QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER OF THE CLERICS OF SAINT VIATOR Winter 2000
Volume 4, Number 4
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Viatorians Celebrate
Vocation Three December Ord. .in . . . . .a.....t.io . . . . .n. . .s'---------.. Retreat for their brave and courageous efforts at Draws spreading the gospel 11Men _ __ and living as witnesses of Christ in the world. Bishop Kicanas challenged Brian to live that same spirit as he lived out his priestly ministry.
Auxiliary Bishop Kicanas & Fr. Brian Cooper, C.S. V
Brother Brian Cooper was ordained to the priesthood on Saturday, December 2, at St. James Church in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Chicago Auxiliary Bishop Gerald Kicanas presided at the ceremony. Brian's family, relatives, friends and Viatorians attended the ceremony. A number of Viatorians and diocesan clergy concelebrated the
ordination Mass. A longtime friend of Brian's, Bishop Doug Crosby, OMI, Bishop of Labrador in Canada, also joined in the ceremony. During his homily at the ordination, Bishop Kicanas recalled a memorial plaque he observed in the chapel at Princeton University. The plaque was dedicated to their clergy and ministers
The rite of ordination included a sung litany of saints, the promise of obedience, the laying on of hands by Bishop Kicanas and all the assisting priests, and the anointing with chrism. Brian's parents, George and Margaret Cooper, assisted as he put on the priestly vestments to celebrate the Eucharist with Bishop Kicanas. After the Eucharist, Brian addressed the congregation and thanked all who were present and a part of Continued on page 3
Men interested in life as a Via torian filled the Via tori an Province Center in Arlington Heights, January 1214. The eleven men gathered with five Via torians to discuss and pray about the vow of chastity. The retreat included small and large group discussions , as well as time for the men to meet individually with Via torians to ask questions about religious life. The retreat also included a presentation on intimacy and celibacy by Father Richard Woods, O.P., a clinical Continued on page 4
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From The Provincial's Perspective _____ Dear Friends,
Viator Reverend Robert M. Egan, C.S.V. Provincial Publisher Philip J. Skeris Director of Development Managing Editor VIATOR is published quarterly by the Clerics of St. Viator, the Viatorians, for friends, families, parishioners and alumni of Viatorian apostolates. The Clerics of St. Viator are religious priests and brothers sent by the Catholic Church to teach the Faith and proclaim Jesus Christ as Gospel. In parishes, schools, and a variety of other ministries Viatorians work with Christian communities to live, deepen and celebrate their faith . Our legal title is: Clerics of St. Viator.
Once again I'm pleased to welcome you to this issue of VIATOR, the quarterly newsletter of the Viatorians. Our Community continues to be very grateful for the support and encouragement so many of you offer to the Viatorians. This issue of the newsletter tells the story of vocations come to completion and initial dialogue of young people interested in religious life as a Viatorian. I hope you will take the time to read the exciting story of three of our Viatorians who were ordained in recent months. These events always provide our Community an opportunity to celebrate the vocations of our men and to renew our commitment to service and ministry in the Church. At the same time, you are able to read about a group of young men who recently visited our Province Center in Arlington Heights to engage in some dialogue and discernment about their vocations as Christians and perhaps as Viatorian religious. The experience of having eleven young men at our Province Center seriously reflecting on God's call to them was an inspiring and exciting experience for Viatorians who were able to witness the weekend retreat. I believe the gathering was a great success and I hope that you will join me in continuing to pray for these young men as they prayerfully discern God's call in their own lives. As I write these lines, the season of Lent has just begun. These forty days are time set aside for us to reflect on our lives of faith and to make ourselves open and ready to celebrate the mystery of Christ's love for us in our age and our time. I hope these days of Lent are for each of you, an opportunity for prayer, conversion and a renewed sense of the depth of God's love for each of us. May these days lead all of us to the joy of the Easter season. Thank you once again for your continued support and loyalty to our Community. In the name of all the Viatorians, I thank you and assure you of our prayers for you, your family and loved ones. My best wishes to you.
