Around the Province... This issue of Around the Province highlights just a few current and past partnerships between the Viatorians and others. Collaboration between the Sisters of the Living Word and the Viatorian Community was recognized at the Sisters’ 25th annual Mardi Gras gala on Feb. 1. In accepting the Partners in Mission Award, Viatorians acknowledged the many ways the two religious congregations have worked together in recent years to promote peace and justice both at home and abroad, which includes opposing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, providing seed money for a micro-lending program for families in transitional housing, and accompanying immigrants released from federal detention. On Feb. 10, Fr. James Michaletz celebrated the 50th anniversary jubilee Mass with alumnae from the former Sacred Heart of Mary High School founded by the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, which merged with Saint Viator High School in 1987. Fr. Michaletz told the women that he had “history” with the school as well. He served as a teacher in 1963 at Saint Viator, when Sacred Heart opened, using two wings of the boys’ high school while theirs was being built. He later served as superintendent in 1972 during its transition into a diocesan school. “Throughout all of these changes, the one constant was the student body and its graduates, its alumnae,” Fr. Michaletz told the crowd of 100 women and their families. “They are the people who continue its tradition, its legacy.” Br. Leo Ryan received the Career Achievement Award from leaders of the national business fraternity, Alpha Kappa Psi, at the Palmer House in Chicago on Feb. 16. The award came during their Professional Business Leadership Institute conference. www.viatorians.com
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The citation commended Br. Ryan for his “lifelong pursuit of knowledge, education and service to others while adhering to the strictest code of ethics.” Br. Ryan is known for the many partnerships he has fostered through his work with the Peace Corps, Marquette University and DePaul University. The Viatorian Community has provided a three-year grant to the Interfaith Committee for Detained Immigrants (ICDI) to provide housing and staffing for immigrants needing a place to live. Several Viatorians have spent hours gathering furniture, paint and donations to help transform an empty convent into a home for immigrants needing a place to live. The Marie Joseph House of Hospitality is scheduled to open this summer. The Viatorian community co-sponsored the second annual CROSSwalk that was held on March 22 to remember the more than 800 children and youth who have been murdered in Chicago since 2008. Founded at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, this procession and vigil is an initiative of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago. One week later, the Viatorian community co-sponsored 8th Day Center for Justice’s 33 annual Good Friday Walk for Justice that unites the “Christian passion story with the justice struggles of today in an effort to open a space of reflection, memory and resistance.” The Provincial Council of the Clerics of St. Viator partnered with other religious congregations and human rights organizations recently by adding its name to six sign-on letters that promote peace and justice. The first letter, drafted by Churches for Middle East Peace, calls on President Barack Obama to work towards “facilitating a just, durable, and final negotiated agreement to end the Arab-IsraeliPalestinian conflict.” The second letter, drafted by Bread for the World, calls on Sen. Mark Kirk to protect funding cuts to vital programs that provide food to them vulnerable. Fr. Daniel Belanger, Fr. Charles Bolser, Fr. James Fanale, Fr. John Peeters, Fr. Richard Pighini and Fr. Robert M. Egan joined other Illinois pastors, bishops, and agency directors in signing the letter as well.