Viator newsletter Fall 2023

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Newsletter –Fall 2023

Around the Province...

With an unprecedented number of migrants arriving in cities across the country, Br. Michael Gosch, CSV, and members of Sisters and Brothers of Immigrants combined with Dominican University to present a workshop, on Sept. 23, on how to faithfully respond. The one-day event drew faith leaders and dignitaries from across Chicago, including Beatriz Ponce de Leon, Deputy Mayor of Immigrant, Migrant and Refugee Rights for the City of Chicago. She summed up the city’s response this way: “Our goal is to welcome new arrivals with dignity, help meet their basic needs and connect them to resources that put them on a path to self-sufficiency and resettlement.”

Br. John Eustice, CSV, completed his fifth marathon Oct. 8, crossing the finish line in Grant Park at the 45th annual Chicago Marathon. What made the day even more rewarding was his role serving as chaplain for Team SALUTE, a suburban nonprofit that provides everyday essentials to injured veterans and military families. He and his 140 Br. John Eustice team members raised $250,000 for injured veterans and their families.

Fr. Patrick Render, CSV, concelebrated the 50-year reunion Mass at Saint Viator High School, with Fr. Daniel Lydon, CSV, a member of the Class of 1973. Alumni were thrilled to see Fr. Render again, since during their four years he had served in a variety of roles in the adFr. Daniel Lydon, left, with Fr. Patrick Render ministration, including principal and president.

Fr. Daniel Hall, CSV, returned to the classroom this semester at Saint Viator High School as moderator of the Lion Learning Program. Structured like a study hall, Fr. Hall helps students succeed through intensive, short-term intervention. His return came

after a six-month sabbatical after completing his term as Provincial. “I wasn’t ready for retirement,” Fr. Hall says. “I was looking for a way to make a difference — and I love working with the kids.”

Fr. Daniel Hall

Fr. John Pisors, CSV, arrived in 1967 at the new Colegio San Viator in Bogotá, four years after it opened, and he is still there. Over Fr. John Pisors his many decades he has served in many capacities, teaching religion, math and English, as an administrator and in pastoral ministry. He is the last of the 18 North American Viatorians who served in Bogotá. Now, as part of the Colegio’s 60th anniversary year, he has published a collection of his writings, drawing from his nine books and 45 pocket-sized booklets that he has written. Fr. Pisors calls it: “For the Wise Person that Wants to Think.”

Fr. Charles Bolser, CSV, may be retired from full-time ministry but don’t tell him that. He says Mass nearly every day for different religious communities and at senior residences. He also continues to serve as chaplain and booster for Saint Viator High School, long after he served as president. He attends many sports events, including every home football game, as well as fine arts presentations, and in late September was on hand for the Pat Mahoney Golf Classic, Associate Patrick Mahoney, left, with along with its namesake, Fr. Charles Bolser Associate Pat Mahoney.

Viatorians and Synodality

Keeping Up with St. Viator Parish School

The synod on synodality meeting in Rome during October is an event of the whole Church. Viatorians in the United States explored synodality in our annual Assembly this summer, June 27-29.

Because of her scholarly and practical work in this area, we invited Professor Amanda Osheim of Loras College to address Viatorian professed and associates on this movement promoted by Pope Francis that promises to help make us more conscious of our call to be missionary disciples and delve more deeply in the charism of our founder, Fr. Louis Querbes.

While the word “synodality” may be unfamiliar, it literally means a way of being Church in which all of us - brothers, men and women associates and priests - “journey together” as disciples of Jesus. In a very real way Viatorians have been practicing a form of synodality since our initial founding when Fr. Querbes wished to establish a society of catechists, both professed and lay, who would work together to evangelize the rural France of his day. While he was forced to drop the membership of lay people in his young society in order for it to be approved by the ecclesiastical authorities of France and later Rome, the founder never really abandoned his dream of incorporating lay people into the community. This intuition remained dormant until Vatican II, and our new constitution approved after the council made lay associates a part of the Viatorian community.

Church in order to enrich our community. These practices include parrhesia: a willingness to speak boldly and honestly about the experience and call of the Holy Spirit in our lives. At the same time parrhesia needs to be accompanied by humility: a willingness to hear and reflect upon others’ experiences and the call of the Holy Spirit. She also pointed out that many of us need to learn ways of being attentive to the Holy Spirit in our own lives as well as in others, not just for the “big decisions,” but in our daily lives.

Changes are happening at St. Viator Parish School in Las Vegas.

Within the last three years a new administration has taken over, a major capital improvement project has wrapped up and enrollment is growing.

As we prepare for the 31st General Chapter to be held in Arriccia outside of Rome, our discussions about the dimensions of being part of a synodal church, especially attentiveness and trust in the action of the Holy Spirit in our lives and community becomes ever more important. The evangelizing presence of the Viatorian community in the world that allows for the full and equal participation of men and women, lay and ordained, is an important part of our reflections leading up to the chapter. Synodality is helping us trace a new and exciting direction guiding our common Viatorian journey.

