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The Viatorian Community in the US is quite spread out. We minister in two areas of Illinois about 75 miles apart as well as in the Las Vegas area, 1,750 miles to the west. Additionally, some lay associates remain active in these regions after moving away to new hometowns, and some religious retire to different areas of the US according to their needs.
So, how do we all stick together and continue to sustain this mission and community life?
Our congregation, the Clerics of St. Viator, has an elected Provincial Council and Provincial Chapter by which our religious choose their own leaders. Then, because our full community includes lay associates, too, we have a larger set of mixed teams who strive to serve the wider community and advance the Viatorian mission together. With freshly constituted teams starting their ministries, here’s a rundown of the members who have begun serving and these groups’ missions:
Viatorian Community Council (VCC)
The VCC is a mix of Viatorian religious and associates who meet a few times a year to discuss Viatorian mission, ministry, spirituality, formation, community life, and vocations. From among those who have been in the community three years or longer, Viatorians elect five religious and five associates to three-year terms. They join the provincial superior, a provincial councilor, and two appointees to comprise this council.
The Provincial Council and Provincial Chapter are the deliberative – meaning authoritative decision-making – bodies of the community of the province. Then, our particular regulations, which spell out structural rules that describe proceedings for our province, stipulate that the VCC operates as a consultative body. So, their meetings and discussions should lead to meaningful input for the council and chapter, especially in the key areas described.
Associate Mickie Prault has been a Viatorian associate since 2022 and was just selected to VCC for the first time (also elected to his regional leadership team – see next section). He is a retired systems manager who is active with faith formation and community events at his parish, Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Bourbonnais, IL.
“I’m very excited about the opportunity to serve, and I hope my participation will be a positive,” Mickie said. “My goal in association with the order was to see if there was a place for a lay Catholic to participate in the renovation of our Church’s life. I believe both of these opportunities will give me a better insight into what is going on in the church and to direct me to where I can help. It’s a call that I look forward to answering.”
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Regional Leadership Teams
While VCC homes in on areas of mission and ministry, regional leadership teams focus on the three geographical areas where most Viatorians live and serve. Viatorians in each US region – Arlington Heights-Chicago, Bourbonnais-Kankakee, and Henderson-Las Vegas – elect four team members, including at least one associate and at least one religious to serve a four-year term.
Associate Sonja Brouwers has been a Viatorian since 2015, and she has been elected to the team in Nevada. She is a kindergarten teacher and a St. Viator Catholic Community parishioner. “I am honored to have been elected by my peers, and I look forward to working together to help guide our community,” Sonja said, as her team finalizes details for the St. Viator Day service, which includes several commitments from new associates in Nevada. “Given our recent period of transition with a retirement, departures, and new arrivals, I plan to suggest that our primary focus be supporting Fr. Orduz, Fr. Eustice, and Fr. von Behren in their roles to provide stability in the parish.”
Through reflecting on the business, prayer, and social needs in the region and identifying ways to mobilize and engage region members, the team establishes a calendar and invites members to a slate of gatherings. Additionally, this team takes charge of outreach and invitation for association – both for prospective pre-associates as well as for recommitments from current associates.
In Arlington Heights-Chicago, retired nurse Associate Julie Baker is excited to dig in following her election. Having been an associate since 2013, she knows the region can struggle with activity. Members live in a wide range of suburbs and city neighborhoods while others, including her and her husband Associate Randy Baker, have begun to split time between multiple places during retirement.
“I feel that some of our activities need a little tweaking. ‘Same old, same old’ can get boring; changing things up can be good,” Julie said. “I would like to see increased participation utilizing Zoom. I would like to see us increase faith formation activities: offer bible studies, Lenten faith-sharing groups, an associates retreat, and monthly mass in the chapel followed by fellowship. In addition, an informal summer gathering including an outdoor mass and BBQ would be fun. And I would like to see associates have a bigger presence at Saint Viator High School or at Viator House.”
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Regional Formation Teams
As these regional leaders bring in new pre-associates, formation teams in each region take charge of the two-year formation and discernment process for them. These teams of three or four people are a mix of religious and associates invited to the role by the Provincial Superior.
The team members set a schedule for the two years and utilize the Resources for Viatorian Formation compilation to set readings and discussions. The group covers Viatorian history, the life and vision of our founder, the Venerable Louis Querbes, his choice of our patron, St. Viator, the ministries and community life in our province, prayer and spirituality, and more.
Associate Paul Mertzman undertook formation and discernment from 2022 to 2024 and then committed as an associate. As a veteran educator and the current vice principal of St. Viator Parish School, he brings lots of teaching experience to his role alongside Br. Carlos Flórez, CSV, and Associate Rosy Hartz. “I am very excited to be part of the Henderson-Las Vegas Formation Team. I thoroughly enjoyed my own formation years, which included a variety of teaching approaches that allowed me to grow both personally and spiritually. I was fortunate to have excellent formation leaders who were both inspiring and encouraging,” Paul said. “They provided me with meaningful opportunities to deepen my faith and grow in my understanding of the charism of Fr. Louis Querbes as well as advancing my knowledge of St. Viator.”
As Providence would have it, the pre-associates who Paul will help guide includes his wife and Sonja’s husband. “My hope is to bring enthusiasm and a strong sense of community to the pre-associates. This team is eager to begin this journey and create meaningful opportunities to guide, support, and encourage the pre-associates as they deepen their faith and discover what it means to be a Viatorian Associate.”
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The Charter of the Viatorian Community explains that all Viatorians are rooted in the baptismal call; then, while some respond to the charism of Fr. Querbes through religious vows and others respond through public commitment as lay people, all Viatorians share the particular vocation of living out this charism. In shared leadership and shared community, Viatorians are striving together to serve the People of God.