Let the new mandate begin!
(L-R) Fr. Claudio Ríos, Fr. John Peeters, Fr. André Crozier, Fr. Mick Egan, Fr. Claude Roy, and Fr. Robert Jean.
Just six weeks after being elected Superior General of the Clerics of St. Viator, Fr. Mick Egan, CSV, opened his first meeting with his General Council — and it was a historic one.
For the first time, a meeting of the leaders of the worldwide congregation took place at the Viatorian Province Center — headquarters of Viatorians in this country and in Colombia — and temporary residence of Fr. Egan.
Seated around tables in the meeting room, Fr. Egan conferred with members of his council, including: Fr. Claudio Ríos, CSV, of Chile, Fr. André Crozier, CSV, of France, Fr. Claude Roy, CSV, of Canada and Fr. Robert Jean, CSV, of Haiti. Fr. John Peeters, CSV, served as translator.
Fr. John Peeters, center, translates for Fr. Claudio Ríos of Chile
“This is one for the history books,” Fr. Egan said.
For more than 50 years, the Superior General maintained an office and residence in Rome. However in 2015, Fr. Alain Ambeault, CSV, immediate past Superior General, moved the General Chapter offices to Vourles, home of the founder of the congregation, Fr. Louis Querbes, though he often held meetings remotely.
Before 1960, the Superior General and members of the General Council met in Quebec, Belgium and during the early years of the community, they met in Lyons, France.
Members of the new General Council include (L-R) Fr. Claudio Ríos of Chile, Fr. André Crozier of France, Fr. Robert M. Egan, superior general, Fr. Claude Roy of Canada and Fr. Robert Jean of Haití.
This first meeting is somewhat organizational and expected to last three days. Fr. Egan and his councilors are discussing such matters as firming up governmental structures within the community, as well as a timetable of visiting the more than one dozen countries around the world where Viatorians minister.
As it is, Fr. Egan now leads more than 700 Viatorians, including its 421 professed members and more than 300 lay associates, who serve in Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Haiti, Honduras, the Ivory Coast, Japan, Peru, Spain and the United States.