Viator

My final task for the year 2008 was to sit down at mydesk at the province center and write this letter for theWinter Edition of Viator 2009. I realize that you arereading this Provincial Perspective weeks after you haveturned the calendar to 2009. However, as I wrote this,the calendar was dated December 31, 2008. Thus, itwas time for resolutions.

Normally, I do not make a lot of New Year’s resolutions.Not because I do not think that it is a good idea;rather I have broken so many resolutions in the pastthat I just do not bother with them anymore. Thisyear is different – I hope. So here goes – my resolutionsfor 2009! (Some are borrowed from other morefamous sources and poems).

I am going to worry less and pray more;

I am going to say “thank you” at least three times a day;

I am going to listen more and talk less;

I am going to exercise more and eat fewer snacks;

I am going to drink better wine (makes exercisingmore bearable);


I am going to read more about Darfur;

I am going to get out of the suburbs and visit the cityof Chicago more often;

I am going to see Jersey Boys and listen to moreGolden Oldies;

I am going to call my friends and tell them that theyare important in my life;


I am going to read more about Father Querbes andthe early days of our community;

I am going to take long drivesin the fall when the leavesare changing;

I am going to visit the sickand elderly more frequently;

I am going to be moreavailable to celebrate thesacrament of reconciliation;


I am going to take more chances and worry less aboutwhat others may think;

I am going to grill more on our patio and invite morefriends to join in on the fun;

I am going to invite more into the dialogue and reallylisten to them;

I am going to work on relying more on God and lessupon myself; and finally,

I am going to worry less and pray more.

These resolutions reach far beyond New Year’s andthey only touch the surface of what I really hope forin my life. Yet, I offer them and ask for your prayersand God’s blessings as another year unfolds upon us.

In St. Viator and Fr. Querbes,

Rev. Thomas R. von Behren, CSVProvincial

Viatorian Community Winter 2009 Volume 14, No. 1

Provincial Perspective

CSV News winter 09.qxp:Clerics news Winter 06 3/16/09 3:28 PM Page 1

A positive result of the current priest shortage is that itchallenges the laity to assume their rightful role within theChurch. One way the Viatorians respond to this reality is byreviving the vision of its founder, Fr. Louis Querbes, whoenvisioned his society to be that of laity and professed doing thework of the Church on an equal footing.

Viatorian Associate Ken Rosania has been engaged in full-timeministry at St. Thomas More, Henderson, NV, for over ten years.Over that period of time, he has held various roles. His currentduties consist of being the director of both parish administrationand social ministry.

As parish administrator, he is responsible for such tasks aspersonnel, building maintenance, finances, and informationaltechnology. Ensuring that the parish activities are conducted inan efficient and professional manner is one manner of goodstewardship. As director of social ministry, he coordinates anextensive outreach program.

The parish social justice program focuses on four levels: parish,community, national, and international. Parishioners have goneoversees and throughout the United States. One example hasbeen a recent medical mission team to Belize. The parish hassponsored various projects such as a school and the building ofa well in Africa.

The parish also looks within itself and reaches out to itsmembers. Ken coordinates a “skills bank” whereby peopledonate their time for people in need. Homelessness and nearhomelessness is a grave problem. To help answer the basic needfor food, the parish has a meals-on-wheels program where,for example, on Thanksgiving Day they cooked and deliveredbetween 300 - 400 meals. Every Monday parishioners prepareapproximately one hundred sack lunches that are then distributedto the homeless.

The parish participates in an organization called “FamilyPromises” whereby the parish provides shelter for the homelessfor up to two weeks. During that time, they work with thepeople to obtain housing and obtain suitable employment.

Ken coordinates the parish outreach efforts with local agencies.Each fall the parish has the “Christmas in the Fall” projectwhereby parishioners collect over 1100 gifts that are distributed toseventeen agencies. Another annual project is the “Faces ofHunger.” It is the parish Lenten project and they raise funds forsix agencies that are affiliated with Catholic Charities.

Ken uses his organizational skills to ensure that these projects runsmoothly. As Ken says, he finds meaning from all of his activitiesthrough the support he receives from the other lay and Viatorianstaff. Most importantly, his work helps to make the Gospel alivein the present-day context.

