Viatorian Voices: Conversations on the Way

Viviana Tellez grew up around Viatorians at St. Viator Parish in Chicago, including her mom, Susanna, who is a Viatorian Associate. Gradually, Viv came to realize her deep joy in pastoral ministry, and thanks to faithful mentorship and empowerment, she decided to go to graduate school, study theology, a pursue a career in pastoral work. Hear from Viv about discovering God's invitation to campus mi...

In March, Viatorians began our newest ministry: administering Sacred Heart Church, a small faith community in Pembroke Township, Illinois, part of our region of Bourbonnais-Kankakee and the Diocese of Joliet. Viatorians have been doing community service projects there for 25+ years and building strong relationships with neighbors. Now, we can also serve as pastors for their church. Here, we're int...

About once a month, Fr. Corey Brost, CSV and Br. Michael Gosch, CSV coordinate a public witness for immigrants in downtown Arlington Heights, Illinois, where the Viatorians are headquartered. Beside two very busy streets and commuter trains' tracks, people stand with signs sharing messages of advocacy, hope, and justice to passersby, receiving a mix of support and criticism. What's the point? Why...

VYC 2025 begins today, and we're checking in with the Young Adult Leaders, who have completed their training and are getting this year's teens delegates into their retreat. Enjoy hearing from Koskani, Felipe, Abby, Amy, Walt, Viv, Fareed, Carli, Kyla, Madeline, and German! VYC 2025 is underway with teen delegates from our parishes and schools gathered with Viatorian associates, brothers, and pries...

Br. Michael Rice, CSV grew up in Galesburg, Illinois, just within the orbit of Peoria Viatorians who happened to visit his high school. Br. Michael entered formation out of high school and began undergrad studies within the Viatorian scholasticate – it's from there that his career in teaching, school administration, and, later, buildings and grounds management took off! Br. Michael reflects on tho...

In January 2025, Viatorian associates gathered for a morning of faith formation, studying the charism and mission of the Viatorian Community together. The presenter for the morning was Fr. Arnie Perham, CSV, who passed away in June. Fr. Arnie compiled a rich presentation combining Viatorian documents, liturgy and sacred music, and stories and photos from Viatorian communities around the world, as...

Associates Deborah and Romeo Perez moved to Las Vegas about 20 years ago. Since then, they've had two children and put down deep roots in Las Vegas – including running a family law practice, finding a home at St. Viator Parish and School, and becoming Viatorian associates. As they realize are part of a big portion of our 70-year history in Las Vegas, we talk about how they found home and community...

Both of these women work on staff at St. Thomas More Catholic Community – Cheryl as Director of Outreach Ministry and the parish gift shop and Juliann as ministry support staff. Viatorians led the parish from its founding, including the construction of the community center and church, before transferring administration in 2019 to the Archdiocese of Las Vegas. Several Viatorian associates continue...

In this episode, we explore God's invitations with Fr. Jhobany Orduz, CSV. Jhobany is a native of Cúcuta, Colombia. He is a military veteran, civil engineer, and higher education professor and administrator. His journey took him more deeply into service and opened his heart to the unique freedom possible in religious life. Here, he reflects on discerning God's invitation to religious life, living...

In this episode, we visit with Viatorian Youth Leader, Koskani Montoya. Koskani grew up in Las Vegas and still lives there. His family belongs to St. Viator Catholic Community, and over time, he has become more and more involved there – starting with his mom tossing him into choir and growing deeper through VYC attendance, Viator Youth Ministry volunteering, and getting more involved with service....

This Lent, we offer a deeper dive into Viatorian spirituality to aid your prayer in this holy season. In Part 3 of this 3-part series, we explore the spirituality of our prayer. We reflect on the ways we pray as individual Viatorians and in Viatorian community gatherings, how we use prayer to review our ministry, and the approaches and prayer styles that work best for us. Toward the end, we offer...

SPECIAL SERIES: VIATORIAN SPIRITUALITY This Lent, we offer a deeper dive into Viatorian spirituality to aid your prayer in this holy season. In Part 2 of this 3-part series, we explore the spirituality of our ministry. We examine our commitments to teaching the faith, serving the holy altar, and accompanying and serving people society tries to account of little importance. Toward the end, we offer...

