“It’s really divine love in motion,” Fr. John Eustice, CSV said, using our founder’s words to describe the Viatorian Youth Congress (VYC). This year’s retreat is the 14th full-scale VYC, in addition to two years of interim events during the pandemic. VYC forms teen delegates from our parishes and schools in Viatorian identity and Christian leadership.
“We focus the first day on community, the second day on Eucharist, and the third day on prayer. It naturally leads us to acting on what we’ve been exploring and celebrating – we get to witness God’s invitation unfolding to us as we are engaged during the fourth day in service,” Fr. John, who helped coordinated VYC 2025, said. “Young people can take this experience into everything they do moving forward in their faith.”
VYC YALs undergo training and then take charge of MC’ing the retreat (top left – German Laiton), presiding over prayer services (bottom left), facilitating small-group and large-group discussions (bottom right – Kyla Acres), and more.
At Casa Iskali – Our Lady of Guadalupe Campus in Des Plaines, Illinois, 34 teen delegates came together from across the province: Cristo Rey St. Viator in North Las Vegas, NV; St. Viator Catholic Community and Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, NV; St. Patrick Church in Kankakee, IL; Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Bourbonnais, IL; Cristo Rey St. Martin in Waukegan, IL; and Saint Viator High School in Arlington Heights, IL. In addition to the retreat center, they visited the Province Center for Mass, dinner, and interviews with Viatorians, Viator House of Hospitality for time with young men seeking asylum, and Feed My Starving Children for hands-on service.
Together with 11 young adult leaders representing our three regions in the US as well as Colombia, they engaged in individual and communal prayer, small-group faith-sharing, meals and fellowship, and more. Viatorian associates, brothers, and priests and pastoral staff from our schools and parishes support the program as speakers, chaperones, and mentors to these young adults, with Fr. John, Associate Rosy Hartz, and Associate Karen Cutler coordinating the program, and Associate Juliann Dwyer assisting with leadership training.
Madeline Denk is a Saint Viator High School alumna studying at Saint Louis University who’s serving as a YAL for the second time this summer. “VYC helped me become a leader because it taught me that the Holy Spirit will really allow you to lead. I think I focus so much on feeling like I wasn’t equipped, but God doesn’t call the equipped; God equips the called,” Madeline said. “And I think it shows up here because VYC puts you in a place where you know that Jesus is going to help you be ready.”
Viatorians join together to support the teen delegates and YALs in a variety of ways, such as celebrating Sacraments (top left – Fr. Jason Nesbit, CSV), giving talks (top right – Kim Martinez), training liturgical ministers (bottom left – Anthony Gugino), and more.
In addition to Fr. John, Rosy, Karen, and Juliann, many adults who have supported VYC perennially were on hand again this year: Associate Kim Martinez, Bishop Gorman theology teacher; Associate Paul Hartz, a law enforcement officer who volunteers at St. Viator Catholic Community; Associate Anthony Gugino, St. Viator music ministry associate as well as music minister and cantor Wish Read; Fr. Dan Belanger, CSV, St. Viator parochial vicar; Associates Michelle and Ken Barrie, Bourbonnais-Kankakee region youth ministers; Associate Cathy Abrahamian, Saint Viator HS staff member; and Mr. Jim Dippold, CRSM Director of Campus Ministry.
Others are newer to the fold, such as Armando Acero, Cristo Rey St. Viator science teacher, and Amanda Fierce, Coordinator of Viatorian Youth Ministry for St. George and MBVM in Bourbonnais, Illinois, who started her role the same week as VYC 2024. “The best part for me is the connections,” Amanda said, relishing stronger ties to the Viatorian Community. “This is a place to meet other Viatorian teachers, youth leaders, and young people and gain colleagues I can lean on and call for ideas and support. It helps us build and strengthen connections to support youth ministry — such as meeting Br. Peter at VYC and then bringing him on our Quest Retreat last year.”
From those considering a career or vocation in the Church, like future youth minister and 2025 YAL Carli Provost, to those just beginning to deepen and own their faith, VYC is a place where faith and leadership emerge. As we commission VYC delegates – “strive to do everything well, so that through you, Jesus may be adored and loved” – Viatorians empower the next generation to begin leading today.