Professed/Association Collaboration

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Each pastor answers in his own unique way the question of whatconstitutes a pastor today. Although each person is unique, thecharacteristics common to all pastors include showing concern for thewelfare of individual parishioners and empowering them to assumetheir rightful role in ministry.

Fr. John N. Peeters, CSV, recently became pastor of St. Patrick Parish inKankakee, Illinois, at the young age of 66. He arrived with a wealth ofexperience, which included being associate pastor in Belize and servingat Viatorian administrative centers in the United States and in Rome.

With this background, he traveled to Kankakee, a city ofapproximately 20,000 located about 50 miles south of Chicago. Thecity has a long historical relationship with the Viatorians, who arrivedthere in 1865 to begin the American foundation.

Fr. John sees his role as that of an animator wherein he works withother leaders as co-equals. Viatorian associates Kenneth and MichelleBarrie, Mary Finks, and Marilyn Mulcahy assist him in youth, music,and pastoral ministries. He stated that he came into a “well-oiledoperation” that is continuing and growing because of the dedication ofthe ministers.

Vatican II stated that liturgy is the summit and the source ofcommunity, and that value is certainly reflected at St. Patrick’s. LastOctober and November, the parish undertook a survey asking theparishioners to state the ten greatest strengths and weaknesses of theparish. After the results were collated, the parish leadership hosted atown hall meeting to discuss the results. The number one strength wasthe welcoming spirit of the parish, followed by the quality of itsliturgies. Other areas included youth ministry, quality of the school,and the parish’s service to the community. The list of weaknesseschiefly centered on the need for capital improvements, which are beingaddressed as finances permit.

Besides celebrating liturgy, Fr. John helps provide the structure inwhich Ken and Michelle Barrie coordinated the fifth trip by the youthgroup to Mexico, where they planned to build two houses at CiudadJuarez. Unfortunately, because of increasing social and political unrestin Ciudad Juarez, this trip had to be cancelled at the last minute. Thetwo houses, however, will still be built by local volunteers, who will usethe materials supplied through donations made over the past severalyears by parishioners at St. Patrick and St.Teresa Parishes in Kankakee.

Within his schedule, Fr. John manages to represent the parish in thelocal community. He serves as a member of the board of directors forthe Gateway Coalition. Approximately twenty-five local parishesparticipate in this ecumenical project, whereby they contribute moneyand expertise so that, when people come to the parishes for help, theyare referred there. A staff person sits down with them and togetherthey work at resolving the problem. Recently, Fr. John applied to theViatorian Social Justice Fund and secured a $2,500 grant for theorganization.

Fr. John has also worked with local civic organizations. Among themany groups he is affiliated with is a group of local businessmen whoannually sponsor a golf tournament to provide Christmas dinners.What is unique about the dinners is that they are held in sevenlocations and they serve between 700 and 800 meals. The camaraderieof the meal is as important as the nutrition and for that reason it isoffered only on a dine-in basis.

As in all Viatorian institutions, the educational component is vital.Recently, three local parish schools merged to form Aquinas CatholicAcademy, which holds classes in the school buildings at St. PatrickParish. The parish is attuned to the quality of the education providedfor the 220 students. Fr. John occasionally visits the school and oftencelebrates the students’ weekly Mass. He says that he enjoys theinteraction with the students and that they always present interestingquestions and perspectives about life and faith.

Fr. John went to St. Patrick Parish in August, 2007, and thededication of the ministers made his transition there a very easy one.Working closely with the leadership, he strives to act in a collaborativemanner so as to continue to enrich the spirit of the parish and to makeit an increasingly welcoming place where all people – older andyounger alike – can deepen their lives of faith.

A Viatorian Pastor in Today’s Church

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In December, inside the chapel at Colegio San Viator, in Bogotá,Colombia, Br. Frank Enciso, CSV, publicly professed the vows ofpoverty, chastity, and obedience.

Br. Enciso was the fifth Viatorian brother to profess hisperpetual vows within a span of six months in 2008.

Fr. Thomas von Behren, CSV, was the main celebrantat each vow ceremony. He declared the community blessed to havesuch dedicated and enthusiastic men to continue the mission of Fr.Querbes for the rest of their lives.

In his 2008 class, Br. Enciso joins Br. John Eustice and Br. JasonNesbit, who are based in the Chicago region; Br. Gustavo LópezCubillos who is based in Bogotá; and Br.Moises Mesh of Belize, allof whom professed their final vows last summer.

