Viatorians around the world pause every Sept. 1 to remember their founder, the venerable Fr. Louis Querbes, who founded the congregation in 1831 in Vourles, France.
International flags drape the grave of Fr. Louis Querbes in Vourles, France, representing all the countries where Viatorians have advanced his charism.
He passed away Sept. 1, 1859 at the age of 66. Fr. Querbes is buried in the cemetery at Vourles, where his gravestone describes him as a “priest of great zeal, selfless and admirable charity.”
This year, Viatorians in France gathered at the gravesite, where Fr. André Crozier, CSV, a member of the General Direction, led the prayer service. This annual tradition has taken on even more significance since 2019, when Pope Francis advanced Fr. Querbes one step closer to sainthood, declaring he had lived a life of heroic virtue.
The Venerable Fr. Louis Querbes
In Arlington Heights, associates and professed gathered at the Viatorian plot at Queen of Heaven Cemetery. Preceding their visit, they had cleaned the gravestones of all the Viatorians buried there, and during their visit they read the names aloud of all those who had gone before them.
More than 150 Viatorians are buried at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside, IL
“We gather today, to remember all those Viatorians buried in this holy place and others across the country and in the world. We thank God for the life of Fr. Querbes and his vision, as well as for our Viatorian brothers and sisters who have paved the way for us — and whose examples continue to offer support along our way.”