Fr. Richard Rinn, CSV, Pastor of St. Viator Catholic Community, says Dr. Kiss embodies those traits in her current position.

Mark Francis, CSV

Synodality carries this dream of Father Querbes to another level.

It places trust in the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in a new and vibrant way. Amanda pointed out that having brought together ordained, professed and lay people in the same community, we are invited to develop practices that characterize this way of being

Provincial

In this Issue: 2 Viatorians and Synodality 3 Keeping Up with St. Viator Parish School 4 Colegio San Viator in Bogotá Celebrates Milestone Anniversary

6 Analyzing Evidence at Saint Viator High School

7 Q & A with Rosy Hartz 8 This Spanish Speaker Raises Up Communities of Faith

10 The Evolution of Villa Desiderata 12 Celebrating Our Jubilarians: Fr. Carlos Claro, CSV Fr. Edgar Suárez, CSV Fr. Erwin Savela, CSV

13 From the Archieves: Little Known Ministry to Orphans in Savannah, Georgia

14 Meet the Viatorian Promoters: Working as a Team

15 In Memoriam: Fr. Richard Pighini, CSV Saint Viator High School: Making Sudent 16 Around the Province Experience a Top Priority 9

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Provincial:

Fr. Mark Francis, CSV

Editor:

Fr. Thomas Long, CSV

Director of Communications:

Eileen O’Grady Daday

Editorial Board:

Eileen O’Grady Daday Br. John Eustice, CSV Daniel Masterton Rebecca Skirvin

Layout and Design:

Dianna Ehrenfried, Visualedge, Inc

Email: news@viatorians.com

School in North Las Vegas. Eventually, Mertzman was ready to move back to the classroom, and as luck would have it, a position opened at St. Viator. He jumped at the opportunity and taught middle school social studies for seven years before slowly transitioning back into administration, now serving as Vice Principal.

Let’s start with the administrators. Following Principal Tracy Brunelle was a hard act to follow, but the school looks to be in good hands with these veteran Catholic school educators.

Principal Katie Kiss brings her newly minted doctorate in Catholic Educational Leadership, earned last spring from the University of San Francisco, to her role. The program’s stated mission is to “support students who desire to lead organizations based on principles of Catholic Social Teaching, social justice, service and commitment to mission.”

“Katie brings Gospel values, professionalism, compassion, a spirit of collaboration and a sense of humor to our school,” Fr. Rinn said. “We are blessed to have Katie at St. Viator School.”

Mr. Mertzman and Mrs Kiss visit with preschoolers at the beginning of this school year.

Mertzman works well with Kiss, and they often can be found visiting classrooms together or in assemblies, where their joy is contagious.

Dr. Kiss received her degree last May during a hooding ceremony at USF’s graduation. Upon returning to the St. Viator School community the next week, she was welcomed by the entire student body, who cheered and held up signs congratulating her.

“I have found my favorite job now,” Mertzman says. “From that very first day I stepped onto the St. Viator School grounds in 2003, I knew St. Viator was a very special place. It had a very welcoming feeling. After working here, I discovered it is the Viatorian influence that has made this place so special.”

Mertzman monitored last summer’s capital Assistant Principal Paul Mertzman with Principal improvements Katie Kiss after she earned her doctorate, with former to the school Principal Kathleen Daulton campus. They Vice Principal Paul Mertzman emceed the assembly, leading the included replaccheers for Kiss among the students. He too has dedicated his ing a 60-yearentire teaching career to Catholic education. He arrived in Las old sewer line Vegas in 2003, after seeking a dryer climate for his allergies. Preand installing a viously, he had taught at a pair of Catholic schools in his native new heating and Ohio, where one of his direct supervisors was a Kathleen Daulton. air conditionFr. Richard Rinn, CSV inspects the new air conditioning unit with Mrs. Kiss As it turns out, their paths would cross again. ing unit in the gym. These major infrastructure projects were made possible after “While looking for a job, I visited the local elementary schools the parish consolidated its two campuses into one main campus, and when I walked into St. Viator Parish School, there stood selling off the primary campus across the street.

Kathleen Daulton,” Mertzman says. “We reminisced about times back in Ohio and parted ways since there were no openings at St. Between these new administrators and making an investment Viator at that time.” in these capital improvements, it all bears out the Viatorians’

commitment to Catholic education and reaffirms their Gospel-inspired mission to be dedicated educators of the faith.

He began teaching at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School in Las Vegas, and later became principal at St. Christopher Catholic

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Colegio San Viator in Bogotá Celebrates Milestone Anniversary Back in 1961, a delegation of three Viatorian priests were dispatched to the Archdiocese of Bogotá in Colombia. They answered a call from Pope John XXIII, who that same year called for religious congregations to help evangelize Latin America.

Of the three pioneers who started the school, only Fr. Crilly was able to participate in its 50th anniversary celebration, back in 2013. Despite his more than 60 years as a Viatorian, he always pointed to those years in Bogotá as a significant highlight of his ministry.