“Today, Frank commits himself to live a life of service,” Fr. vonBehren said, “to a life based on the imitation of Christ, as one calledto serve and not to be served, shared in community, and embracingthe evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience.”

Br. Enciso came to his decision after living and working with theViatorians in Bogotá since 2001,when he entered the community asa pre-novice.He entered the novitiate in 2003 and professed his firstvows in 2004.

While earning his undergraduate degree in theology, Br. Encisoassisted in pastoral work at Parroquia San Basilio Magno, a parish inBogotá administered by the Viatorians. He also served as vocationdirector for the Foundation of Colombia.

“After knowing and living with the Viatorians for the past sevenand a half years, I believe living my life as a Viatorian is the bestoption for me to grow as a person and as a man of faith,”Br. Enciso said. “As a Viatorian, I believe that I will be able toserve the Church well.”

This month, Br. Enciso began teaching theology to young menat Colegio San Viator, a school which the Viatorians haveadministered for the last 45 years. Their stated mission is to“graduate young men with solid human and Christian valueswho are intellectually prepared to deal successfully with theadvances taking place in the world.”

Br. Enciso hopes to serve as a role model for his young students ashe walks with them during their spiritual and educational growth,much like his Viatorian confreres walked with him.

“We pray that as you place your hand upon this altar, that you will befilled with the grace necessary to live out these vows in holiness andhumility,” Fr. von Behren said. “We, Viatorians, rejoice with youthis day, as you bind yourself forever with us as a son of Fr. Querbesand with Jesus Christ, as a perpetually professed religious ofour congregation.”

Br. Frank Enciso, CSV, Pronounces Final Vows


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Father Louis Querbes arrived in Rome May 14, 1838. He lived ata French hotel, operated by M. Sauves for his countrymen, at56 piazza San Nicolas Cesarini. Fr. Querbes was both piousand pragmatic in his approach to his Roman mission: Papal appro-bation for his young congregation.

The morning of May 15, he celebrated Mass at the Tomb of theApostles committing his mission to their protection. The next dayhe celebrated Mass at the Jesuit Church of the Gesu, in the roomwhere St. Ignatius Loyola died.

Fr. Querbes immediately availed himself of this opportunityto utilize his introductions to meet Fr. Johann Roothaan, JesuitSuperior General; Fr. Rosaven, Assistant General for France; andFr. de Villefort, substitute-secretary. Fr. Rosaven also served asconsultor to the Sacred Congregation. He became Fr. Querbes’advisor and guide throughout his stay in Rome.

He also met his seminary classmate, Mathias Loras, who hadrecently been consecrated the first Bishop of Dubuque, Iowa.

Fr. Querbes visited the Capuchian Minister General; Fr. SalvatorePascale, Superior General, Missionaries of Pious Workers, friend ofPauline Jaricot, and the French Consul, Camille Louis de Rossi. Itis believed either Fr. Pascal or Consul de Rossi provided him anintroduction to Bishop Giovanni Soglia, Secretary to the SacredCongregation of Bishops and Regulars.

The proper protocolhaving been observed,Fr. Querbes met withBishop Soglia on May 17or 18. On May 18, BishopSoglia, sent his pro voto tothe consultor Fr. Rosaven.The immediate problemwas not about the statutes,but rather the absence fromRome of the Prefect of theSacred Congregation,Cardinal Antonio Sala.

When the Cardinal would return to Rome was uncertain.Fr. Querbes began to “surmise that in spite of all the promise ofspeed that had been made him, his business would last a long time.”(Pierre Robert, Life of Louis Querbes, 1921, p. 168.) WhatFr. Querbes surmised was to become prophetic. However, he wrotehis confreres in Vourles:

“I am determined to stay on here until the end. Pray the good God,Master of all hearts, to dispose the heart of the common Fatherof the faithful and of the venerable councilors who surroundhim.” (Ibid.)

- Br. Leo V. Ryan, CSV

In the Footsteps of Our Founder(Article No.15 in a Continuing Series)

Fr. Querbes Arrives in Rome

The vocation of a Viatorian is a call from God that we answer continually.It is a grace given to each of us so that, together, we might work for the coming

of God’s Rule and for our own sanctification.

