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In baptism, we’re universally called to lives of loving service of one another and God. Those called to religious life, including Viatorian brothers and priests, live this out through their religious vows. Among those called to single or married life, some live this out through vocations to full-time ministry for the Church; most, though, will live out this universal call within and alongside a different career – including many lay women and men Viatorian associates.
These Viatorians exemplify a “both-and” mindset – one that honors career commitment alongside a lively and enlightened faith, and our Catholic and Viatorian identity can strengthen and complement their professional acumen.
The Common Thread
Our modern Viatorian Community continues our long-running service of parishes, schools, and social ministries. It is also strengthened now by the broader education, experience, and talents of associates. While some have studied theology, education, or social sciences – like many professed Viatorians before them – many others come from other backgrounds with various professional perspectives, skills, and passions.
David has often taught Confirmation students and RCIA/OCIA adults. His career is in farming his land and raising cow calves.
Associates David and Susan Surprenant grew up in Viatorian parishes in our Bourbonnais-Kankakee region, and they love to be active in parish life – helping in the office, ministering at Mass, and teaching religious education and Sacramental prep. Their day job, however, is farming land and raising cow calves.
“Are we trained? Could we be the heads of a Viatorian school? No, but the Spirit is moving us in our own ways,” David said.
Associate Mary Finks is a retired nurse and hospice care director who similarly pitches in with parish ministry, especially as a cantor at Mass. “I don’t have the theology background, but I certainly have life experience,” Mary said. “It’s an intentional thing to bring the charism and mission with you. When I get up, I put the Viatorian medallion on and remember the commitment I’ve made to the charism.”
Associate Larry D’Urso is a retired librarian, but he feels he’s “always been a service-minded person.” Associate Jason Kuffel is executive director for YMCA camp facilities who says working with kids and broadening access “feels deeply familiar” to his Viatorian heart. Associate Patrick Aller works in travel and event planning, and he finds his quest to learn about people and facilitate memorable experiences centrally involves “God’s inviting me to be open to something.” Associate Dan Schwarz manages sales for a TV station, and he believes his faith ensures “we treat people the right way” and gives him “guardrails to conduct business effectively but also ethically and with integrity.”
Associates Deborah and Romeo Perez work together in a family law firm they own, and Romeo “doesn’t want to hide his faith at all in his work.” Similarly, Associate John Keating, another attorney who also owns a law firm, relishes working with people who may never have been party to a lawsuit so he can “calm their anxieties and ease their stress” by providing them excellent legal services.
Viatorian Association draws mission-driven people into our community, and we strive to renew and strengthen one another to live our faith on the way, in our community life and throughout our world.
Living the Faith and Charism in the World
Witness looks different for associates in secular industries than it might for a Viatorian who is a Catholic school teacher or a parish pastor. Yet, it’s no less important and impactful.
Larry chats with Br. Michael Gosch, CSV, during a break at Provincial Assembly 2025.
Larry D’Urso recalls a pre-teen boy who would visit the branch of the Chicago Public Library where Larry worked. The boy came nearly every day and regularly engaged staff in friendly conversation. “One day, he just matter-of-factly said that his mother had kicked him out of the house,” Larry said. “I asked a few questions and found out he’d been on the street for a few days. So, he needed more than information or books.”
Larry scrambled to call agencies and found a shelter that could take the boy in. He asked colleagues to pool cab fare and hailed the boy a ride. Larry paid the driver and saw the boy off, knowing privacy laws would prevent the agency from following up.
“Luckily, a few days later, he came back! It turned out he had eventually gone back to his mother and returned home,” Larry recalled, with relief. “It’s a process I think I engaged because of my faith and living the Gospel. Working with patrons for information, sources, or referrals, or sometimes mediating a tougher situation – that was all a very Christian thing to do. It was something I wanted to do without judgment, simply to help people meet needs in their lives.”
In TV ad sales, especially when he was general manager, Dan Schwarz loved working with nonprofits. “I had added energy to know that these deals were both the right thing to do as well as the Viatorian thing to do. If I wasn’t Viatorian, would it mean as much to me? Would I notice and value these things?” Dan wondered.
Now, as a sales manager, he was recently involved in sensitive discussions with a local nonprofit. “They have some funds raised that they want to use to shed light on the sex trafficking industry in Nevada. It’s scary, and an issue that certainly needs attention,” Dan said.