The founding fathers included Fr. James Crilly, Fr. Thomas Wise and Fr. Adalbert Mayr. They were commissioned in February 1961 at a sendoff The three founders map out the beginnings of the colegio, from Mass at St. L-R: Fr. Thomas Wise, CSV, Fr. Adalbert Mayr, CSV, and Fr. James Crilly, CSV. Viator Parish in Chicago. Knowing no Spanish and little about their new country, they traveled by boat, arriving in Barranquilla. Their assignment? To start a Catholic secondary school that ultimately would lead to more teachers of the faith.

“I was excited at the opportunity,” Fr. Crilly said at the time.

“I always believed the school and foundation would last this long. We established a quality school, with an excellent faculty who set the bar high.”

Colegio San Viator opened as a middle school for boys, adding another grade level every year up to the 11th grade.

Less than two years later they opened Colegio San Viator in Administrators added primary grades in the 1980s and in prefabricated classrooms. Its 32 students were taught by five 2000, the school became coeducational. Within the last 10 Viatorian priests and one lay teacher. Now, 60 years later, the years, the school added preschool students to the community. school is thriving, with an enrollment of more than 1,000 As the grade levels grew, so did its academic standards. students and Viatorians still on staff.

Beginning in 2016, the school began to earn its accreditation as an International Baccalaureate School. It would eventually become fully bilingual and receive many awards for excellence in Colombia.

A collaborative spirit permeates the school, shown here by high school students helping younger ones with an art project.

scholarship program. Right from the start, Viatorians wanted to make their private school accessible to local youth who might otherwise be unable to afford it. In providing scholarships to the economically disadvantaged, they broke with the tradition in Colombia of individual schools only serving students from a certain economic class. Later, other private schools soon began following the colegio’s lead.

The Scholarship Program continues today, with an independent committee evaluating each applicant’s request. “We take great pride in our scholarship program,” administrators say, “as it has provided financial assistance to up to 15% of our students since its establishment.”

With the success of the colegio in Bogotá, Viatorians moved to open another Colegio San Viator in 2016, this time in Tunja. Set amid the eastern range of the Colombian Andes, the school features all the qualities of the colegio in Bogotá, namely one that is faith-based, bilingual and pastoral, with professed Viatorians on its faculty and staff.

Aerial view of the campus of Colegio San Viator in Bogotá

This second Viatorian school in Colombia also is in the process of obtaining its accreditation as an International Baccalaureate School, setting it apart among other private schools in the region.

Through all of the colegio’s growth in Bogotá, one constant remains, handed down from the founding fathers: the

Fr. James Crilly with some of early students of Colegio San Viator

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Analyzing Evidence at Saint Viator High School

Q & A with Rosy Hartz Associate Rosy Hartz and her husband, Paul, have been Viatorian associates for 14 years, but their involvement with youth ministry at St. Viator Catholic Community in Las Vegas goes back more than 20. We caught up with Rosy, who serves as the parish Faith Formation Coordinator, to find out about the unique Campus Ministry program in the parish school.

Room 117 in Saint Viator High School’s science wing may look like another classroom lab, but for the last two years it has doubled as a crime scene investigation. During four sections a day, students can be seen huddling over lab tables using scientific procedures to analyze evidence.

Q. How have the Viatorians at the parish supported it?

A. If it was not for a (Formation and Education) grant

Think fingerprinting, toxicology, blood spatter, arson, hair and fibers, photography, autopsy and even handwriting analysis.

It may sound like something out of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, but it is a uniquely Viatorian story.

The course grew out of a collaboration between a pair of science teachers at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, which Viatorians helped to open in 1954, and Saint Viator High School. Br. Rob Robertson, CSV, who formerly worked at Bishop Gorman, connected the two.

Students work in teams to analyze evidence.

“Students did an autopsy on the fetal pigs to discover the cause of death,” Ruege says. “We then took some unpreserved fetal pigs Ms. Sharron Black brought the forensics course to Bishop and put them out in cages, so bugs had access to them. We would Gorman in 2022 from the Las Vegas Public School system. The school now offers two levels of the course, Honors Forensics 1 and go out during class time to see what phase of decomposition they were in.”

Honors Forensics 2 for upperclassmen. Mrs. Jen Ruege flew out to Las Vegas to meet with Black and identify elements for the introductory course.

Students began by learning the seven steps (7 Ss) of a crime scene investigation – from securing the scene to searching for evidence and securing and collecting it – to this semester’s unit on studying death and decomposition.

Forensics students are doing field work in decomposition on the edge of the Province Center grounds.

“I started the semester with death and decomposition because of the weather,” Ruege says. “It’s easier for decomposition to occur and they get a bit on the field of entomology.”

A. One year after the Viatorian Youth Congress,

During the course of the semester, students hear from experts in the field, from forensics specialists in local police and fire departments to FBI agents and those in the criminal justice system, to see how forensics applies to their field.

