Between them, they have carried the Viatorian charism around the world.
Fr. Lefebvre with young students in Taipei
Literally, Fr. Simon Lefebvre, CSV, has served as a teacher and missionary in Taiwan and in Quebec, Canada, as well as in pastoral ministry in California and Nevada, during his 70 years of religious life and 60 years of priesthood.
His confrere, Fr. James Crilly, CSV, was one of three missionaries to bring the Viatorian presence to Bogotá, Colombia before returning to this country to serve at parishes in Bourbonnais, Chicago and the Las Vegas area, during his 60 years of priesthood and 66 years of religious life.
Fr. James Crilly, with a student at Colegio San Viator in Bogotá
Their vocations have taken them to places they never dreamed they would serve, but the bonds made while studying for the priesthood — together — remain and Fr. Lefebvre and Fr. Crilly now find themselves
Fr. Simon Lefebvre, left, and Fr. James Crilly, right, concelebrate their 60th jubilee Mass
together again, in retirement, at the Viatorian Province Center in Arlington Heights.
They celebrated their 60 years of priesthood at a Mass held on the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The classmates concelebrated the liturgy in the place where it all started: the chapel at the Province Center with their Viatorian confreres and associates, where they had been ordained exactly 60 years ago to the day.