Fr. Alain Ambeault, CSV, Installed as 15th Superior General
9/7/2012
With a profession of faith and a stroke of the pen, a new chapter in Viatorian history unfolded when Fr. Alain Ambeault, CSV, of the province of Canada was installed as 15th superior general of the Clerics of St. Viator.
Fr. Ambeault made his profession of faith before Fr. Mark Francis, CSV, outgoing general, at the parish church in Vourles, France. It was there, in 1831, that Fr. Louis Querbes founded the Parochial Clerics of St. Viator, known today as the Viatorian Community.
“It is clear that the next six years will be challenging and truly exciting,” Fr. Ambeault said after his election earlier this summer, in Rome.
Fr. Ambeault now takes over as the pastoral leader of the congregation’s 500 brothers and priests around the world. They serve in the provinces of Canada, Chile, Spain, the United States and the delegation of France, as well as the foundations of Belize, Bolivia, Peru, Burkina Faso, Colombia, Haiti, Honduras, Ivory Coast, Japan and Taiwan.
His general council includes: Fr. Harry Celestin, CSV, of Haiti as vicar general; Fr. André Cozier, CSV, of France as secretary; Fr. Luis Alvarez, CSV, of Spain, as treasurer; and Br. Carlos Ernesto Flórez, of the Chicago Province, as a full time councilor in Rome.
Fr. Ambeault recently celebrated 25 years as a priest, having worked in parishes before serving two terms as provincial of the Province of Canada. He also led the Canadian Religious Conference, reflecting his interest in working with different religious communities.
“The priorities that we need to address, concern vocation ministry and a strong encouragement for social justice,” Fr. Ambeault, “as well as internationality solidarity.”