Last year’s students heard from FBI special agents from the Chicago field office. They described studying human remains from Beyond all the hands-on work in the course, Ruege says students decomposed bodies and learning to discover clandestine graves, all are collaborating and working together to solve a potential crime. during training at the Anthropology Research Facility, or “Body “This course lets different kids shine in different areas,” she Farm” in Knoxville, TN. says. “Some love fingerprinting, others have the artistic skills to Thanks to approval from the Viatorian Provincial Council, Ruege draw the crime scene to scale, others have great communication and her students this year created their own mini body farm on skills to ask the right questions and help guide their team, while the edge of the grounds of the Province Center. There, protected others are better at understanding DNA electrophoresis. All are by fencing, they are monitoring the decomposition of stillborn needed to figure out an entire crime scene.” fetal pigs. www.viatorians.com

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Q. To date, what has been the biggest takeaway?

Q. How did you come to start a campus ministry program for middle schoolers at St. Viator Parish A. It may sound silly, but teens love it when we give School, making it the only school in the ArchdioAssociate Rosy Hartz with sixth graders in Campus Ministry at St. Viator Paris School.

cese of Las Vegas to have that program?

Students work on an autopsy of a preserved stillborn pig.

from the Viatorian Provincial Council, this would not be possible. Every penny received goes to supplies, retreats, prayer items as well as shirts and snacks. This program runs off the grant, with the Parent Teacher Organization at the school ready to help if needed. At the same time, the support of the priests and Deacon Mike Underwood is also huge, especially when they stop by to lend a hand if we are working on a community outreach project.

it dawned on us adults that students at St. Viator knew what it meant to be part of a Viatorian parish, yet in wanting to articulate the charism and styles of prayer that are featured at VYC, we thought how can we bring youth ministry to the school. We realized we had a captive audience. I wrote a mission statement and a proposal, and our principal at the time, Kathleen Daulton, said yes.

From there we created a schedule and theme with the focus being, “You matter. Viatorians care about Youth.”

Q. How was it received among students in the middle school? Did they eagerly want to participate?

A. Middle school students who had come to youth

ministry at the parish level were thrilled to see that we were doing something similar at school. For those students who had not encountered this style of ministry, they too loved the idea and it became a highlight for each grade when it was their turn that month.

out donuts. It’s a treat and it makes them feel loved and special, but we’re also feeding their soul. The biggest take away is always when a student comes over and says, “thank you.” It may be after an ice breaker, a presentation or closing prayer, but when our hospitality returns with a simple thank you, it makes planting the seed all worth it.

Q. This year, you’ve handed off your role to another

parishioner, Jamie Reyburn, but you’re not done yet. We’ve learned that you’re working on packaging it and offering it to other parishes. Can you tell us a little about this?

A. I’m working with Associate Deborah Perez to

compile the three-year program into a binder. One school has reached out in hopes of starting in the new year. We hope to package it in a way that this Viatorian program can work for all Catholic middle schools and we can make sure we introduce the call of vocations, styles of prayer and social justice concerns to a younger demographic.

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This Spanish Speaker Raises Up Communities of Faith

Saint Viator High School: Making Student Experience a Top Priority

Fr. Moses Mesh, CSV, already holds a distinction within the Viatorian Community as the only native Belizean in the congregation. Fr. Mesh met the Viatorians soon after they arrived in 1998 to the Central American country.

Since taking over as president, Fr. Daniel Lydon, CSV, has set an ambitious agenda to renovate Saint Viator High School. Consider that within The Alumni Memorial Chapel his first year he enhanced the Alumni Memorial Chapel with a new tabernacle, baptismal font, furniture and a pair of historic statues.

He would go on to be ordained to the priesthood in 2011 in Belize, after completing his seminary studies with another Viatorian, Fr. Jason Nesbit, CSV. The two were reunited last year, when Fr. Mesh was assigned parochial vicar at Maternity BVM Parish in Bourbonnais, to help out Fr. Nesbit.

It seems Fr. Mesh has picked up where he left off at St. Viator Church in Chicago, where he served as an associate pastor for seven years. During that time, he developed an active ministry reaching out to the Spanish community in the parish.

Fr. Moses prepares to celebrate Mass with Br. John Eustice, a permanent deacon, and altar servers.

As a Spanish speaker, Fr. Mesh is responding to the growing Latino population, both in and out of his parish in Bourbonnais.

“Someone noticed one of the altar linens I had embroidered,” Fr. Mesh says, “and the women asked if I could give them lessons.”

Fr. Mesh learned needlework skills when he 7-years old, back in Belize, he says. “I learned from my mother and my aunts and uncles,” he says. “We all did art together.”

For the last year, Fr. Mesh has Fr. Moses Mesh, CSV, baptizes a baby at offered lessons in crocheting, Maternity BVM Parish. embroidery and knitting to parish members, who meet on Monday evenings. They gather in a meeting room at the parish where the ministry of accompaniment is woven into their needlework.

“I’m so blessed to be able to serve my community,” Fr. Mesh says, “especially my parish community.”

It started when he was asked to say a Mass in Spanish by Fr. Peter Jankowski, pastor of both St. Anne Church in St. Anne, IL, and St. Patrick’s Church in nearby Momence.

