We open this seasonal roundup with the good news that, in the last several months, the worldwide Viatorian Community has been celebrating several ordinations and vow professions:
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Br. Darius and Br. Narcisse freshly vested after their diaconal ordination.
In Burkina Faso, Fr. Benjamin Kone, CSV, and Fr. Camille Zongo, CSV, were ordained priests on May 30.
- Also in Burkina Faso, Br. Fulbert Tchala, CSV, and Br. Gilbert Gnanle, CSV, professed first vows, and Br. Etienne Kientega, CSV, Br. Arsène Ouedraogo, CSV, and Br. Johanny Dabou, CSV, professed perpetual vows on September 1 (Querbes Day).
- In Chile, Br. Tomás Villalobos, CSV, will be ordained a priest on October 24.
- In Haiti, Br. Berlensky Cambronne, CSV, Br. Diemson Juste, CSV, and Br. Matherlikens Stanis, CSV, were ordained deacons on September 18.
- Also in Haiti, Br. Edwily D’Aout, CSV, Br. Valéry Benoit, CSV, and Br. Schweiguer Innocent, CSV, professed perpetual vows on September 19.
- In Ivory Coast, Br. Darius Amani, CSV, and Br. Narcisse Mobio, CSV, were ordained deacons in May, and Br. Darius was recently ordained a priest.
General Council: Overview of Viatorian Education Ministry
The General Council has shared exciting statistics that capture the breadth of Viatorian educational ministry around the world:
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an overview of key stats on global Viatorian education
Viatorian schools currently serve 28,733 students.
- Viatorian schools serve students from preschool to the end of secondary school.
- In total, Viatorians help lead or lead 36 different schools.
- These 36 schools employ 2,405 people (including Viatorians), among whom are 1,620 teachers.
Our thanks to the generalate and to Fr. Anatole Camille Gnamien, CSV, for compiling and sharing these figures. Fr. Anatole lives with our community in Rome and serves as representative to the International Office of Catholic Education.
Burkina Faso: Vocational Training Center Programs
The CFP Louis-Querbes (Louis Querbes Professional Training Center) opened in 2009 with the mission of serving disadvantaged young people and seeking to promote their professional growth. In September, new programming launched with partnership from United Nations High Commission for Refugees and VSF Belgium, which assists farmers with cattle health and care. The center now welcomes students to 45-day study programs in trades such as solar energy, poultry farming, motorcycle maintenance and repair, and more. These new programs particularly reach out to youth, women, and internally displaced persons within Burkina Faso.
Government officials joined in with leaders and students for the grand opening of this new initiative at the center.
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A few of the sights from around summer camp!
Canada: Camp Season Ends in Style
The Camps de l’Avenir (Camps of the Future) in Montreal ran from June to September. Hundreds of young people came together during the session for the outdoor experience, and the mission of the camp is to provide opportunities to live and deepen faith for 10-16 year olds. The camp’s chef estimates that it took nearly 10,000 meals to feed everyone this summer!
The camp facility also serves people experiencing homelessness, people needing mental health support, and other pastoral reflection groups. Now, the annual cleanup is underway, and the camp reopens in April for another season. Almost all the slots are already filled up for 2027.
Chile: Improvements to the Novitiate Community Home
The residence at the Viatorian Novitiate in Puente Alto, Chile, which hosts novices from our Latin American communities, has undergone renovations to improve the lodging areas, update the chapel, and provide comfortable communal spaces.
a collage of some of the improved spaces around the center
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In addition to hosting the novices and their director, the house is often hosting visitors from outside the country, including provincial leadership from the US and Colombia. Presently, our own Br. Julián Camilo Torres of Colombia is there in novitiate, and Provincial Superior Fr. Mark Francis, CSV, will visit the him and novitiate community this month. Provincial Superior of Chile, Fr. Marcelo Lamas, CSV, shared his thanks with Br. Julián Moro, CSV, and their architect Ricardo Villalobos for their work on the project.
a look at the new stairwells to improve the building layout
France: Improvements to the Berceau
The berceau (cradle) of the Viatorian Community is the centuries-old center and museum in Vourles, where Fr. Querbes founded the Viatorians. Construction over the last year has added a glass-enclosed exterior staircase to connect the building’s areas better, a new layout inside the building to optimize space for lodging and the Superior General’s office, and an improved residence area in the tower for the Provincial Superior of France.
This work preserves this important historical center for Viatorians while increasing its functionality for shared work and hospitality.
Spain: Formation in Viatorian Identity
Earlier this month, a new Curso de Identidad Viatoriana (Viatorian Identity Course) began at el centro San Viator de Valladolid (The Saint Viator Center in Valladolid). 12 teachers representing several Viatorian schools in Spain took part. In the morning of the first meeting, José Luis Céspedes, CSV, shared about the foundation of the congregation and the vision of Fr. Querbes. Then, in the afternoon, Associate Tomás Collado taught the history of the Viatorians from the founding up to today.
the new group on their first day of the course
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Our international community’s website has additional information via newsletters, pages for the countries where we live and serve, and more.