Viatorian Voices: Conversations on the Way

In this episode, we head out on the way with Fr. John Eustice, CSV. For three weeks earlier this summer, Fr. John was a chaplain at Philmont Scouting Ranch in New Mexico. He assisted with camp setup for the summer trek groups and served in rotations around the property. Fr. John celebrated Masses and heard confessions, provided pastoral support to people in need of assistance, and spent time with...

In this episode, we take a closer look at Service and Song, an annual Saint Viator High School summer program for middle school students led by Viatorians and our high school students. Associate Ann Perez serves as the school’s Vice President of Mission and Identity, and, with Service and Song coming up next week, she shares how Service and Song is a vital way by which the school community can sha...

This summer and fall, 17 new associates will make their initial commitments as Viatorians. This follows a two-year period of discernment and formation, undertaken as regional cohorts with formation teams of Viatorian religious and associates. Two of our soon-to-be new members reflect on that process: Pre-Associate Dianne Marshall is a parish faith formation director and veteran pastoral minister w...

St. George and Maternity BVM, two Viatorian parishes, are two years into a shared model of youth ministry with Coordinator of Viatorian Youth Ministry Amanda Fierce at the helm. Here, Amanda shares about these two Bourbonnais parishes; her partnership with religious education and Catholic schools to provide families full youth formation; a balanced set of offerings in youth ministry; and the lives...

The conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV the first American pope will likely be a "where were you when" memory for many Catholics, especially Americans and Viatorians. In this episode, we collect a few stories from the big day and invite your reflection and prayer for Pope Leo XIV as he approaches the first anniversary of this election as pope. (This episode debuted May 4, 2026.) 00:00 Introduction...

This series exploring our global solidarity has helped demonstrate the amazing joy and vitality of our worldwide Viatorian Community. That joy is perhaps most evident as people from all around our worldwide community share their encouragement for those who might be considering Viatorian association or religious life. So, in this episode, we’re gathering this global chorus of encouragement in one p...

In this episode, we continue exploring our global Viatorian solidarity by connecting with the Province of France and Associate Claire Fayolle. Claire is a retired infant/child psychologist who has known the Viatorians from parish life in Oullins, just outside Lyon. She became an associate in 2020 and was a delegate for France to the General Assembly in 2025. The Venerable Louis Querbes was born an...

In this episode, we continue exploring our global Viatorian solidarity by speaking with Danilo José Hernández Caretero of Honduras. Though Danilo is not a Viatorian, he belongs to a Viatorian parish and has worked with Viatorians for a while. For 16 years and counting, Danilo has worked for SERSO Honduras, the Viatorians’ charitable and community development organization. Danilo is a civil enginee...

In this episode, we continue exploring our global Viatorian solidarity by speaking with Fr. Maurice Kouadio of Ivory Coast. Fr. Maurice professed first vows in 2006 and was ordained a priest in 2024. He is director of the school, Groupe Scolaire Saint-Viateur in Bouaké, which includes nursery, primary, and secondary schools, and he serves as vicar to the quasi-parish that utilizes the school chape...

In this episode, we explore our international Viatorian solidarity with Burkina Faso and Associate Julien Magloire Oubda. Julien has backgrounds in sociology and management, and he most recently worked as a contractor with United Nations Food and Agriculture programs. He committed as a Viatorian Associate in 2023, alongside his wife, Esther, with whom he has three children, and he participate...

In this episode, we explore our international Viatorian solidarity with Spain and Br. José Javier García García, CSV, Associate Ilse Kugel, and Associate Javier Elena Carrero. They all teach at Colegio Fátima in Madrid, including teaching English; Br. JJ oversees campus ministry, and Ilse and Javier help moderate Scouting groups. They all also belong to La Comunidad de Nuestra Señora de Fátima in...

In this episode, we explore our international Viatorian solidarity with Canada and Fr. Alain Ambeault, CSV. Fr. Alain professed first vows in 1980 and was ordained a priest in 1986. He served in several leadership roles for the Province of Canada and was elected to a six-year term as our Superior General in 2012, succeeding our own Fr. Mark Francis, CSV, for whom he was General Councilor, precedin...

We continue exploring our global Viatorian solidarity in this conversation with Br. John Alexander Avellaneda, CSV, of Colombia, a foundation of the Province of Chicago (US). Br. John professed first vows in 2019 and perpetual vows in 2022; he was ordained a transition deacon in 2025 and will be ordained a priest later in 2026. After studying philosophy, theology, and education in Colombia, he cam...

In this episode, we speak with Fr. Dudley Pierre. Fr. Dudley is a native of Haiti, where he met and joined the Viatorians. He professed first vows in 2002 and was ordained a priest in 2009. In his religious life, he’s studied and ministered all around the world, including his current graduate studies in Spain. In this episode, we talk about the Viatorian Community in Haiti, studying multiple langu...

At the Fourth Viatorian General Assembly in October 2025 in France, leadership invited six delegates to share their vocation stories with the full group. Among a mix of women and men, associates and professed religious, and English, French, and Spanish speakers, Associate Rosy Hartz shared her story. Rosy has been an associate since 2009 and served as Director of Youth Ministry at St. Viator Catho...

During National Vocations Awareness Week (Nov. 2-9, 2025), the People of God are invited to intentionality in prayer and reflection around vocations, perhaps including personal discernment, too. In our Church, we honor single life, married life, religious life, and priesthood, and in our Viatorian Community, we celebrate professed religious brothers and priests and committed women and men lay asso...

The Viatorian Community held the Fourth Viatorian General Assembly in October 2025 near Lyon, France. Delegations of associates, brothers, and priests from 11 countries gathered with support staff, provincial and regional superiors, and Fr. Nestor Fils-Aimé, CSV, our Superior General, and his General Council. During week of prayer, pilgrimage, and discussion on fraternity, synodality, and mission,...

As much as our charism lives in the members of our community, our stories from our past, and our ministry today, we also preserve and maintain our charism through our archives – the home of countless papers, books, artifacts, and other special items that help tell this story even more colorfully. Rebecca Skirvin is the Viatorian Archivist, and it's her responsibility to sustain order in this colle...

On the beautiful grounds of the Viatorian Province Center, tucked away near the back, is a white fence that encloses 25 raised garden beds. Volunteer gardeners from around the community come week-in-and-week-out to tend their gardens, and the produce these plots yield benefit local food pantries. The Community Giving Garden started with an idea from Fr. Dan Hall, CSV, who worked with the Provincia...

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...