This semester, when students returned, they found a whole new school, literally renovated from top to bottom. For starters, 30 classrooms, eight science labs, the math and language labs, and five department offices all received new flooring, ceilings, lighting and acoustical improvements.

Fr. Mesh not only says the regular Spanish Masses at St. Patrick’s and occasionally at St. Anne’s, but he readily provides sacramental ministry to Latino families who are looking for a Spanish speaker.

Perhaps the biggest improvement that students and staff enjoyed last August and September was that the entire building was air conditioned, including all the classrooms, the Jeuck Auditorium, Cahill Gym, hallways and stairwells. At the same time, the Cahill gym received needed roof repair and a remodeled front lobby of the building, with new lighting and wooden beams across the ceiling.

Increasing the endowment fund is the next priority of the campaign, including providing additional tuition assistance through scholarships and offering more professional development and support for faculty members.

Bottom line, Saint Viator remains committed to creating a program of excellence and enthusiasm for its school community.

New faculty member tour renovated classrooms.

Still arriving are new white boards, classroom furniture and touch screen TVs that sync up wirelessly to students’ iPads through Apple AirPlay.

“I am so blessed to be able to help them,” Fr. Mesh says. “I feel like I am bringing the church to them and making it accessible.”

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“The classroom upgrades create a serenity and calmness which will undoubtedly strengthen the learning experience not only for the students but the teachers as well,” says Principal Jon Baffico.

“We are forever grateful for the donor support to make this and future projects a reality.”

“At Saint Viator, we want every student to succeed and find the joy of learning,” Fr. Lydon says. “We think our classroom renovations — and the air conditioning — will greatly enhance the student experience at Saint Viator.”

He has performed baptisms, weddings, house blessings and even provided blessings at quinceañeras, or 15th birthday celebrations for young Latinas.

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The classroom furniture is designed to inspire students – and teachers – with its new state-of-the-art educational environment, with collegial tables and chairs instead of desks.

The dramatic renovation is part of Phase 1 of the Igniting Our Community capital campaign. Upgrading the student experience was identified as the first priority of the campaign. Consequently, all of the improvements have been funded by private donations.

Burks Place opened last spring and has become a gathering place for students.

“We were going to hold it once a month,” Fr Mesh says. “At our first Mass we had 18 to 20 people. Now, we have more than 250.

I don’t know what towns they all come from, but it’s a lot.”

In the two years Fr. Mesh has been at Maternity BVM Parish, he has helped with many of the traditional responsibilities, from saying daily and Sunday Masses and helping with sacramental ministry, to overseeing the Right of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) program and lending his artistic eye to the Art & Environment Committee.

He also oversaw the transformation of the former concession area into Burks Place, an informal coffee shop which has turned into a popular gathering place for students. It was named for the longtime Director of Buildings and Grounds, Steve Burks.

“It used to be the teacher area was up here,” he says gesturing to the front of the classroom, “and the student area was over there.

Now, I can go to the center of the room, so it’s an immersion experience.”

A portrait of Fr. Moses and the baby.

One of the classroom features that Fr. Lydon likes is the moveable podium for the teacher.

And he should know. Before being named president in 2021, he was a teacher and administrator for nearly 20 years at the school, and he continues to teach one section of religion.

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The Evolution of Villa Desiderata As boaters cruise along Pistakee Bay, many notice a large, distinguished white mansion - presently called Villa Desiderata - sitting on a hilltop facing the bay that has the look of a bygone era. Built by a wealthy family during the Gilded Age of the early 1900s, it followed the frequent decline of many overbuilt mansions with the family patriarch dying, the heirs coming upon hard times, quickly disposing of the property and then dividing the proceeds.

The villa went through a series of uses: a hotel, two boys’ schools, a home for Italian senior citizens and a camp for disadvantaged Italian children. In the early 1950s the Viatorians bought the villa as a retreat house for their members and students from their high schools. Being equipped with a swimming pool and having an impressive view of Pistakee Bay, it also served as a Viatorian rest haven.

In 1963, Br. Pat Drohan, CSV, went there to help with the building maintenance and the high school retreats. Two years later, Fr. Eugene Lutz, CSV, arrived as the new retreat master. He was known as a man with a somewhat gruff exterior but a gentle interior.

His experience as a US MaFr. Eugene Lutz, CSV rine who fought in World War II and then pursuing an engineering degree engrained in him the values of hard work, honesty and loyalty. Under his leadership the villa was properly maintained, and he led the high school retreats in a firm and gentle way.

As the small Villa Desiderata community grew together spiritually, they reached out to others, including Fr. Lutz. When Fr. Lutz discovered he had cancer, the Viatorian Community suggested that he access his needed health care at a local facility, but the Villa community said “no,” they would take care of him in his final days. They setup a schedule, and someone was always with him A sunset prayer service at the Villa 24/7. He said that the love he experienced from them extended his life by at least six months.

