On Wednesday, Cardinal Blase Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, celebrated Mass at Saint Viator High School.
Cardinal Cupich had been scheduled to celebrate Mass at Saint Viator last spring but had to cancel and ask Auxiliary Bishop Timothy O’Malley to step in. “I had to go to Rome to elect a pope, and that would be the only thing that would stop me from coming here,” Cardinal Cupich said.
In his homily, he reflected on the meaning of salt and light in Jesus’ preaching – how they bring out things that are hidden, must come into contact with something else to activate, and then transform or join with what they touch. In response to this, he encouraged students to lean into strong relationships. “Relationships can be frightening because something of our ourselves changes or transforms – we understand that our lives are greater than just being by ourselves,” Cardinal Cupich said. “It’s ok to allow ourselves to be wounded and vulnerable in friendships. Even as good friends make mistakes and we ourselves make mistakes, we can go on.”
Provincial Superior Fr. Mark Francis, CSV, Campus Minister and Assistant Chaplain Fr. Jhobany Orduz, CSV, and Alumni Chaplain Fr. Charlie Bolser, CSV, all concelebrated Mass, and Chaplain Fr. John Eustice, CSV, served as Master of Ceremonies and coordinated students serving the Mass.
Cardinal Cupich, who accepted a school scarf as a gift and donned it over his vestments, also reminded students of our Viatorian identity. “Viator means traveler, and that’s something you should keep in mind each day. The staff here are not just teaching you; they’re your guides. Be very conscious that when you come to school, you’re a pilgrim,” Cardinal Cupich said.
As we observe Catholic Schools Week, let’s roundup some good news from Viatorian schools:
Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep is celebrating its seventh straight year of 100% of seniors earning acceptance to a four-year college or university and its third straight year of Platinum Recognition by College Board’s AP School Honor Roll.
Earlier this month, the school marked Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with a special prayer service.
This Cristo Rey Network school in Waukegan, IL, is co-endorsed by the Viatorians and two peer religious communities.
Bishop McNamara Catholic School students celebrated Catholic Schools Week with all-school Mass that included Executive Pastor Fr. Jason Nesbit, CSV, Bishop Christopher Glancy, CSV, and Fr. John Peeters, CSV. Students often participate in Viatorian Youth Ministry events at Maternity BVM/St. George in Bourbonnais, IL, and Hearts of Hope Youth Ministry at St. Patrick in Kankakee, IL; teens recently assisted with serving a meal at Fortitude shelter as well as the Confirmation retreat at Maternity BVM.
Bishop McNamara is a PreK-12 school across multiple sites in Kankakee County, IL, including a PreK-5 site at Viatorian parish Maternity BVM.
St. Viator Parish School is always bustling with athletics, clubs, extracurricular activities, and more.
Students from all across the school came out for Sunday Mass to share their joy with the wider parish.
Last week, when much of faculty and students were busy testing, Parochial Vicar Fr. Dan Belanger, CSV, got timely fill-in help at school Mass from some more senior altar servers – Principal Dr. Katie Kiss, Vice Principal Associate Paul Mertzman, and teacher Pre-Associate Jennifer Jones.
St. Viator is the parish school of Viatorian parish St. Viator Catholic Community in Las Vegas.
Cristo Rey St. Viator marked Catholic Schools Week in part by assembling snack bags on campus to benefit clients of Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada as well as celebrating Mass with Fr. Tom von Behren, CSV, followed by an awards ceremony.
The school continues developing its corporate work study partnership network to provide students professional opportunities that also make this excellent education affordable, and their recent video spotlights sophomore Daniella and her experience with the Nevada Secretary of State office.
We also celebrate and pray for our Catholic schools in the Foundation of Colombia, Colegio San Viator Bogotá and Colegio San Viator Tunja, and all Catholic schools where Viatorians formerly served around the United States.
Happy Catholic Schools Week!