For the first time in 12 years, members of the Viatorian Community elected a new
Fr. Robert M. Egan, CSV, will be installed as the Provincial Superior in June
provincial superior. It took just one ballot, and after all the votes were counted — in Arlington Heights, Colombia and Las Vegas — Fr. Robert M. Egan, CSV, was elected by his confreres to lead them over the next four years.
He succeeds Fr. Thomas von Behren, CSV, who has led the Chicago Province as Provincial for the last 12 years, and was only the second Viatorian to be elected to three terms.
In accepting the role, Fr. Egan becomes pastoral leader of the Viatorian Community’s nearly 175 associates, brothers and priests, serving in this country and in the foundation of Colombia, site of two Viatorian schools and a growing number of vocations. He will be installed by Superior General Fr. Alain Ambeault, CSV, and begin working at the Viatorian Province Center, in June.
“Let us give thanks for what we just witnessed — and for the Lord’s loving spirit and presence in our community,” Fr. Ambeault said at the beginning of a Mass of celebration.
It will be Fr. Egan’s second time as provincial. He also held the office from 1992-2001, before leaving to serve as pastor of St. Viator Parish in Chicago and later as president of Saint Viator High School, from 2005-2013.
Fr. Egan was installed as pastor of St. Thomas More in 2015, after two years as associate pastor
His election will result in Fr. Egan leaving St. Thomas More Catholic Community in Henderson, NV, where he has served the last four years, including as pastor the last two.
The vibrant parish of more than 6,000 families and 1,000 children in its religious education program is one of the largest in the Las Vegas region after being started — and continuously staffed — by Viatorians more than 25 years ago.
After Fr. Egan’s election, Viatorians also voted for two members of the Provincial Council, who are charged with advising and sharing in the leadership of the community.
Fr. Mark Francis, CSV,
Fr. Mark Francis, CSV, was the first one voted to join the Provincial Council. He currently serves as the president of Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, but prior to that he served as Superior General of the Viatorian Community for 12 years. Both he and Fr. Egan are products of Saint Viator High School.
Fr. Dan Hall, CSV
The second Viatorian to be elected was Fr. Dan Hall, CSV. He has served on the council for the last four years as a trusted advisor to Fr. von Behren. He also was named vice president of Viatorian identity and mission at Saint Viator High School, where he continues as a social studies teacher and coach.
Fr. Egan will choose two more members of the Provincial Council in the coming weeks. They all will be formally installed in June.