Father Querbes was the first to respond to this grace. His concern to assemble a groupof men capable of doing God’s work in religious life serves as an example for us today.

(Constitution of the Congregation of the Clerics of St. Viator, No. 25.)


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A new office opened in the Viatorianprovince center in Arlington Heights for thecommunity’s first Coordinator of MissionAdvancement.

Randy Baker, a six-year Viatorian Associate,accepted the position last fall, bringing his25-year background in marketing and sales forthe foods division of Unilever to the Clerics ofSt. Viator.

“I am pleased to take on a more active role inthe Viatorian Community,” Randy says. “Wehave to get more people to understand whothe Viatorians are and what our mission is.”

Randy and his wife, Julie, live in the Northwest suburb of Prospect Heights.Their daughter, Allison, graduated from St. Viator High School in 2007, and shenow is a sophomore at Indiana University in Bloomington.

In his corporate life, Randy was the director of Unilever’s private label businessand was involved in marketing and sales. Unilever is a food giant who ownsLipton Tea, Hellmann’s Mayonnaise, Ragu, and Country Crock brand, amongothers. He plans to use some of the same principles in coordinating andtightening marketing efforts for the Clerics of St. Viator.

“We have to be forward thinking,” Randy says, “and open to new activities thatallow us to expand beyond our traditional roles.”

Specifically, Randy hopes to raise the visibility of the Viatorians’ work in thecommunities surrounding the Province of Chicago, while making a greater effortto partner with the community’s many supporters.

He also will be looking at new ministries that could fit with the Viatorians’mission of being educators in faith and ministering to young people, while alsoworking for social justice.

“A good example is Chunox St. Viator Vocational High School in Belize,” Randysays. “Before the Viatorians stepped in, there was no high school in the area.Young people had to travel great distances to continue their education. This is agreat example of an opportunity that presented itself and the Viatorians wereopen to it.”

Randy expects to work closely with Associate Dan Lydon, vocation coordinator,and Associate Karen Cutler, special events coordinator, as well as a newly formedmission advancement advisory council, comprised of people with media andbusiness backgrounds.

They will be reviewing all of the marketing pieces that carry the Viatorianmission to the public, including this newsletter, which is published three times ayear, and the website.

Randy says, “I look forward to raising the awareness about the Viatoriancommunity and partnering with the many supporters we are blessed with,resulting in a long-term sustained mission.”

Ever since St. Viator Vocational HighSchool opened in 2004, in the remotevillage of Chunox in Belize, students atSt. Viator High School in ArlingtonHeights have been looking for ways topartner with their sister school.

This year they found just the ticket:nine juniors will travel next monthduring their spring break to thisagricultural school to help buildnew housing for the teachers who workthere.

“Because of its remote location, itis hard to keep qualified teachers ona regular basis,” says Betsy Fons, oneof the campus ministers in ArlingtonHeights.

She describes how, of its seven teacherson staff, three live on campus duringthe week in relatively primitivedwellings. Each lives in a small roomwith no electricity, running water,or plumbing.

“Basically,” Betsy says, “it’s just a roomwith a bed and a window.”

Consequently, teachers typically do notstay more than one year, which makesteacher retention and continuity in theschool’s curriculum difficult.

Welcome, Randy Baker St. Viator Chunox/

“The idea,” Betsy adds, “is to build a three-bedroom house, with communal living quarters,so teachers who live there during the weekwould be more likely to stay year after year.”

If all goes as planned, the St. Viator studentswill arrive after local tradesmen have pouredthe foundation and installed the electricityand plumbing.

Chunox St. Viator High School provides itsstudents with a traditional curriculum as wellas specialized training in agriculture andtourism, two principal sources of employmentin the region. In the classroom, students studyEnglish, Spanish, math, study skills, agriculturalscience, physical education, social studies, andcomputers.


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The Viatorians greatly appreciateyour financial assistance, whichhelps to sustain our ministries in theUnited States and overseas. If youwould like to assist us, pleasesend your gifts to:

Viatorian Office ofMission Advancement1212 East Euclid Ave.Arlington Heights, IL 60004847-637-2142

You can either designate whereyour gifts will be used or delegateus to distribute the funds wherethey are most needed.

As a non-profit and tax-exemptorganization, the Viatorians arevery grateful for your prayers andfinancial support in “educating forthe future.”