Fr. Lutz died in 1996, long after the Viatorian Community had let go of the property, and now the question was, what will happen to the community without Fr. Lutz? At this juncture the Villa Desiderata community response exemplifies the Scriptural parable of the tiny mustard seed falling to the ground and growing into a full bush. Recognizing their need for On the final day of the retreat, a person from Alcoholics Br. Patrick Drohan, CSV the community and its support, Anonymous, whom Catholic Charities recommended, the community negotiated the would tell their story to the students. The presenters later transfer of the property. A lay board oversees the operations, began to ask for their own retreats which led to a full schedand a skeleton staff manage the property. ule of high school retreats during the week and 12 step They requested that Br. Pat remained there to which the Viaadult retreats on the weekend. torian Community, in consultation with Br. Pat, agreed.

Fr. Lutz’s work at the center and the Masses he celebrated This year marks the 60th year that Br. Pat has been at the in the local parishes earned him a fine reputation of being Villa. He lives there and manages the many details that a very spiritual man with a solid grounding. Although he include the maintenance of a building that is over 100 years was not in recovery himself, everyone knew he perfectly old, seeing that the retreats run smoothly and attending to understood the recovery process and became well known for a myriad of other details. The 60 years have provided the his compassion and having no tolerance for any dishonesty. opportunity for Br. Pat to be very well known in the local These qualities made him a very popular confessor. A group community. When Viatorians travel to the villa to visit Br. then asked him to celebrate Mass in the villa chapel for Pat and go out for lunch, people immediately recognize him them with fellowship following afterwards. and enthusiastically greet him. www.viatorians.com 10

Most importantly, Br. Pat’s presence presents a spirituality that is reflective of Fr. Lutz. Like Fr. Lutz, he perfectly understands the recovery process and will only accept open honesty.

His years of experience at the villa has given him the ability to see through any gaslighting or obfuscating, and he will not tolerate it.

Like Fr. Lutz, he recognizes that alcoholism is a disease and through the 12-step process he has seen many miracles happen.

Br. Pat does a reading at an outdoor prayer service.

Villa Desiderata has experienced much evolution over the years and the process is continuing. Presently, the villa is

When he’s not managing the grounds, Br. Pat enjoys fishing on Pistakee Bay.

used for 12-step retreats and by other groups. As the community looks to the future, they recognize that Br. Pat, who After Fr. Lutz died, Fr. Daniel Reardon, CSV, came to the has been a mainstay at the villa, cannot be there forever.

Villa where he provided spiritual guidance and celebrated The community has experienced uncertain times in the past Mass. He later became very sick, and the community again and by the grace of God have evolved and grown; the hope stepped in. They talked with the Viatorian provincial and and confidence is that God will continue to lead them into told him that there is no need to send him to hospice, rather whatever the future may bring. they will take care of him. Again, they were with him 24/7 as he suffered through his final days.

Villa Desiderata in the winter

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Celebrating Our Jubilarians

From the Archives...

Fr. Carlos Claro, CSV

Little Known Ministry to Orphans in Savannah, Georgia

25 Years of Priesthood

Fr. Carlos Claro, CSV, celebrates 25 years of priesthood this year, and over those years his ministry has evolved from serving as a teacher and administrator at Colegio San Viator to pastoral ministry as a hospital chaplain, all in Bogotá. For the last 10 years, Fr. Claro has served patients and staff at the Hospital Universitario San Ignacio in Bogotá.

Fr. Carlos Claro, CSV Most recently, in 2017, Fr. Claro was asked to serve as Director of Pastoral Service, leading a group of eight chaplains from different religious communities who work on his team. He also works on the cancer wing, serving people dealing with different pathologies at the hospital. His service focuses mainly on spiritual support, the celebration of the sacraments of Reconciliation, the Eucharist and Anointing of the Sick. He also organizes activities with hospital staff. “Listening to other people’s needs and becoming their spiritual support is important in this ministry,” Fr. Claro says. “Serving others was Jesus’ primary ministry on earth. In that way, working with the sick and praying for their growing faith and trust in God is part of the ministry as chaplain of San Ignacio.”

Fr. Edgar Suárez, CSV 25 Years of Religious Life

Fr. Edgar Suárez, CSV, has accomplished a lot in his 25 years as a Viatorian.

Since professing his first vows 1998 at Colegio San Viator in Bogotá, where he was a religion teacher, he has continued to add more degrees and responsibilities. Beginning in 2001, Fr. Suárez began studying theology at the Javeriana University in Fr. Edgar Suárez, CSV Bogotá. That same year, on Dec. 8, 2001, he professed his perpetual vows at San Basilio Magna Parish, in the Diocese of Engativá. Fr. Suárez oversaw the

formation of postulants for three years, 2002-2004, before being ordained to the priesthood on June 26, 2004. In his priestly ministry, Fr. Suárez has served as chaplain of Colegio San Viator, as a religion teacher and head of its Pastoral Team. He also has served as a vocation director for the Viatorian Community in Colombia, and in parish ministry, at San Basilio Magna and at Santa Inés of Guaymaral Parish, from 2012-2013. Fr. Suárez led the Foundation of Colombia as its superior, from 2012-2017, while also leading San Viator Parish in Bogotá as pastor. Fr. Suarez led the growing congregation under a tent for eight years before construction finally started in 2020 on the new church building. Last year, Fr. Suárez was elected to his first term on the Provincial Council and next summer he will assume the role of pastor at St. Viator Catholic Community in Las Vegas.

