More than 50 years after Viatorians first arrived as missionaries in Colombia, vocations to the Viatorian
Fr. Fredy Contreras, left, during the rite of ordination
Community continue to grow.
Fr. Fredy Contreras, CSV, who is a native of Tunja, Colombia, is the latest Viatorian priest to be ordained and his ordination continues to build the Viatorian presence in this South American country.
“The presence of Fr. Fredy in Colegio San Viator, Tunja is a precious one,” says Fr. Pedro Herrera, CSV, president of the colegio. “As a priest, he will impact the entire school community: students, teachers, staff and of course, parents.”
Fr. Fredy is a graduate of the Universidad de San Buenaventura in Bogotá. He took his first vows as a Viatorian in 2008 and began working at the Viatorians’ first school, Colegio San Viator in Bogotá. He eventually took over as director of its middle school program and guided it through an assessment with the International Baccalaureate Program, while earning a master’s degree in theology.
A joyous Fr. Fredy Contreras, center, is joined by Viatorians in the Colombian community
Currently, he is working with Br. Juan Carlos Ubaque, CSV, in Campus Ministry at Colegio San Viator in Tunja, where he will help prepare the school and its curriculum for acceptance into the prestigious IB Program.
“For the Colombian community, the ordination of Fr. Fredy means a step forward in the task that we as Viatorians have,” Fr. Pedro added, “which is to spread the charism of Fr. Louis Querbes in parishes, but especially in our two schools, where we are called to infuse students with the love and adoration of Jesus.”