For wills and bequests:Clerics of St. Viatoran Illinois Corporation

The Nazareth League of Prayersprovides an opportunity to share inthe Viatorian prayer life. Prayerrequests are inscribed in a specialbook and then placed in the chapelat the Province Center. WhenViatorians gather daily in communalprayer, they specifically remember theintentions of their friends and gratefullythank everyone who has so generous-ly supported the Viatorian ministries.

To participate in the NazarethLeague of Prayers, simply list yourintentions in the envelope providedand mail them to us. You can alsorequest specific cards by calling847-637-2125 or online atviatorians.com/prayers.

St. Viator Arlington Heights

Current housing for three teachers at Chunox, St. Viator

Its campus includes two classroom buildings, a dining hall, barns, and farm sheds. The studentsspend half of their time in the fields where they put into practice the plant and animal husbandryskills they are learning in the classroom.

Betsy says that, during their days on the worksite, the students from Arlington Heights willrotate into classes each day so they can experience what it is like to be a high school student inChunox.

Likewise, each day, several Chunox students will work along side with the Arlington Heightsstudents at the worksite.

The construction project will be at the core of this year’s Lenten campaign at St. Viator HighSchool in Arlington Heights, as students and their families strive to raise money for the newhouse, estimated to cost $24,000, including labor costs.

Even as they take up collections each day in their religion classes, they stress that this trip is aboutmore than building a new teachers’ residence. It’s about building solidarity!

If you would like to contribute to this fund, please check the box marked “Belize” on the attachedcontribution envelope or contact the Office of Mission Advancement at 847-637-2142.


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The Viatorian Community of the Province of Chicago gatheredto celebrate its patronal feast in the major cities of the province:Arlington Heights, Bogotá, Bourbonnais, Corozal Town, and LasVegas. Festivitiestook place over afour day periodincluding the actualfeast day, October21st.

Two celebrationstook place inArlington Heights.On October 21st,fifty-two membersof the communityparticipated in aspecial prayer service atthe province center. Inhis homily, Fr. Thomasvon Behren encouragedcommunity members toexplore new ways toexpress solidarity withViatorians throughout thesixteen countries whereViatorians minister.Afterwards, a simpledinner was shared,followed by reminiscesby senior confreresof the early days in thecommunity. The followingday, St. Viator HighSchool held its annual St.Viator Day Massfor the students, staff,and faculty. Viatorianassociates, brothers, andpriests, who serve atthe school, as well asViatorians from the region,and area elementaryschool principals werepresent not only for thecelebration of theEucharist but also fora special presentation inrecognition of St. Viator

High School’s BlueRibbon Award.

A special Mass wasalso held at ColegioSan Viator in Bogotá,Colombia on October21st. After the Mass,Fr. Carlos Luis Claro,CSV, presented anewly built home to afamily with limitedincome. The homewas built withfunds collectedfrom the students,staff, and facultythroughout theyear. This is thefifth year theschool has donateda home to a family.

Four days later, thelocal ViatorianCommunity hon-ored St. Viatorwith a communityMass followed by a simple cookout. Four pre-associates took afour-hour bus ride from Libano to celebrate with the community.

Viatorians also gathered in Bourbonnais and Las Vegas forMass and dinner at Maternity BVM parish and St. Viatorparish, respectively. Both gatherings were “well attended andsparked with conversation and laughter” as stories were told andmemories were shared. After the meal in Bourbonnais, a collectionwas taken to assist the Foundation of Haiti with its recovery effortsfrom its spate of hurricanes.

Finally, the Belizean Viatorian Community, comprised of twopriests, ten associates and eleven pre-associates, was joinedby family members as well as the members of the St. Thomas MoreCatholic Community medical mission team from Henderson,Nevada, for an evening Mass at St. Francis Xavier parish.A traditional Belizean dinner of chicken, rice and beans,and plantains was served in the St. Francis Xavier School outdoorpavilion. Members of the medical mission team were truly touched bythe hospitality extended to them during their stay in Corozal Town.

It is during times such as these that the community gives thanks forthe blessings it has received through community life and mission.

St. Viator Day 2008

Fr. Pedro Herrera, CSV

Br. Juan Londoño, CSV, and pre-novicesJorge Vargas, Carlos Diaz, and

Carlos Romero.

