Around the Province

Clerics of St. Viator 1212 E. Euclid Avenue Arlington Heights, IL 60004-5799

Newsletter –Spring 2022

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Fr. Alan Syslo, CSV, makes it his goal to walk outside for at least an hour a day during his time in retirement at the Viatorian Province Center. On these walks, every person he encounters he tells them to “pray for Ukraine.” Within his own Viatorian Community, he convinced associates, professed and staff members at the Province Center to place a sign at the entrance to the building, for the hundreds of motorists who pass it each day, to see: “We Stand with Ukraine.”

Br. Carlos Flórez, CSV,

was recognized by the principal at Cristo Rey St. Viator in Las Vegas for showcasing the school’s core value, “Have Faith.” Br. Flórez has helped build Cristo Rey St. Viator College Prep from the ground up, literally. As the Director of Recruitment and Admissions, he has been instrumental in growing the school one grade level at a time. His efforts have the led the school to this year, when the school will welcome its incoming freshman class in August, thus realizing its dream of having all four classes (freshman - senior) enrolled in the first four years of the school’s history. Fr. Patrick Render, CSV, has led St. Joseph Parish in Springfield, St. Thomas More in Henderson, NV, and St. Viator Parish in Chicago. And that’s not to mention his

role as principal and president at Saint Viator High School. Wherever he went, people commented that there was something different about Viatorians. In the latest roundtable episode of Viatorian Voices: Conversations on the Way, Fr. Render reflects on that question: What makes Viatorians unique? Find it in Episode 22 at Apple, Google or Spotify podcasts, or at this bitlink: bit.ly/ RenderCSV.

Fr. Daniel Hall,

CSV, is returning to his roots, literally. This summer, he will be one of 25 gardeners tending his plot in the newly expanded Viatorian Community Garden, located on the grounds of the Province Center. It was Fr. Hall who joined with Br. Michael Gosch, CSV, in creating the garden 10 years ago. What started with 14 plots and roughly 10 gardeners has grown to draw gardeners from the Saint Viator High School community, the Children of Abraham Coalition, neighboring faith communities and friends of the Viatorians. In returning to the land, Fr. Hall reinforces the original mission of the garden, to feed the hungry. Each year, gardeners have produced around 1,000 pounds of vegetables for area Br. Carlos Florez, center, displays his award with adminis- families served by local food pantries. This year, with nearly double the trators from Cristo Rey St. Viator, including Fr. Thomas von number of plots, they hope to raise much more. Behren, second from right.

Fr. John Van Wiel, CSV,

continues to enjoy retirement at the Viatorian Province Center. After more than 40 years of teaching chemistry, he now has more time to enjoy such simple pleasures as walking outdoors and experiencing God in nature – and capturing those images on canvas in his watercolor paintings. Now, his creative side will be seen. Plans are in the works to exhibit a colFr. Patrick Render lection of his paintings in the meeting room of the Province Center.

Fr. Daniel Hall in the Viatorian Community Garden

Fr. John Van Wiel displays a collection of bird paintings he created.