Fr. Erwin Savela, CSV 60 Years of Religious Life

Fr. Erwin Savela’s two longest assignments during his 60 years as a Viatorian have been at Bishop McNamara High School in Kankakee, and Loma Linda University Medical Center in Redlands, CA. During his tenure of 18 years at Bishop McNamara, he was a teacher of religion and history, athletic director, baseball coach, assistant principal and for nine years as principal. In Fr. Erwin Savela, CSV preparation for his long career, he did undergraduate studies at Loyola University in Chicago and at Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. He earned a Master’s degree in religious studies at Mundelein College in Chicago and returned to Loyola for courses to certify him as an educational administrator. After one year at Griffin High School in Springfield, three years at St. Viator Catholic Community in Las Vegas and one year at Holy Family Parish in Granite City, IL, he moved to Redlands where he served at Loma Linda University Medical Center. For 17 years, his primary work centered on the spirituality of the 12-Step Program. “We are called to participate in the healing ministry of Jesus Christ,” Fr. Savela says. “I am grateful for a community that has allowed me to do this – one day at a time.”

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In 1938, Bishop Gerald O’Hara of Savannah wanted to create a school for Catholic orphans who were too old to go to the diocesan orphanage for young boys but too young to go out on their own. He wrote a letter to Father John P. O’Mahoney, Provincial of the Clerics of St. Viator, to see if the Clerics could staff the fledgling school.

It wasn’t an opportune time. St. Viator College, the educational linchpin of the province, had just been repossessed, leaving the Clerics in dire financial straits. O’Mahoney and O’Hara came to an agreement: the Clerics would come, but the confreres would be on salary; the Diocese of Savannah would assume financial responsibility. In September 1938, two priests and two brothers went to Savannah to start St. Thomas Industrial School.

The new school fit perfectly into new Provincial Richard French’s plans. In 1940, Fr. French wrote to Fr. Eugene Kearney, then director of St. Thomas, that the Clerics were “launching out on a program of industrial education and lining men up for [training in] this field.” By that time, the school offered vocational training in printing, woodwork, and music, and the Viatorians taught 6th through 9th grade in house. Students who needed high school classes went to the Benedictine Military Academy in the same city.

For their part, Bishop O’Hara and the Catholics of the Diocese of Savannah supported the school well. The diocesan deaneries each had a board member assigned to St. Thomas, and they, as well as the school’s Ladies Auxiliary,

held regular fundraisers for the school. They also made sure the boys had presents at Christmas.

By 1950, however, difficulties were beginning to surface.

Maintaining the old orphanage in downtown Savannah was too expensive, so the Diocese moved the school to the Isle of Hope. This location on the outskirts of the city afforded more space for outdoor activities but had no mass transportation or space for vocational programs. These programs were “temporarily” suspended until the property could be sufficiently renovated, but never returned to the school.

Events in the Diocese also worked against the school. In 1947 Bishop O’Hara was made the papal representative to Romania, a promotion that limited his ability to oversee the daily operations of the diocese. In 1956, the Diocese of Atlanta was split off from the Diocese of Savannah. Since fundraising for the school relied on the Diocese’s statewide reach, this was not good news for the school’s finances. In 1957, Thomas Donough, Auxiliary Bishop of Savannah, closed the school due to declining enrollment.

For nearly 20 years, Viatorians worked in Savannah to provide a home for teenage boys who would otherwise have been in bad situations at home or out on the streets. As an article in the Viatorian newsletter, The Lector, in November 1946 stated: “The Viatorians in Georgia feel that they are doing a Christ-like work . . . Indeed they are heeding our Savior’s request to ‘let the little ones come unto Me.’”

St. Thomas School in Savannah, GA, circa 1950

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Meet the Viatorian Vocation Promoters: Working as a Team Goal No. 1 of the Viatorian Community’s strategic plan directs the community to increase vocations to religious life and association, and the top objective is to inculcate a culture of vocations awareness among our membership.

and take leadership in vocation ministry efforts, particularly in the regions where they live and in our Viatoran apostolates.

In collaboration with the director, our Vocation Promoters will foster vocational discernment and facilitate experiences in prayer, service, and community life for youth, young adults, and adult discerners. Some core activities will be hosting discerners for visits to local Viatorian community homes, leading direct service to people on the margins, and presenting Viatorian religious life to various groups. We believe intentionality of leadership in this crucial area will help sustain a strong Viatorian presence among young men, help them be consistently aware of religious life, and create a stronger environment from which potential discerners may emerge.

We are pleased to share our first Vocation Promoters, as invited by the director, and appointed by Fr. Mark Francis, CSV, Provincial:

Br. Peter Lamick, CSV, and Br. Rob Robertson, CSV, talk to teens about vocations at St. Viator Catholic Community in Las Vegas.