Fr. Francis White, CSV, Associate CatherineAbrahamian, and her daughter, Emma

Fr. Donald Fitzsimmons, CSV,Br. James Lewnard, CSV, and

Br. Donald Houde, CSV


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St. Viator High School was recognized this fall as being one of the tophigh schools in the nation.

The Arlington Heights high school,administered by the Clerics of St. Viator,was one of only three private high schools inthe country to be named a ”2008 No ChildLeft Behind — Blue Ribbon School” by theU. S. Department of Education.

Fr. Robert M. Egan, CSV, presidentof the school, and Eileen Manno, principal,traveled to a ceremony in Washington,D.C., to accept the award from Kerri Briggs,the Assistant Secretary of the United StatesDepartment of Education.

Of the 29,000 private schools across thecountry, only 50 were recognized this year,and of those, only three private high schools.

“This award recognizes the hard work,dedication, and success of our administration,faculty, staff, and all our students,” Fr. Egan said.

Just to be considered, schools had to document that they are academicallysuperior or have made dramatic gains in student achievement. Theselection process was even more rigorous for private schools, whose

students must have scored in the top ten percent of the nation onnational tests.

St. Viator High School officials said the awardrecognizes the school’s commitment to the academic,spiritual, and emotional growth of its students. Theypointed to its newly-revised curriculum, technology,facilities, and programs designed to help studentssucceed in an ever-changing world.

Bottom line, they said, was the composite ACT scoreachieved by the Class of 2007: a 24.7, which ranked inthe top ten percent in the nation.

In Washington, D.C., St. Viator officials sat with otherschool administrators from the state of Illinois selectedfor the national honor. Each one received a plaque andflag distinguishing them as a Blue Ribbon School.

“The assistant secretary of education described theschools winning the Blue Ribbon Award as the ‘bestof the best’,” Ms. Manno says. “Our challenge for thefuture is to be better than the best.”

Back in Arlington Heights, they waited until Oct. 21 to present bothawards. The ceremony took place during an all-school Mass on the feastday of St. Viator, patron saint of the Viatorians, who dedicated his life toeducating youth.

Blue Ribbon School

Our priests and brothers ministering inparishes and schools give witness toJesus Christ in our modern world.

Viatorians

Aroun

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Clerics

ofSt.V

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B e l i z e B o l i v i a B u r k i n a F a s o C a n a d a C h i l e C o l o m b i a F r a n c e H a i t i H o n d u r a s I t a l y

Daniel Lydon, Coordinator of Vocation Ministry1212 E. Euclid Ave., Arlington Heights, IL 60004847.637.2129 • [email protected]

I v o r y C o a s t J a p a n P e r u S p a i n T a i w a n U n i t e d S t a t e s


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Around the ProvinceResponding to calls for solidarityfrom Colombia, Fr. ThomasLong, CSV, traveled to Cali andBuenaventura, Colombia, as partof a delegation sponsoredby Witness for Peace and the8th Day Center for Justice.The purpose of the trip wasto meet with experts and activistsand to listen to their analysesof U.S. policy in Colombia.To read his reflections on the trip,please visit the “What’s New”linkon the Viatorian website,www.viatorians.com.

Associate Michael Underwoodentered the permanent diaconate training program during the Rite ofAcceptance at Guardian Angel Cathedral in Las Vegas, NV, on October2, 2008, at which Bishop Joseph Pepe presided. Michael completed two-and-half years in the Lay Ecclesial Ministry Program and will now beginthree years of additional study. He will be ordained a permanent deaconin 2011. Michael is an active member of the St.Thomas More CatholicCommunity in Henderson, NV.

Due to a small Viatorian grant, afamily in Patchakan Villagein Belize now enjoys electricityin their home for the very first time.Associate Rafael Cob, Director ofSocial Services at St. Francis Xavierparish in Corozal Town, was respon-sible for getting the electricityinstalled in early October.

Fr. John Milton, CSV, was a guest presenter at the monthly physicseducation seminar at the University of Chicago held onOctober 14,2008.

His topic was “Teaching aboutAllometric Scaling and RatioThinking.” Fr.Milton has beenteaching physics at DePaulUniversity for the past twenty-one years.

