The Church celebrates the feast of St. Viator on October 21, and Viatorians around the world and all across our province have been praying together and celebrating our patron saint.
Cristo Rey St. Viator College Prep
(North Las Vegas)
The CRSV community came together for Mass, celebrated by founding president Fr. Tom von Behren, CSV.
The Mass included a special blessing for the seniors’ class rings.
St. Viator Parish School
(Las Vegas)
Principal Dr. Katie Kiss and Vice Principal Associate Paul Mertzman visited classrooms with Fr. Dan Belanger, CSV, St. Viator Catholic Community’s Parochial Vicar.
Each student received a St. Viator “Tiny Saints” keychain. These are little icons for keyrings that feature small illustrations of saints, commonly carried by Catholics on car keys, house keys, and backpags and backs. Swipe through for a closer look at the St. Viator design!
Bishop Gorman High School
(Las Vegas)
Viatorians founded Bishop Gorman, and three associates continue ministering there at this now-archdiocesan Catholic school. At all-school Mass, Associates Kim Martinez, Kathy Keating, and Bridget Michlik each helped with liturgical ministries, with the pre-associates on faculty and staff on hand, too.
After school, BGHS’ new Viatorian Community Club met for the first time. Kara Hartz – whose parents, Rosy and Paul, are associates – founded the club and helped gather several students to begin learning about the mission and charism. They will strive to animate the Viatorian identity in the school.
Henderson-Las Vegas Region
and Saint Viator Catholic Community
Viatorians joined with St. Viator parishioners for a pilgrimage to the Guardian Angel Cathedral in Las Vegas, a pilgrimage site for the Jubliee Year 2025: Pilgrims of Hope.
In the large-group picture are (back row, left to right) Br. Carlos Flórez, CSV, Fr. Richard Rinn, CSV, Fr. Larry Lentz, CSV, Fr. Tom von Behren, CSV, Fr. Edgar Suárez, CSV, Fr. Bill Haesaert, CSV, Fr. Dan Belanger, CSV, (front row, left to right) Associate Anthony Gugino, Associate Paul Mertzman, Associate Mary Ellen Dorough, Associate Marie Feeney, Pre-Associate Cathy Flynn, Associate Sonja Brouwers, and Pre-Associate Jennifer Jones.
Bourbonnais-Kankakee Region
Viatorians in the region gathered for a prayer service together at St. George Church in Bourbonnais on Sunday, October 19, and then shared a community meal out together.
In the group picture are (back, left to right) Fr. Jason Nesbit, CSV, Fr. Moses Mesh, CSV, Fr. Patrick Render, CSV, Br. John Alexander Avellaneda, CSV, Pre-Associate Scott Goselin, Pre-Associate Jimmy Joines, Associate David Surprenant, Associate Michelle Barrie, Associate Ken Barrie, Associate Robert Lampley, (front, left to right), Associate Mary Finks, Associate Curt Saindon, Associate Kathy Saindon, Pre-Associate Mileen Joines, Associate Sue Goselin, Associate Paula Wasser, Associate Susan Bourgeois, Associate Julie Lampley, and Associate Susan Surprenant.
Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep
(Waukegan, IL)
Oportunidades Para Todo, the student-led immigrant justice group at Cristo Rey St. Martin, hosted a dress down day and fundraiser to celebrate Viator Day.
Their collective service raised $900 in donations for Viator House of Hospitality.
Viator House of Hospitality
(Chicago area)
Fr. Corey Brost, CSV, Executive Director, wrote in the VHH newsletter: “On the Feast of St. Viator, 65 Viatorians from 11 countries gathered there to renew their commitment to the worldwide mission that gave birth to Viator House and prayed at the grave of the man whose vision still animates all we do at VHH, Fr. Querbes. Today’s VHH participants, staff and volunteers can trace the hope, healing and opportunity they find in the Viator House Community back to prayers offered in St. Bonnet in Vourles 200 years ago.”
Saint Viator High School (Arlington Heights)
The school community had Saint Viator Day Mass on Monday, October 20, with Bishop Chris Glancy, CSV, as celebrant; Fr. Charlie Bolser, CSV, and Fr. Tom Long, CSV, as concelebrants; and Associates Joan Sweeney, Chris Gucwa, and Susana Tellez joining Viatorians on faculty and staff at SVHS.
On St. Viator Day, the school took part in a wide-scale day of service around several sites in Arlington Heights and surrounding towns. Campus Ministry played a big part in preparing and leading the day, including Vice President for Mission and Identity Associate Ann Perez, Director of Student Ministry Associate Cathy Abrahamian, and Assistant Chaplain Fr. Jhobany Orduz, CSV.
Arlington Heights-Chicago Region
Viatorians gathered for a St. Viator Day service at the Province Center chapel.
There, Associate Kurt Paprocki recommitted to the community for another five years. Br. Michael Gosch, CSV, Provincial Councilor, received his commitment on behalf of the community and its leadership.
Chunox St. Viator Vocational High School
(Former Viatorian Foundation of Belize)
Viatorians served in Belize for several years and were part of founding this school. The community shared these photos with our province of their St. Viator Day celebration, honoring the name their school has had since its founding in partnership with our members who served there.
Foundation of Colombia
Colegio San Viator Bogotá shared a special video to comemmorate Saint Viator Day (left), and Colegio San Viator Tunja shared photos from Saint Viator Day Mass with Fr. Juan Carlos Ubaque, CSV (right).
Fourth Viatorian General Assembly (Valpré, Lyon, France)
The delegation went to Vourles, the birthplace of the Viatorians. The group prayed together at the grave of the Venerable Louis Querbes, shared Mass in St. Bonnet Church where Fr. Querbes was pastor, toured the Querbes museum, and shared lunch in the parish hall in town with members of the local Viatorian communities in the Province of France.
At Querbes’ grave, on a newly installed gravestone, Associate Christine Legrand of the Province of France and Br. Hermann Bamouni, CSV, of the Region of Burkina Faso laid two bouquets of flowers – Christine has been at all four assemblies, and Br. Hermann is the youngest professed member at this assembly.