This effort is overseen by the Director of Vocation Ministry, who is currently Br. Peter Lamick, CSV, who has transitioned into this role recently after several years of faithful work by Br. John Eustice, CSV. The director’s chief responsibility is accompanying young men who are seriously considering religious life – the director will help them work through their discernment and consider a potential application to the Viatorian Community for formation for religious life. Yet, this work also must include maintaining a wide, dynamic Viatorian presence across our apostolates and presenting the Viatorian religious life to various groups. This effort must be a group effort that draws on many more people than just the director.

Toward this end, Br. Lamick requested that the Provincial Council appoint professed men to serve as Vocation Promoters. Like similarly titled roles in other religious communities, these members Br. Jhobany Orduz, CSV, distributes ashes at Saint Viator are called upon High School. to be intentional www.viatorians.com 14

• In the Las Vegas/Henderson region – Br. Carlos Florez, CSV, currently serving as Director of Catholic and Viatorian Identity and Mission at Cristo Rey St. Viator College Preparatory School in North Las Vegas; • In the Bourbonnais/Kankakee region – Br. John Eustice, CSV, currently serving as a transitional deacon at Maternity BVM Parish in Bourbonnais; and Br. Jhobany Orduz, CSV, currently in residence at St. Patrick Parish in Kankakee as he completes his clinical pastoral education for seminary; • In the Arlington Heights/ Chicago region – Br. Rob Robertson, CSV, currently serving as a school counselor at Saint Viator High School in Arlington Heights.

We look forward to strengthening our vocation ministry through this new framework and more fully and effectively serving discerners, inquirers and our young people. Consider incorporating a daily Hail Mary in your prayer. As a Viatorian devotion, you might direct your prayer to the intercession of Our Lady of Grace or Our Lady of Guadalupe as we pray for vocations to the Viatorian religious life.

May our vocation director and promoters be the voice of God’s invitation to young men prepared to respond.

In Memoriam: Fr. Richard Pighini, CSV 1944 – 2023 Fr. Richard Pighini, CSV, liked to create beauty. Whether it was the lush gardens around Maternity BVM Church in Bourbonnais, or inside the sanctuary, where he personally led its dramatic transformation in 2013; he felt strongly about enhancing sacred spaces.

“The environment has to be beautiful, both inside and out,” Fr. Pighini said at the time. “Beauty is just important when it comes to faith.”

Fr. Pighini, who spent most of his priestly ministry in the Bourbonnais/Kankakee region, passed away peacefully on Aug. 21. He had been in hospice care at Addolorata Villa in Wheeling, for just one week, when he died at the age of 79.

He came to the area when he was assigned to Patrick Church in Kankakee. He would stay for 15 years, first as parochial vicar and then as pastor, and parishioners described him as dynamic.

Most recently, Fr. Pighini led nearby Maternity BVM as its pastor from 2004 to 2018. Fr. Jason Nesbit, CSV, his successor, credited Fr. Pighini as being a mentor, who instilled in him good, liturgical habits.

“He was an exceptional person, who put his heart into everything he did -- whether it was his art, the liturgy, his priestly ministry and even in relationships,” Fr. Nesbit says. “We have continued that tradition of vibrant liturgies and a focus on getting people actively involved in parish life.”

Fr. Pighini entered the Viatorian Community as a novice in 1978, and he professed his first vows in 1980. His first ministry assignments were as a religion teacher at Bishop McNamara High School in Kankakee and Sacred Heart-Griffin High School in Springfield. He entered pastoral ministry in 1989 at St. Patrick Church in Kankakee, where he served as parochial vicar and later pastor, before moving to Maternity BVM Parish in 2004.

“It hadn’t been repainted in nearly 18 years or so, so it really needed it,” Fr. Pighini said at the time. “Plus, I thought with the right color this little gem of a French-Canadian church could really shine.”

The result was a deep blue ceiling with stars, that served to warm the sanctuary and bring the focus to a new white altar, set off by a hand-stenciled backdrop, with gold medallions. Two years later, Fr. Pighini led a fundraising campaign to replace the organ and finally, he redesigned the front plaza, making the focal point an historic statue of Mary.

“His crowning touch was the outdoor plaza,” Fr. Nesbit adds. “He wanted it to be a place that welcomed people and brought them home.”

However, another lasting legacy of Fr. Pighini’s is the parish’s Camp MOSH, or Maternity Outreach Serving Humanity. The former youth ministry director, Patty Bailey, started the service project in 2009, under Fr. Pighini’s leadership, and it has taken place nearly every other year since then.

This year’s Camp MOSH drew 150 youth and adult volunteers, who spread out to work at 45 different sites across the Kankakee Valley. The parish-wide project reflected Fr. Pighini’s roots with the Peace Corps, whose volunteers work side by side with community members, and his mission as a Viatorian, to “embrace those accounted of little importance.”

Fr. Richard Pighini loved to involve school children in liturgies at Maternity BVM Parish.

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