When a need for a substitute to teach Spanish classes arose at Saint Viator High School, administrators didn’t need to look far. Br. John Avellaneda, CSV, a native of Colombia, is living on the third floor of the school while he takes theology classes at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. Previously, he had taken intensive English courses to become fluent in the language.
Br. John Avellaneda teaching Spanish
Br. John described the chance to return to the classroom as “fantastic” and he eagerly agreed to fill the void for three weeks, though he knew it wouldn’t be easy.
“While the students are from different worlds, they are located in the same space, the classroom,” he says. “Therefore, being a teacher has given me many joys and the best thing is that you also learn from your students.
“Someone might think that it must be very easy to be a substitute teacher of Spanish because it is your mother tongue, but it is not true because I also have to speak English,” Br. John adds. “This has made me realize that I have come a long way with English as a second language, but I still have a lot to learn.”
Br. John, second from left, is among the growing number of vocations in Colombia. He professed his first vows in 2019 before then Provincial, Fr. Dan Hall.
Br. John has taught at both Colegio San Viator in Bogotá and at Colegio San Viator in Tunja, where most recently he served as Coordinator of its Pastoral Program. But he also just earned his master’s degree in pedagogy at the University of Santo Tomas in Tunja.
Associate Kurt Paprocki teaches Spanish in the room next door and he credits Br. John with being adaptable and eager to accept the challenge.
“I’ve heard lots of laughter coming from his classroom, which tells me that he and his students are comfortable with the change so far,” Kurt says. “We’re just delighted that he’s accepted this role. It shows how adaptable and willing he is to be a part of our team.”
One day a week, while Br. John attends classes at CTU, he has another Viatorian willing to pitch in for him: Fr. John Eustice, CSV, who is fluent in Spanish and already works in the building, directing Campus Ministry.
“I think it’s neat that the kids get to see a young Viatorian brother in the classroom,” Fr. John says. “He brings the Viatorian charism from another continent and the kids get to see that it’s not that different.”