He has led the Viatorians in this country and in Colombia, as Provincial Superior — twice — and now Fr. Robert M. Egan, CSV, has been elected Superior General of the worldwide congregation of the Clerics of St. Viator.
Fr. Robert M. Egan, CSV
The vote came Tuesday, during the final week of the General Chapter, which takes in more than 40 delegates from Viatorians across the world, including Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Haiti, the Ivory Coast, Spain and the United States.
“I am grateful for the support and confidence of the members of the General Chapter,” Fr. Egan said at the time of his election, “and I look forward to this new experience, of working with the international Viatorian Community. But I will surely miss my days with the Province of Chicago.”
He takes over from Fr. Alain Ambeault, CSV, of Canada, who has led the congregation for the last six years.
Fr. Alain Ambeault, CSV
As Superior General, Fr. Egan is charged with being “the first superior and pastor in the congregation, and should consider his primary pastoral responsibility to be the promotion of religious and apostolic values,” according to the Viatorians’ constitution and general regulations. “Together with the General Council, Fr. Egan will share the role of animating and governing the congregation.”
Fr. Alain Ambeault, left, congratulates Fr. Egan
Fr. Mark Francis, former Superior General, congratulates his former SVHS classmate
Fr. Egan is a 1969 graduate of Saint Viator High School in Arlington Heights, which has produced two out of the last three superior generals. Fr. Mark Francis, CSV, a 1971 graduate, led the congregation from 2000-2012 and now serves as president of Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.
In fact, Fr. Egan is only the third American to lead the congregation, in its more than 150-year history. Fr. Thomas Langenfeld was the first, leading the community from 1972-1984.
Fr. Egan brings to the role his 48 years as a Viatorian, including 40 years as a priest. Beyond that, he has served as pastor of St. Viator Church in Chicago and of St. Thomas More Catholic Community in Henderson, NV, as well as president of Saint Viator High School before being elected Provincial Superior last year.