Br. John Avellaneda, CSV, works actively with students at Colegio San Viator in Tunja to put their faith into action. Most recently, he led the Solidarity Campaign in which students and their families donated hygiene items, shoes and food for the senior residents of Mi Casa, run by the Little Sisters of the Poor in Tunja.
Br. John Avendella, CSV
Now this theology teacher and pastoral team member adds another dimension to his role: college graduate. Br. John earned his theology degree from Universidad San Buenaventura, run by the Franciscans in Bogotá.
“It is an important step,” says Fr. Pedro Herrera, CSV, President of Colegio San Viator in Tunja. “Now he is at the same level of the rest of the faculty, all of them have their degrees already.
“Plus, with his degree work behind him, he can dedicate himself fulltime to the teaching ministry,” Fr. Pedro added, “that involves taking responsibilities and being part of different committees within the school.”
Br. John led students in delivering the items to the Little Sisters.
Br. John professed his first vows as a Viatorian in 2019, when he was one of four new brothers to profess vows, including: Br. Edwin Alfonso Barreto, CSV; Br. Parmenio Enrique Medina, CSV; and Br. Juan David Ramirez, CSV.
The local Viatorian Community in Tunja includes five religious: Fr. Pedro, Fr. Fredy Contreras, CSV, and Br. Juan David Ramirez, CSV, and Br. John — who all work at the school — plus Br. Juan Carlos Ubaque, CSV, who is studying theology fulltime at the Major Seminary of the Archdiocese of Tunja.
(L-R) Br. Edwin Alfonso Barreto, CSV, Br. John Avellaneda, CSV, Fr. Daniel Hall, Provincial, Br. Enrique Medina, CSV, and Br. Juan David Ramierez, CSV
Working together, these Viatorians and their dedicated faculty, have raised the level of Colegio San Viator into a highly recognized school. Earlier this year, the school was recognized as “excellent” by the European Foundation for Quality Management.
In 2019, Colegio San Viator achieved the prestigious International Baccalaureate (IB) certification for their high school grades, or the diploma program.
Set amid the Eastern range of the Colombian Andes, the school features all the qualities of a Viatorian education, namely one that is faith-based, co-educational, bilingual and pastoral, with professed Viatorians on its faculty and staff.