As energizing as it can be to fund an initiative, Dan knows from experience the necessary diligence. “We don’t want to just take their money. There have been times when salespeople simply accept payment and haven’t been conscious of process. It can become dangerous and unethical to take shortcuts and not do proper vetting in partnerships,” Dan added. “We want to pursue and explore the issue and then present it properly to ensure that it achieves the proper impact.”
And strong values and integrity help resist clickbait-style presentations. “Rather than making a sensational story, we want to find the right way to lower the incidence of sex trafficking and advocate appropriately toward a positive change,” Dan said. “We have this microphone, so how can we use it for the betterment of the community – and not just to maximize revenue for the company?”
Romeo and Deborah lean on the joy of their family life and the strength of their faith as they provide legal service to clients struggling through family issues, including child abuse and neglect.
In law, attorneys and their staffs encounter an immense range of people seeking legal services. For example, in their family law practice, Deborah and Romeo Perez recall helping a Satan-worshipper work to successfully earn back custody of one of his children.
As office manager, Deborah prioritizes compassion to keep the human element in their business. She remembers a client who needed an extension on bills due to medical hardship. When the person eventually visited to close the tab, Deborah took time to see how it was going. “It’s important to us to check in on people, lift them up, and try to send them into what’s next feeling better after going through something really challenging. We don’t always get that chance to do this with people after the dust settles on their cases, so, when we do, it’s really special,” Deborah said.
Additionally, their firm creates access for Spanish-speaking clientele, not just with staff language abilities but also cultural awareness of barriers and challenges Hispanic people in Las Vegas face. “We deal with access issues every day, especially in abuse and neglect cases. Parents might get their children taken and need to take mandated classes in Spanish, which are difficult to get a slot in,” Romeo, an attorney practicing family law, said. “People will try to meet the court mandate, but getting in with a therapist who speaks Spanish can include months of backlog and delay. We need to find therapists who speak Spanish and can work with the parents to complete the appropriate training.”
“Since our whole office is Spanish-speaking, we’re tied closely to our Hispanic community,” Deborah added. “It’s a form of service, ensuring compassionate work with and for people.”
Carrying Our Lively and Enlightened Faith With Us
For Catholics working in careers outside the Church, it can be tricky to know how much one can or should share their faith or wear it on their sleeve. It may take time, with trial and error, but it can be done – and our associates want to model this for others.
Mary often ministers as a cantor at parishes in our Bourbonnais-Kankakee region and Viatorian prayer gatherings. In her career, she worked as a nurse and hospice care director.
“In our marriage and family life, it’s our home as a refuge,” David said, of his cozy country house. “It’s a place for anyone who needs a welcome, a rest, a meal, a drink, or a friend to bounce ideas off.”
Larry believes librarians’ commitment to sharing information and referrals is a kindred ethos for Christians. “I was comfortable expressing my Christian self in a way that wasn’t proselytizing but was sharing my faith. I was facing things and wondering what Jesus would do and trying to follow that. I found that the Holy Spirit was giving me a sense of that,” Larry said.
Mary believes that nurses need strong spirituality to work effectively and overcome burnout. “I bet many or most nurses are spiritual people. Many likely carry at least that deep belief that there is something deeper and greater,” Mary said. “Doing this work requires some kind of faith because you simply never know everything you need to know. You are acting at least in part on faith, and trusting that you can do what is needed to be helpful and improve things.”
Deborah appreciates how Romeo manages their office time to allow her to volunteer at their parish and school and how he opens the office late on holy days to allow people to get to morning Mass. “Romeo is always faith first,” Deborah said. “We always say on the way into work, ‘Let us be good stewards – of the work we’re given and the vocations we have.’ It’s never hurt us, across 20 years, to be true to our faith commitments and flexibly handle these things.”
And in Church life and the Viatorian Community, we try to sustain and renew our members to live these values and enact this service in our world, and John definitely feels this. “Sometimes, my job involves dealing with a lot of greedy people,” John said. “Our Viatorian gatherings are a nice break with people whose values and priorities are in the right place. The people are the best – there’s no pretentious chase for wealth and status. It helps me keep my faith in humanity.”
Is God inviting you to be a Viatorian? Consider Viatorian life. Explore religious life with a vocation minister (email vocations@viatorians.com) or discern with us in pre-association in the 2026-28 cohort (talk to any Viatorian). Be formed and become a Viatorian.