A medical mission team,comprised of fifteen parish-ioners from St. Thomas

Catholic Community in Henderson, NV, including Associate JamesMay, visited Corozal Town, Belize, and six surrounding villages October

17th-26th. They treatedapproximately 1200 patients fordiabetes, hypertension, highblood pressure, and variousskin disorders. 130 individualsreceived an EKG test.The teamalso provided basic nutritioneducation to their patients.They were assisted by BelizeanAssociates Rafael Cob andGlenda Francis, as well as

several other parishioners from St. Francis Xavier parish in Corozal Townwho served as translators.

In a show of international solidarity, Belizean Associates HerculanaBastarachea, Juanita Jimenez, and Sylvia Vargas traveled to Jutiapa,Honduras, to welcome seventeen Honduran Associates who madetheir first commit-ment in a ceremonyheld October 25th.The Belizean andHonduran associateswere able to spendtime sharing abouttheir ministries. InHonduras, the asso-ciates are heavily involved in treating the sick with herbal medicine as wellas raising produce which is then distributed in poverty stricken areas.

Joan Sweeney, archivist for the Viatorian Community, co-hosted the fall2008 meeting of the Chicago Area Religious Archivists (CARA) onNovember 14, 2008. Those in attendance toured the ViatorianCommunity Archives, the Alexian Brothers Archives, and the Sisters ofthe Living Word Archives, all located in Arlington Heights, IL. Otherreligious organizations represented were the Felician Sisters, the AmericanTheological Library Association, the Sisters of Mercy, the ClaretianMissionaries, Catholic Theological Union, North Shore CongregationIsrael, the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, the Holy Spirit MissionarySisters, and the Society of the Divine Word, the Cenacle Sisters, and theEvangelical LutheranChurch of America.

Fr.ChristopherGlancy,CSV, and Fr. PedroHerrera, CSV, repre-sented the ViatorianProvince of Chicago atthe closing celebrationsof the 50th anniversary

Child in the barrio Antonia Lleras,Buenaventura, Colombia

Dockworkers in Buenaventura,Colombia

Fr. Eduardo Millán, CSV, Provincial of Chile.


of Viatorian presence in Chile in mid-November. The Chilean Viatoriansminister in six schools, two parishes, and one retreat center.Congratulations to our confreres and associates of Chile. For moreinformation on the Province of Chile, please visit www.viator.cl.

St.Viator High School students continued their struggle against genocidein Darfur last month by raising money and awareness through a “Rock forDarfur” benefit concert on November 21, 2008, held at St. Viator Highthe school. The student group, Students Taking Action Now for Darfur,raised $3,400 through the concert for the Sudanese Community Center,a Naperville, IL, agency that helps resettle people who have escapedSudan. Four student rock bands played in the show, along with theschool’s choral group and improvisational troupe. More than 200students and adults attended. For more information, please visitwww.savedarfur.org.

Br. Moises Mesh, CSV,andBr. Jason Nesbit, CSV,received the ministry ofacolyte during a liturgy atQuerbes House celebratedby Fr. Thomas von Behren,CSV, on November 21,2008. Both of theseViatorians are priesthoodcandidates at CatholicTheological Union inChicago, IL.

St. Josaphat Parish in Chicago, IL, presented Br. Donald Houde, CSV,with a “Lifetime Achievement Award” for his twenty-five years of serviceto the parish. Over the years,Br.Houde has served the parish as sacristan,lector, communion minister, and as coordinator of volunteers.

Loyola University’s Center for Ministry Development awarded Br. JohnEustice, CSV, a Certificate in Youth Ministry Studies, on November 26,2008. Br. Eustice is a campusminister at St. Viator High Schoolin Arlington Heights, IL.

Taizé prayer, held at theViatorian Province Center inArlington Heights, IL, at 7:30pm on the second Wednesday ofevery month, continues to attractboth the young and not so young.If you are in the area, please feelfree to come for an hour of song,prayer, and meditation.

Fr. William Carpenter, CSV, Br. Michael Gosch, CSV, andFr. Thomas von Behren, CSV, visited the Foundation of Colombia,December 4-9, 2008. On December 5, Fr. von Behren presided ata special liturgy at which Br. Gustavo López, CSV, received theministry of lector. Later inthe day, Fr. von Behrenpresided at the election ofFr. Luis Eduardo López,CSV, as superior of theFoundation of Colombiaand Fr. Edgar Suárez, CSV,as a member of the foundationcouncil. On December 7,Fr. von Behren also presidedat the perpetual vows liturgyof Br. Frank Enciso, CSV.(See story on page 4). Formore information onViatorian Foundation ofColombia, please visitwww.viatorianos.com.

