Here’s a few highlights from the beginning of 2026 in the worldwide Viatorian Community:
Celebrations in Bouaké including this big outdoor Mass.
Jubilees in Ivory Coast
As the Church marked a jubilee year in 2025, Viatorians in Ivory Coast began celebrating major milestones for our long-running educational ministries there. Le Collège Saint Viateur de Bouaké (Saint Viator College in Bouake) began a 70th anniversary celebration that continues into 2026, and Le Collège Saint Viateur d’Abidjan (Saint Viator College in Abidjan) began celebrating its 25th anniversary.
The special celebrations included big community Masses with many Viatorians and local Church leaders and cultural celebrations with dancing, singing, martial arts demonstrations, and more. Check out this great video recap from Abidjan, and follow our Ivorian schools on Facebook: Bouaké | Abidjan
Teaching the Faith and Working for Justice in Honduras
In Honduras, our community has been busy taking part in a synodal mission congress in their Diocese of La Ceiba, workshops on mission and catechesis in parishes, and sessions on integral ecology.
The justice and service work of SERSO Honduras continues ever strong. The water project is strengthening 19 kilometers of water lines to increase potable water access around Jutiapa; the sexual violence prevention project continues to provide legal assistance and psychological support to victims of sexual violence; and the integral ecology project and Radio Viator continue serving the area. Additionally, SERSO leaders and friends gathered to demonstrate in International Women’s Day events in the area.
SERSO used social media awareness posts and in-person action to demonstrate for International Women’s Day.
Ordinations in Haiti
Left to right, Fr. Nestor, Fr. Claudy, Bishop Jean, Fr. Jean-Éric, and Fr. Wilford Douze, CSV, Regional Superior of Haiti
During a pastoral visit from Fr. Nestor Fils-Aimé, CSV, Superior General, our community in Haiti celebrated two ordinations: Fr. Claudy Louis, CSV, and Fr. Jean-Éric Martial, CSV, ordained by Bishop Sander Louis Jean, Auxiliary Bishop of Port-au-Prince, on February 28.
The General Council reported that this was the first time all the Viatorians in Haiti were able to come together in a long while. Armed bandits around Port-au-Prince make travel in and out of the area dangerous. Viatorians in Haiti were able to reach the city and come together with Fr. Nestor, a fellow Haiti native, for ordinations and then take part in a regional assembly together.
Renovating Our Rustic Headquarters in France
The Viatorian headquarters in Vourles, France, is getting an update. Workers emptied out several interior spaces, and Archivist Fr. Andre Crozier, CSV, of France carefully removed each of the over 3,000 books for safe storage. The project will remove some interior walls to use the space more efficiently for offices, meeting areas, and bedrooms, while maintaining the historical character of the building. Work will continue through the summer and should conclude in late 2026.
Known as the berceau (cradle), it is the original home base for our community. Fr. Querbes wanted a building near his parish church, St. Bonnet, but did not have the funds to buy it. Providentially, fellow Lyon natives who also had a home in Vourles stepped forward as benefactors – three women: Marie Magdeleine Comte, Fluerie-Antoniette Comte, and Jeanne Comte donated 4,000 francs, recruited a friend to cover the remaining 6,000 francs, and continued as benefactors to the Viatorians in the early years.
Before renovations to update and improve the berceau, Fr. Andre (right) carefully stored away the library of our headquarters.
As the General Council oversees this project and continues with the reconfiguration steering committee, they are also celebrating Fr. Macaire Sandouidi, CSV, of Burkina Faso, who successfully defended his thesis for his canonical license in Church History in February. Fr. Macaire lives in our Rome residence and serves as Procurator to the Holy See and Postulator for Fr. Querbes’ cause for sainthood. Learn more about our international community and General Council at our international website.