Sincerely in Viator,
Robert M. Egan, C.S.V. Provincial
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Viatorians Celebrate (continued) the liturgy. The ceremony was enhanced by the excellent music directed by Brother Jim Lewnard C.S.V. and a group of forty students from Sacred Heart Griffin High School in Springfield, Illinois. The choir helped to make the ordination rite a truly prayerful experience for all. The choir worked for months prior to the ceremony in planning
and practicing the music. They also provide liturgical music for all masses and services at the school and perform regularly in the Springfield area. Following the ceremony, a reception and dinner was held, allowing everyone to visit and offer their congratulations to Father Brian. On Sunday, December 3, Father Cooper
celebrated his First Mass of Thanksgiving at St. James Church. This Mass provided a fitting end to a wonderful weekend of celebration and thanksgiving. Fr. Cooper returned to Colombia after Christmas where he continues to teach at the Colegio San Antonio Maria Claret in the city of Libano. The following week on December 8th, the
Deacon Montes, Fr. Egan & Fr. Adame
Anointing with chrism
Joyful congratulations
The laying on of hands
Feast of the Immaculate Conception, was the occasion of two more ordinations celebrated in Bogota, Colombia. Brother Alejandro Adame was ordained to the priesthood, and Brother Felipe Montes was ordained a Deacon by Libano Bishop Jose Luis Serna. Father Robert Egan, C.S.V. Provincial, assisted at the Liturgy. Congratulations to all three Viatorians. •
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Vocation Retreat (continued) counselor and professor at Dominican University, River Forest, Illinois. The Via tori an participants were Br. Corey Brost, Br. Rob Robertson, Br. Dan Belanger, Fr. Jim
Michaletz and Fr John Milton. Between discussions and prayer services, the relaxation included cards, Trivial Pursuit, "pranks", and a snowball fight. In fact, the snow inspired Patrick
Quilao, a retreatant, Bishop Gorman High School Graduate, and art major at University of Nevada (Las Vegas), to craft a snow sculpture of Viatorian founder Fr. Querbes. •
The Snow Sculpture
Eleven men interested in life as a Viatorian
Small group discussion
Questions about religious life
Retreat closes with mass
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Regional Roundup KANKAKEE/ BOURBONNAIS: Brother Dan Belanger, C.S.V. received his Master of Arts in Teaching degree from Dominican University in January. He is currently Youth Minister at Maternity BVM Parish, Bourbonnais, Illinois.
CHICAGO LAS VEGAS Viatorian Fathers John Van Wiel Father Robert Erickson C.S.V. preached an Advent Parish and John Milton both recently received academic recognition. " Mission at Guardian Angel Father Van Wiel has been listed Cathedral which is served by the Viatorians. as "Best" Teacher in the 6th edition of Who's Who of Teachers.
Father Milton presented a paper on "Trajectories and Energy" at a meeting of the Chicago Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers held at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago.
Upcoming Vocation Retreats: "For Those Accounted of no Importance" - The Viatorian Call To Stand Against Injustice: July 13-15. Men in discernment will work three d ays at a Chicago soup kitchen and examine the many ways Viatorians can work for justice.
FIRE FOR GOD 2001, July 20-22 - For young men in Viatorian ministries who will graduate from high school in 2001 and who are already active Catholic leaders. They will gather at the Province Center with college-age men in the process of discernment and with Viatorians and lay persons who are active in Viatorian ministries. All will study the challenges that face people who commit to leadership as lay or religious.
Contact Br. Corey Brost, C.S.V. to help promote these retreats at your parish or school.
Address Change - - - - - - -- - -- - - -- -------, Send To: Name
Development Office Clerics of St. Viator 1212 Euclid St. Arlington Heights, IL 60004 847-398-6805
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If you would like any information on the Clerics of Saint Viator or if you have any special comments, please write them here or on a separate sheet. Thank you.
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