Saint Viator High School Welcomes this Viatorian

Fr. Daniel Lydon, CSV, vividly remembers walking through the doors of Saint Viator High School back in 1969 as a new freshman. As the oldest sibling, he had little knowledge of the school — and the Viatorians — and he felt nervous venturing away from his home in Elk Grove Village and Queen of the Rosary School. Now, in his return as the school president, he restores a professed Viatorian to its leadership, and he is prepared, he says, and excited. “I am amazed at the journey God has led me on since I graduated in 1973,” Fr. Lydon says. “The school was less than a decade old when I entered, and suddenly this fall, the school will celebrate its 60th anniversary.”

Fr. Daniel Lydon greets a student on the first day.

Knowing the trepidation many students feel upon entering the school, Fr. Lydon made sure to be there to greet them during the opening days of the semester. He wants to have a visible presence throughout the school, much like the Viatorians did when he was a student.

“I intend to have an open office,” Fr. Lydon says. “I want to get to know the students – and have them get to know me.” He credits many Viatorians with influencing him along his journey, notably the late Fr. Robert Erickson, CSV, who taught him math and religion, as well as Fr. Charles Bolser, CSV, who served as president and hired Fr. Lydon back to teach Spanish in 1994. “Sometimes, we never know about the hand of God in our lives,” Fr. Lydon says. “If Fr. Bolser hadn’t hired me, you just never know what would have happened.” Over the course of the next 25 or so years, Fr. Lydon would spend 16 of them at Saint Viator, teaching Spanish

Fr. Daniel Lydon graduated from Saint Viator High School in 1973.

and religion, before entering the administration and ultimately serving as Assistant Principal. Along the way, he also served as Coordinator of Vocation Ministry for the Viatorian Community and directed Viatorian Association.

In 2006, he followed his own advice by making his first commitment as a Viatorian associate and then entered religious life in 2010. Ultimately, he was ordained to the priesthood in 2015.

The 2021-2022 academic year got off to a great start.

For the last three years Fr. Lydon has served as Associate Pastor of Maternity BVM Parish in Bourbonnais while also serving on the Viatorian Provincial Council. All of these experiences — academic, administrative and pastoral — he believes will enhance his new role as president.