Fr. Daniel Lydon, CSV, made his first profession as a Viatorian in 2010 and in 2015 he was ordained to the priesthood. Over the years, he has worked to advance the Viatorian mission, even before he joined the community.
Fr. Dan Lydon, CSV
His latest assignment came July 1, 2021, when he was named president of Saint Viator High School. The announcement came after Fr. Lydon spent the prior four years as associate pastor at Maternity BVM Parish in Bourbonnais. It was Fr. Lydon’s first assignment in pastoral ministry, but now he has returned to his roots in secondary education — and his alma mater.
“I am humbled to be presented with this opportunity to lead a community that has meant so much to me throughout my life,” Fr. Lydon said at the time of the announcement.
He first met the Viatorians in 1969, as a freshman at Saint Viator High School. Some 20 years later he would return, hired by Fr. Charles Bolser, CSV, to teach Spanish. Ultimately, he would land in administration and act on his calling to become a religious.
“Sometimes we never know about these turn of events,” Fr. Lydon said at his ordination in 2015. “If Fr. Bolser hadn’t hired me in 1994, you just never know what would have happened.”
While at Saint Viator, he taught religion and Spanish and also served in its administration. Most recently, he worked to promote adult faith formation, both for faculty and staff, as well as parents.
Each month, Fr. Dan Lydon, left, and Mrs. Rita King, center back, organize faculty into making lunches for Catholic Charities.
Fr. Lydon also created an eblast, called Pray SV: Food for the Journey. The weekly offer reflections by Viatorian associates and professed on upcoming Sunday gospels, and goes out to thousands of Saint Viator alumni, families and students.
Wearing so many hats keeps this Viatorian busy, but he finds his work fulfilling. He is finding it hard to leave his parish role to return to education, but he knows the experience of walking with families through their spiritual journeys will serve him well in his new job.
“I look forward to leading this outstanding institution,” Fr. Dan says, “as we prepare for the continued challenges in providing a community of faith formation and academic excellence.”
Story updated Nov. 21, 2022