Viatorians took part inCamp Hope, an outdoorvigil four blocks fromPresident-Elect BarackObama’s home in HydePark. Sponsored by acoalition of faith-based andcommunity activists, thevigil began January 1st andended January 18th.Its purpose was to offer acongratulatory sendoff to

the Obama family, while asking the Obama administration totake eight progressive steps within its first 100 days in office.The eightsteps include four international issues: ending the wars inIraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan; ending torture and secret detentionfacilities utilized by the U.S.; removing U.S. nuclear weapons fromhair-trigger alert; and global climate change; as well as four domesticissues: the housing crisis, full employment and poverty, immigration,and health care. For additional information, please visitwww.camphope2009.org.

As this issue of Viator went to press, preparations were being madefor the first vows of two Colombian Viatorians,Br.Edwin Ruiz,CSV,and Br. Daniel Villalobos, CSV, in mid-January. Viator will featurean article on them in its June edition. Felicitaciones Edwinand Daniel!

Br. John Eustice, CSV

Br. Gustavo Lopéz, CSV, andFr. Thomas von Behren, CSV

Fr. Thomas von Behren, CSV, with Brs.Moises Mesh, CSV, and Jason Nesbit, CSV

Fr. Edgar Suárez, CSV, Fr. Thomas vonBehren, CSV, and Fr. Luis Lopéz, CSV

11


Clerics of St. Viator1212 E. Euclid AvenueArlington Heights, IL 60004-5799Newsletter – Winter 2009

NON-PROFITUS POSTAGE

PAIDPERMIT NO. 7160

PALATINE P&DC, IL

If you are receiving multiple copies of this newsletter and/or wish tobe removed from the mailing list, please call the Office of MissionAdvancement at 847-637-2142 or fax your request to 847-637-2145.

Viator is published three times a yearby the Office of Mission Advancement for theClerics of St. Viator, Province of Chicago.Email: [email protected]: www.viatorians.com

Our purpose is to present the mission,ministries, news and needs of ourcommunity to those who are interestedin and supportive of our works.

Provincial:Fr. Thomas R. von Behren, CSV

Editorial Board:Fr. Thomas R. von Behren, CSVBr. Michael T. Gosch, CSVBr. Donald P. Houde, CSVFr. Thomas G. Kass, CSVBr. Leo V. Ryan, CSV

Contributing Journalist:Eileen O’Grady Daday

Layout and Design:Dianna Ehrenfried, Visualedge, Inc.

Editor:Fr. Thomas E. Long, CSV

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

At its December 3rdmeeting, the ViatorianProvincial Councilendorsed the

Declaration of Principles for aPresidential Order on PrisonerTreatment www.nrcat.org.It is the latest in a series ofactions that condemn the use oftorture in which members of thecommunity have participated.Members of the council believethat torture violates the basic

dignity of the human person and degrades everyone involved, whetherthey are policy makers, perpetrators, or victims. Consequently, anypolicies of our nation that permit torture and inhumane treatment areshocking and morally intolerable. The United States cannot expectproper treatment of American detainees overseas if it does not provideproper treatment of detainees in its custody.

For the past several years, a number of Viatorians have been engagedin letter writing campaigns, contacting members of Congress, writingeditorials, and demonstrating against the use of torture. One such

demonstration occurred on December13th. Fr. Corey Brost, CSV, Br. MichaelGosch, CSV, and Fr. Thomas Long, CSV,joined with others in downtown Chicagoto call for the closing of GuantanamoPrison and the end of torture to mark the60th anniversary of International HumanRights Day. As stated in Article 5 ofthe Universal Declaration of HumanRights, “No one shall be subjected totorture or to cruel, inhumane ordegrading treatment or punishment.”The declaration was adopted andproclaimed on December 10, 1948,by the General Assembly of theUnited Nations as a result of theatrocities committed duringWorldWar II. For a copy of the declaration,please visit www.in.org/Overview/rights.html.

To excuse torture endangers the welfare of our military personnel.To condone torture weakens our moral standing in the world. Tolook the other way sends the wrong message, especially to the youthof our country!

Banners across America

Torture is a Moral Issue


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