourbonnais in Summer 2025.

Fr. Alain professed first vows in 1980 and was ordained a priest in 1986. He served in various leadership roles for the Province of Canada, including Provincial Superior. He went on to serve as a General Councilor on the General Council for Fr. Mark Francis, CSV, when Fr. Mark was Superior General. Then, in 2012, Fr. Alain was elected to a six-year term as Superior General. For the last several years, he has served as Executive Director of the Canadian Religious Conference.

One of the great distinctions of the Province of Canada has been the mission outreach, which Fr. Alain breaks into three phases. “There are three movements. First, to the East, with China and Japan, it was ‘go and evangelize people,'” Fr. Alain said, noting that the Viatorians were expelled from China in wartime. “After that, Haiti and Peru – it’s clearly a response to calls from the pope and the Vatican. Then Burkina Faso was totally different – we knew [in modern times] we had to send the charism and offer the charism to different cultures.”

Fr. Alain discusses the grace of discerning the foundation in Burkina Faso and its first Viatorian ministers, the richness of international relationships, and the heart of our Viatorian Community as catechists and ministers of accompaniment. Hear all of Episode 103 on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Br. John assisted Fr. Nestor Fils-Aimé, CSV, Superior General, at Mass for the perpetual profession of Br. Marc Innocent Prophete, CSV, in 2025.

As we seek deeper internationality with all parts of our global Viatorian Community, we are continuing our series of podcast episodes with Viatorians from other countries. In this episode, we stay within our province and turn to our Foundation of Colombia to hear from Br. John Alexander Avellaneda, CSV.

Br. John professed first vows in 2019 and perpetual vows in 2022, and he has spent the last few years in the United States. Here, he has studied English, continued his theological studies and priestly formation at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, IL, and been ordained a transitional deacon.

He has been ministering as a deacon at Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Bourbonnais, IL, since his ordination last summer. He even briefly filled in as a Spanish teacher at Saint Viator High School to help fill a medical leave.

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He was drawn to the Viatorian Community while he was also considering diocesan seminary. Fr. Fredy Contreras, CSV, who was accompanying him in discernment, helped him understand the differences between religious life and diocesan priesthood, which clarified Br. John’s preference for him. “Diocesan priests often live alone. I prefer to argue with my brothers; I prefer to play with my brothers; I prefer to spend my life with my brothers,” Br. John said, affirming Viatorian community life.

Br. John discusses a bit about Church life in Colombia, including Marian devotions, and how leadership worked with him to plan his studies in the US. As he finishes up this time of studying and ministering in the US, he sees the movements of the Holy Spirit in the exchanges of language and culture within our community and our Church. “Languages are like the Holy Spirit enacting our faith. For me, it shows our variety,” Br. John said. “When you are willing to do this, you enjoy this, and you feel well doing it.”

Hear more about Colombia, our Viatorian Community there, and what Br. John thinks makes our community so distinctly special –  he believes it comes from sharing between religious and lay members – in Episode 102 on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

This series began in December with Ep. 101, exploring our solidarity with Haiti and Fr. Dudley Pierre, CSV.

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Br. John (left) enjoys a dinner for Viator Day in Colombia a few years ago with (left to right) Fr. Juan Carlos Ubaque, CSV, Fr. Pedro Herrera, CSV, Fr. Fredy Contreras, CSV, and Br. Juan David Ramirez, CSV.