In the Footsteps of Our Founder Parochial Vicar at St. Nizier, Lyons The founder of the Clerics of St. Viator, Louis Marie Querbes (pronounced “curbs”), was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Lyons, France on December 17, 1816. His first assignment was as parochial vicar to his home parish, St. Nizier. St. Nizier was where he attended “The Clerical School” one of the first opened after the French Revolution (1789-1799), and the parish from which he entered the diocesan seminary, St. Irenaeus. St. Nizier, which became a parish in the 12th century, was named after an early bishop of Lyons. The area immediately surrounding this parish has been identified with religious history of Lyons from the time of the first local martyrs in 177 AD to the present. Construction of the present church began in the 14th century and continued until the present façade was finished in 1857, only two years before Fr. Querbes death on September 1, 1859. On February 13, 1817, Father Querbes reported to St. Nizier, one of the largest parishes in Lyons with 25,000 members, mostly practicing Catholics. Already steeped in the history of St. Nizier, he immediately became immersed in the activities of the parish. His appointment specified that, in addition to parish sacramental and spiritual duties, he was to be director of “The Clerical School.” Here, Fr. Querbes immediately demonstrated his talents as an educator. Every experience at St. Nizier became a preparation for his future ministries as pastor and as founder of the Clerics of St. Viator. Living with nine other priests, he experienced fraternal community, which was later to
be a hallmark of his religious community. He organized youth groups for catechism and First Communion. This experience showed him the urgency of youth ministry. He realized that priests could not accomplish this ministry alone. He recognized the need for laymen to assist in teaching Christian doctrine. Fr. Querbes participated in the devotional renewal of his times. He established the Confraternity of The Blessed Sacrament. One of his favorite prayers was “Praised, adored and loved be Jesus in Heaven and in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.” He established the Confraternity of The Sacred Heart and organized Friday devotions. Fr. Querbes promoted May devotions to Mary, the Mother of God, at St. Nizier. His scripture-based sermons were noted for their practical application to the lives of his listeners. He was a popular homilist for prayer groups, pious societies, and retreats and was often invited to conduct parish missions. He taught apologetics on Sundays, alternating weeks between men and women. Fr. Querbes became recognized as a committed teacher of Christian doctrine. St. Nizier was a vibrant center of lay movements. Fr. Querbes knew parishioners Pauline Jericot, founder of the Propogation of the Faith and Frederich Ozanam, founder of The St. Vincent DePaul Society. Here Fr. Querbes first witnessed the power and potential for lay Church leadership. He conceived the idea of organizing lay associates to teach in the schools of rural France. Later circumstances transformed his idea of a lay association into a religious congregation. Today, both Clerics of St. Viator and Viatorian Associates exist worldwide exercising their ministries in the spirit of Fr. Querbes. After six years at St. Nizier, Fr. Querbes was transferred to Vourles, a village eight miles south of Lyons and installed as pastor on November 1, 1822. Leo V. Ryan, CSV
Comprehensive Development Council meets to advise the CSV’s t the Province Center on September 20, members of the Comprehensive Development Council met again with Father Charles Bolser, CSV, provincial, and other members of the Viatorian community and development staff.
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The Comprehensive Development Council is planning to play an important role in assisting the provincial and development staff to establish a new program that will help fund special outreach activities. In particular, organizing a well-planned fundraising program which would give the friends of the Viatorians concrete and varied ways to partner with us, the Viatorians, and support our different ministries both here in the United States and in our foreign missionary foundations. Over the next few months, Viatorians will begin a major gift campaign inviting individuals to become members of the Louis Querbes Society. This society has been established to request substantial gifts as financial resources to better serve the people of God. Several ways of giving are anticipated: gifts of cash or stock; gifts from annuities, wills, trusts and estates; and gifts from credit cards.
I Want to be More. I Want to
Give
More.
Each of us is called to respond to God in some special way. What is God asking of you? • Are you active and a fully initiated member of the Roman Catholic Church? • Do you exhibit enthusiasm, a sense of purpose and a positive life direction? • Are you a person of integrity that has an awareness of God in your life?
We are looking for men who are college educated, normally between the ages of 20 and 40. If you have leadership abilities– can invite and enable others to use their gifts, and can be collaborative with women and men of all ages and ethnic backgrounds, we invite you to contact our Vocation Ministry Program.
The Viatorians are also organizing an annual giving appeal that will support the many ministries as they work with Christian communities to live, deepen and celebrate their faith. The Louis Querbes Society Campaign and the Viatorian Annual Giving Appeal will offer many of us opportunities to share what we have with others who have less.
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Vocation Ministry 1212 East Euclid Street Arlington Heights, IL 60004
847.398.0685 www.viatorians.com