Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of Viatorians in Colombia It was 60 years ago this month that a delegation of three Viatorian priests were dispatched to the Archdiocese of Bogotá in Colombia. They answered a call from Pope John XXIII, who in 1961 called for religious congregations to help Fr. Burt Mayer, Fr. Thomas Wise and Fr. James Crilly evangelize Latin were commissioned by Bishop Cletus O’Donnell before America. Fr. James Crilly returned in 2013 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Colegio leaving in 1961 to start the Viatorian foundation.
San Viator in Bogota.
Some 60 years later, Viatorians have their own namesake parish in Bogotá, San Viator Parish, have two award-winning schools and help out at numerous parishes.
The founding fathers who established the foundation included Fr. James Crilly, CSV, Fr. Thomas Wise, CSV, and Fr. Burt Mayr, CSV, who all now are deceased. Knowing no Spanish and little about their new country, they arrived by boat in Barranquilla on Sept. 27, 1961. Their assignment? To start a Catholic secondary school that ultimately would lead to more teachers of the faith.
According to historical documents, Colombia was chosen over El Salvador and Guatemala, in part because it offered the chance to open a secondary school and in time, provide vocations.
Viatorian vocations are growing in Colombia, as seen here: L-R: Br. Juan David Ramirez, Br. Parmenio Enrique Medina, Br. Juan Carlos Ubaque, Br. Jhobany Orduz, Fr. Pedro Herrera, Br. Luis Peroza, Fr. Fredy Contreras, Fr. Edwin Ruiz, Br. Edwin Barreto, Br. Elkin Mendoza.
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