Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish narrowly beat the Penn State Nittany Lions in Thursday’s Orange Bowl, 27-24 thanks to a last second interception and field goal. But they may have had divine intervention. At the Viatorian Province Center, Fr. Charles Bolser, CSV, and Fr. Arnold Perham, CSV, cheered them on.
Fr. Charlie Bolser and Fr. Arnie Perham watch the ND game.
They did so in the comfortable surroundings of the renovated community room, located in the center of the retirement wing in the Province Center. The game played out on a large screen TV, situated on a brick pillar wall with a gas fireplace beneath it.
“What a game,” declared Fr. Perham. “It was like we were there.”
Both Viatorians have Notre Dame degrees. Fr. Perham earned his master’s degree in theology in 1972, while Fr. Bolser earned his master’s in administration 10 years later, in 1982.
More than their shared Notre Dame background, the two Viatorians had another reason to cheer: a graduate from one of the high schools that Viatorians staffed, came in and made an immediate impact. Charles Jagusah, an offensive tackle, came in late in the first half to replace injured right guard Rocco Spindler. He helped protect backup quarterback Steve Angeli, who made successive passes to drive the Irish down the field. He also made a key block in the second half, allowing Irish quarterback Riley Leonard to score.
Turns out that Jagusah attended Alleman Catholic High School in Rock Island, IL, graduating in 2023. The school is owned by the Diocese of Peoria, but was staffed by Viatorians beginning in 1953.
Shortly after the renovation was completed in December, 2022, Viatorians watched ND in the Gator Bowl.
“He played really well,” Fr. Perham said of Jagusah. “He was the one who allowed Angeli to make all those passes.”
Enjoying the Notre Dame game — together — in a large, contemporary space may not have been at the forefront of the renovation plans, but it does reflect its overall goal, of updating the space and improving the quality of life for Viatorians who live there.
“The original intent was for retired — but active — Viatorians to live there,” says Fr. Thomas Long, CSV, who remembers when the original retirement wing was built, in 1980, as an addition to the Province Center. “By repurposing it, we’re taking better care of our aging members.”