SPECIAL SERIES: VIATORIAN SPIRITUALITY This Lent, we offer a deeper dive into Viatorian spirituality to aid your prayer in this holy season. In Part 1 of this 3-part series, we explore the spirituality of our founder, the Venerable Louis Querbes. We take a look at this motto, the virtues he articulated for great catechists, and his trust in God. Toward the end, we offer space for reflection with t...

Daniel Zundel has been serving in various educational ministry roles at Christ the King College Prep in Chicago for 15 years. His vocation as a teacher and companion to young people can be traced back through his time as a volunteer, his studies of teaching as an undergrad at Loyola University Chicago, and all the way back to Saint Viator High School! There, he credits his Viatorian teachers and c...

St. Viator School is the only inclusive Catholic school in Nevada. At our Viatorian parish school, the Micah Program assists students, each with unique learning styles and varying exceptionalities, to grow into the fullness of life in Jesus, to be members of the faith community, and to teach the redeeming message of God's love. Students with conditions such as Down syndrome or autism spectrum...

In this episode, we explore the idea of commitment. Why do we decide to commit to things? Why do we hesitate to commit? Why do we fear commitment? But perhaps most importantly, what does commitment enable? What we do we gain within the commitments we make? Members of the Viatorian Vocation Ministry Team gathered to share their experiences of commitment, reaching back to their time before religious...

Fr. Dan Belanger, CSV is getting settled into his fresh placement as parochial vicar of St. Viator Catholic Community in Las Vegas. Before that, he served as pastor of St. George in Bourbonnais, IL for 15 years! From 2009 to 2024, he strived to do much with and for the great community of St. George. As you look around the beautiful grounds, the thoughtful art and environment in the church, the Fr....

Associate Karen Cutler grew up in Springfield, Illinois, where she first heard about Viatorians from their ministry in her brothers' high school. She went on to work with Viatorians on Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) retreats and followed their encouragement to grad school in theology, campus ministry work in Nevada, and pastoral work for the province based in Illinois. Here, we get to enjoy Karen's...

In this episode, we are observing National Vocations Awareness Week, a time for promoting vocations to religious life and priesthood through prayer, invitation, and education. Over the past few months, our Viatorian Vocation Ministry has undertaken a wide-reaching research project to better understand the landscape of vocation ministry today, report significant findings to Viatorians, and identify...

Do you know the etymology of the word and name "Viator"? Do you know the longer story of this lector and catechist from 4th century Lyon, France? Do you know about why Venerable Louis Querbes turned to St. Viator to name the society he envisioned? Celebrate the feast day of St. Viator, October 21, with Viatorian Voices about our patron saint! (This episode debuted on October 21, 2024.) Venerable L...

Every year, Viatorian brothers, priests, and associates converge for a provincial assembly. We share in prayer and Sacraments, faith formation, consultative discussions to inform leadership, and celebrations of associate commitments and professed men's jubilees. It's a time of prayer, joy, and fellowship – and a great time to invite Viatorians to pay witness to the Viatorians charism, ministries,...

Every six years, Viatorians in each country where we serve elect delegates to represent them in the General Chapter, the top decision-making group in the congregation of the Clerics of St. Viator. These brothers and priests gather for discussions, governance, and the election of their Superior General, or leader of the worldwide congregation. As it happens, Fr. Mark Francis, CSV – who participated...

Viatorians are committed to walking with youth, accompanying them in living lives anchored in prayer, Eucharist, and service and doing faithful discernment toward their lives' vocations. So how do Viatorians stay connected with young adults? How do we try to stay in touch, offer ongoing support, and keep them connected to one another, to the Viatorians, and to Christ in the Church? Viatorian Youth...

Pre-Associate Jen Anderson and Pre-Associate Larry D'Urso have just completed two years of pre-association. After discernment and formation, they have each requested to make their first commitments as Viatorian associates, and they have been invited to do so this fall. Here, they share about applying for formation, engaging in the process with Viatorians, and choosing to move forward and deepen th...

Associate Kim Martinez is going into her 30th year leading high school campus ministries and teaching theology at Bishop Gorman High School. So why did she go back to school a few years ago and earn a Masters in Pastoral Studies? Hear Kim's journey from student at a Viatorian school to staff in a Viatorian ministry to a career at a Viatorian-founded school, and now student and alumnus of a Viatori...