As Lent invites our focus on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, Viatorians are doing our part to offer faith formation to one another, to our communities, and to the wider Church.
Morning of Reflection in Arlington Heights-Chicago Region
Br. Rob facilitated the morning for the region, which included large-group time in the chapel and breakout groups for discussions.
On Saturday, Br. Rob Robertson, CSV, facilitated a morning of reflection for the Viatorians of his region. Br. Rob encouraged setting aside fixing problems and instead welcoming the call to gradual conversion. “You call us not because we are perfect, but because we are yours. Give us the grace to be honest with you, with ourselves, and with each other,” Br. Rob prayed.
Through short readings, individual reflection time, and small-group discussions, the group reflected on God’s invitations to individual conversion and then to communal conversion. The theme included on everyone’s journal cover and reinforced by the liturgical song, Return to God, was, “Yet even now, return to me with your whole heart” (Joel 2:12).
At daily Mass together before Br. Rob began, Fr. Mark Francis, CSV, Provincial, conferred the instituted ministries of acolyte and lector on Br. Marc Innocent Prophète, CSV, our brother from Haiti studying at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. While these are ministries that all baptized people do, instituting them in Br. Marc is part of formalizing his formation for priesthood.
Lenten Faith Formation Series for Friends in the AH-Chicago Region
Neighbors and friends in Arlington Heights, including those who frequently attend the monthly Taizé Prayer service, are invited to join Viatorians for a four-week faith formation series, “Living the Paschal Mystery.” Viatorian Pre-Novice Sal Solis, who holds a PhD in philosophy and is studying at CTU, is facilitating the series. He prepared it inspired in part by Fr. Ronald Rolheiser, OMI, and his book, The Holy Longing.
Pre-Novice Sal Solis
“We will keep it simple, keep it real. We cannot understand Lent if we do not understand the Paschal Mystery, so we will use Lent to take ourselves deeper,” Sal said. “I know that every person has an experience of the Paschal Mystery and this cycle [of life, death, and resurrection and ascension].”
The series is open to all, and participants are still welcome to join in. Session 1 was last week, and Sessions 2-4 will be Thursdays, March 5, 12, and 19. Each session runs 7-8pm in the Saint Viator High School Alumni Memorial Chapel.
Fr. Mark’s Contributions to Recent Publications
Fr. Mark interviewed with the Spanish-language journal Galilea.153 for their January-February issue to discuss how the Church is in a new phase of liturgical inculturation.
The interview with Fr. Mark was the cover story for the Jan-Feb issue.
“Liturgical inculturation is a process through with the local Church brings in elements of the local culture in its texts, rites, and symbols, with the goal of expressing the faith with greater clarity,” Fr. Mark said.
Fr. Mark goes on to discuss how synodality will be central. “The synodal process started by Pope Francis centers on giving voice to all the baptized believers in the Church. It’s evident that, if this process works correctly, it will allow the Church, through the bishops’ conferences, to evaluate better the mysteries of Christ in celebrating the liturgy and directing the faith more effectively in each culture.”
Galilea.153 is a periodical on liturgy, pastoral ministry, and Christian life for lay people, edited by El Centre de Pastoral Litúrgica de Barcelona (The Center of Pastoral Liturgy of Barcelona). This interview was conducted by Aina Argueta Luque.
Additionally, Fr. Mark was interviewed by Paul Elie for an article in The New Yorker January 12, 2026, issue, “The Making of the First American Pope.”
“His first priority is always to bring people together. His instinct is to kill them with kindness, rather than go at them,” Fr. Mark said of Pope Leo XIV, who he first knew as “Bob.” “Bob really went all in as a missionary bishop in Chiclayo.”
Fr. Mark studied at CTU with Leo and served concurrent terms with him in Rome as congregational superiors, and they have kept in touch over the years since, including Fr. Mark’s recent visit to Rome.