Last week in the Foundation of Colombia, Julián Camilo Torres completed his formation as a postulante (pre-novice) and continued into novitiate.
Julián (second from left) flew to Chile last week after one last farewell at the airport from members of his family and Fr. Juan Carlos (second from right).
Novices are considered members of the community and called brother. Br. Julián traveled to Chile, where the Clerics of St. Viator throughout Latin America and the Carribean have a novitiate in Puente Alto, directed by Fr. Eduardo Millán, CSV, of Chile. Julián has joined Br. Sebastián Esteban, a fellow novice from Chile.
“For Casa San Justo, it is an honor that Julián Camilo is beginning his novice year,” Fr. Juan Carlos Ubaque, CSV, Coordinator of Vocation Ministry for the Foundation of Colombia and house coordinator, said through interpretation. “We hope that this house of formation prepares many more novices that strive to encourage one another in living the congregation’s charism. We pray the master of the harvest continues blessing the Viatorians with good and holy vocations, people who wish to serve the Lord and the Church in faith and love.”
“Julián Camilo began discerning Viatorian life with Fr. Rafael Sanabria. So, he’s more than ready for the next step,” Fr. Dan Lydon, CSV, Director de Postulantes (Pre-Novice Director) said, in a nod to our late Colombian vocation director. “Julián brings great talents as a musician and catechist to the faith community that gathers in the Puente Alto chapel.”
After arriving in Chile, Julián visited El Santuario de Lo Vásquez, near our ministries in Viña Del Mar, Chile.
“I am sustained by the charism that once inspired Fr. Querbes, so simple and yet demanding: to educate from the Gospel and live the Gospel by teaching,” Julián said, through interpretation. “I know that I am part of this living history that challenges and encourages me. I don’t walk alone; I walk with all the Clerics of Saint Viator who by constant witness make this vocation possible.”
The novitiate is an intensive one-year period of prayer, study, and conferences, focused on exploring the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. If he so discerns, Br. Julián could request to profess first vows at the end of his novitiate.
Ángel comes to religious formation with a background and experience in creative arts.
Additionally, the Viatorian Community in Colombia is welcoming a new postulante to Casa San Justo: Ángel Felipe Vázquez.
Ángel is from Paipa, Boyacá, and began discerning with Fr. Juan Carlos in August 2024. He is studying graphic design and marketing and interning at Colegio La Inmaculada de Las Hermanas de la Obra Misionera de Jesús y Maria, where he works with marketing, publicity, and social media.
“During this experience, I learned to be more prudent and organized with my work and tools and more careful with spelling, always maintaining my desire to learn something each day,” Ángel said, through interpretation, of his internship – a helpful mindset to bring to religious formation, too.
Ángel begins alongside Andrés Julián Rozo Fontecha, who now enters his second year of postulancy. Housed at Casa San Justo in Bogotá, pre-novitiate provides initial religious formation, including introductory ministry experience and community life alongside others in formation, a formation director, and a house life coordinator. In Colombia, this phase of formation is typically two years long.
Fr. Dan began as director last summer, succeeding Br. Edwin Barreto, CSV. Fr. Dan will continue directing formation for Andrés and Ángel, with Ángel’s formation formally beginning upon Fr. Dan’s return to Colombia later this month after attending Viatorian meetings in the US.
We ask your prayers for Ángel, Andrés, and Julián.
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Ángel, Fr. Juan Carlos, and Andrés