A sense of joy and reunion permeated the opening of the annual Provincial Assembly on Tuesday.
Associate Susana Tellez happily greets her fellow Viatorians.
Members came from Las Vegas, Grand Junction, Colorado and Bogotá, Colombia, as well as Arlington Heights, Chicago, Bourbonnais, McHenry and Kankakee, and all as one Viatorian Community.
The annual Provincial Assembly takes place each summer and draws Viatorian associates, brothers and priests together as one family, but it also offers a time to examine issues important to current religious communities.
Fr. Jason Nesbit, foreground, and Pre-Associate Brian Hansen, back left, and Br. John Eustice, right enjoy reconnecting with Viatorians near and far.
“We continue this process of looking at who we are — and who we are called to be,” said Fr. Dan Hall, CSV, Provincial, “as prophetic witnesses in the 21st century.”
This year in particular, the more than 70 Viatorians reflected on ways to deepen their experience of Viatorian
Each morning starts with a prayer session and the day concludes with a liturgy.
religious life and look at ways of revitalizing their identity.
Sr. Maria Cimperman, RSCJ, addressed the crowd on the opening day. She heads the Center for the Study of Consecrated Life at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, where students study contemporary issues in religious life today.
For the first time in a long time, a delegation from Colombia came for Assembly.
“The call to look at our religious life comes from the depths,” she said at the outset. “We’re in a world of integrated religious life, where everyone — including associates and professed — is needed.”