Viator House of Hospitality: A Deepening Ministry for Viatorians Associate Susana Tellez holds a special place with participants of Viator House of Hospitality. Officially, she is a house assistant. Unofficially, she wears many hats, including serving as surrogate mother to the young men who find refuge there, far from their native countries. “I really feel like they are my children,” says Ms. Tellez. “Some of them call me mother and I am godmother to three of them. I was with them when they were baptized and made their first communion, and I helped them prepare.” Ms. Tellez has been at Viator House since before it opened four years ago. She was among the first group of volunteers who stepped up to help wash down walls and prepare its kitchen before the first men moved in. Her commitment is personal. A native Spanish speaker, Ms. Tellez is a faithful parishioner at St. Viator Parish in Chicago, where she is active with its Latino community and for the last 10 years has worked on the parish staff. Most recently, Ms. Tellez assists Fr. Corey Brost, CSV, and Br. Michael Gosch, CSV, in their immigration work based at the parish, including fielding calls from authorities about young men turning 18 and aging out of juvenile detention. Assisting the young men seeking asylum who come to Viator House – run by Fr. Brost as executive director and Br. Gosch as director of programs and housing – was the natural next step. Ms. Tellez now works one day a week at the house, doing a myriad of jobs. She helps drive participants to school or their jobs, shops
Associate Susana Tellez, left, attends a staff meeting at Viator House.
for food, organizes cooking nights with the men, straightens closets of donated goods and even makes repairs. “I’m the handywoman,” she says with a laugh. Br. Gosch describes her as indispensable and one of many committed individuals who make Viator House of Hospitality a home. Among them are a growing number of Viatorians themselves. They include: Associates Jackie Dupon, Betty Faraci, Chris Gucwa and Linda Nishi, who volunteer on Saturday nights; Fr. Mark Francis, CSV, who serves on the board; Bishop Christopher Glancy, CSV, who serves as case manager; Associate Brian Hansen served as an overnight volunteer; Br. Peter Lamick, CSV, who mentored some of the men; Fr. Thomas Long, CSV, who tutors and applies for grants; Pre-Novice Ryan McMahon who tutors, Associate Joan
Viator House staff and members of the Viatorian Community celebrate the high school graduation of one of the participants.
