Fr. Albeyro Vanegas, CSV, a Viatorian for 44 years, died Jan. 7, 2024 at Clinica de Marly in Chía. He was 66. He was born on Feb. 2, 1957 in Buga, Valle de Cauca, Colombia to Segundo Alejandro Vanegas and Maria Lyda Bedoya Vanegas.
Fr. Vanegas pronounced his first vows Jan. 6, 1980 and was ordained a priest Dec. 1, 1990 at Parroquia Divino Salvador in Bogotá by Bishop Fabio Suescún.
Fr. Vanegas earned a B.A. in Philosophy from Universidad de San Buenaventura in 1986 and a degree in Theology from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in 1990, in Bogotá. In 1995 he earned his degree in Management and Administration of Schools
from Universidad de la Sabana in Chía, Cundinamarca.
From 1978-1985, Fr. Vanegas held several positions at Colegio San Viator in Bogotá, including teacher, director of scholarship program, transportation coordinator, counselor and advisor. He then served as Chaplain at Colegio San Viator (1989-
1993) and Colegio Internacional, Bogotá (1990-1994).
In 1994, he became President of Colegio San Viator and served in this position until 2002. During this time, he also held the positions of Provincial Delegate of the Clerics of St. Viator (1994-2002), President of the National Federation of Catholic Education (1999-2002), Founder and President of the Association of Schools of North Bogotá (1994-2002) and Executive Secretary of the Board of Education of the Capital District (JUDI) (2002).
In 2004, Fr. Vanegas was the Administrative Director at Colegio Internacional de Bogotá before becoming President of Gimnasio Los Pinos in Bogotá from 2005-2006. Fr. Vanegas returned to Colegio San Viator from 2008 to 2020 to serve as its Academic Director
(2008-2011) and President (2012-2020). In recent years, Fr. Vanegas worked to collect food for Venezuelan migrants in Cúcuta, Colombia.
Visitation for Fr. Vanegas took place Jan. 8 at Funeraria La Candelaria sede Cristo Rey, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial on Jan. 9 at the Parroquia Cristo Rey in Bogotá. His cremains will be interred in the Viatorian Community mausoleum at Jardines del Recuerdo in Bogotá.