Viatorian Voices: Conversations on the Way

John is from downstate Illinois and is a retired English teacher who taught in the St. Louis area. Late in his career, much of his family settled in Bourbonnais, IL, and John began visiting more and more often and then set himself up to retire there. Over the last several decades, John became a very active parishioner at Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, our Viatorian parish in town, and Viatorians invited him to be part of the explorations to establish lay association in the US. Then in 1999, John committed as one of the first five American associates. Here, our 92-year-old Viatorian shares his backstory, his first encounters with Viatorians, and what Viatorian association and religious life is – and isn’t – to him and potentially to others discerning to join us.

00:00 Introduction

01:44 John’s Catholic Life and Vocation as Teacher

04:12 Active Life of Faith in Bourbonnais

06:11 Helping Establish Association

08:21 Solidifying the Identity and Purpose of Associates

11:45 Insights for Discerning into Viatorian Life

13:22 Conclusion

15:03 BONUS: John’s Travels and Nativity Collection

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Welcome into the Viatorian communications department! Every couple months, Associate Dan Masterton, director of communications, meets over Zoom with peers who do similar ministries for other Catholic organizations. They pray together and help each other review and improve our work. This time, they each shared a bit with Dan about why they prioritize bringing their group’s ministry online, what they seek to highlight, and how it can impact our Church and the People of God.

• Ernie Garrido is vocations recruiter for the Paulist Fathers (BeAPaulist.org).
• Rory Dayton is founder of VocationCRM (VocationCRM.com).
• Zachary Dmyterko is vocation director for the Alexian Brothers (AlexianBrothers.org).
• Jesús Leyva is director of communications for the National Religious Vocations Conference (NRVC.net) and editor for the Global Sisters Report (GlobalSistersReport.org).

(This episode debuted on September 21, 2026.)

00:00 Introduction

01:22 Ernie: In-Person Positive Experience Continues Online

04:08 Rory: Witness and Connection through Interest-Based Use

06:49 Zach: Utilizing Rich History and Modern Authenticity

09:41 Jesús: Sowing Seeds, Even to Unexpected Users

11:43 Dan: Bringing Viatorian Groundedness Online

12:34 Conclusion

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Why did Br. Peter Lamick, CSV, spend his whole summer living in Colombia? He discerned a desire to strengthen his Spanish-language skills, but he didn't just want to take classes in Chicago. Br. Peter wanted to learn the language with his brothers, in a community home, studying in their country and culture. Hear about Br. Peter's 10 weeks with our Viatorian Community in Colombia, living at our formation house Casa San Justo (Saint Just House), commuting into Bogotá city center for language studies, and practicing his growing skills with his brothers. (This episode debuted on August 31, 2026.)

00:00 Introduction

01:43 Why 10 Weeks in Colombia?

03:31 Immersive Language Studies

06:54 Living with Viatorian Brothers

09:43 Highlights of Living in Colombia

13:10 Impressive Viatorian Formation 

14:42 Conclusion

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In this episode, we talk with Sr. Amy Mejia, SSCM. She professed first vows as a religious sister and Servant of the Holy Heart of Mary in April 2026. For the last year and half and counting, she has been ministering in two of our Viatorian parishes: Sacred Heart Church in Pembroke Township, IL, and St. Patrick Parish in Kankakee, IL. Here, she reflects on her vocation to the SSCM community and to religious sisterhood, only after a lot of life experience, and shared about working with Viatorians in our parishes. And of course, we gather her insights into discernment as a newly professed religious. (This episode debuted on August 17, 2026.)

00:00 Introduction

01:56 Roots of Vocation

05:31 A Religious Sister, Mother, and Grandmother

07:34 Ministering in Viatorian Parishes

09:58 Appreciation for Viatorian Religious

11:09 Insights for Discernment

13:56 Conclusion

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In this episode, we talk with the Young Adult Leaders for the 2026 Viatorian Youth Congress. These are college-aged young adults who have identified God’s invitation to servant-leadership and applied for this role. They undertake two days of leadership training as leaders and then lead the four-day VYC program for dozens of teen delegates from Viatorian communities around the province. So, with so many opportunities before them, from travel and time with friends to money-making jobs or career-advancing internships, why do these young people give up a week of their summers in service of these teens, the Viatorian Community, and the Church? That’s what we asked our YALs to share in this episode. (This episode debuted on July 27, 2026.)

00:00 Introduction

02:14 Felipe Moreno

02:59 Trevor Lyon

03:47 Abby Hartz

04:29 Tommy Wilson

05:23 Cecilia Wiedel

06:15 Nevaeh Szparkowski

06:54 Madeline Denk

07:29 Aidan McLeod

08:17 Antonio Mastro

08:51 Austin Orock

09:41 Amanda Mallous

10:49 Jennifer Orozco

12:04 Thomas Ribble

13:13 Conclusion

(Note: YAL Taylor Bair was not able to take part in interviews.)

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In this episode, we explore God’s invitations to Br. Juan David Ramirez, CSV. He grew up in the Bogotá area of Colombia. After some chance encounters with Viatorians during his teacher training, he discerned with us, entered formation, and joined our community. Br. Juan David professed first vows in 2019 and perpetual vows in 2022. He has taught math for several years at Colegio San Viator, or Saint Viator School, in Tunja, Colombia, and he is now beginning theology and philosophy studies in Bogotá with a view toward ordination. Here, we trace the through-line of his vocation from childhood into life as a perpetually professed Viatorian religious. (This episode debuted on July 13, 2026.)

00:00 Introduction

01:35 First, a Vocation in Teaching

03:08 More than a Teaching Internship

06:24 A Big Leap in Obedience

09:54 Seeking Further Formation

10:52 In Discernment, “Accept the Challenge”

12:17 Conclusion

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In this episode, we head out on the way with Fr. John Eustice, CSV. For three weeks earlier this summer, Fr. John was a chaplain at Philmont Scouting Ranch in New Mexico. He assisted with camp setup for the summer trek groups and served in rotations around the property. Fr. John celebrated Masses and heard confessions, provided pastoral support to people in need of assistance, and spent time with trekkers, staff, and fellow chaplains. Fr. John is an Eagle Scout and has remained involved with Scouting through Catholic initiatives, Eagle boards of review, and more. Here, Fr. John takes us with him in this special summer ministry. (This episode debuted on June 29, 2026.)

00:00 Introduction

01:30 Roadtripping to the Ranch

02:59 Setting Up Camp

04:15 Living the Apostolic Life

07:03 Serving in Solidarity

10:30 Going Where Needed

13:33 Scouting Evolves in Welcome

15:45 Conclusion

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In this episode, we take a closer look at Service and Song, an annual Saint Viator High School summer program for middle school students led by Viatorians and our high school students. Associate Ann Perez serves as the school’s Vice President of Mission and Identity, and, with Service and Song coming up next week, she shares how Service and Song is a vital way by which the school community can share and live out its mission. This happens particularly by forming its student to be servant-leaders, introducing future students to Christian service, and animating adults and young people together in proclaiming the Gospel and raising communities of faith. (This episode debuted on June 15, 2026.)

00:00 Introduction

01:28 Action-Packed Viatorian Formation

03:57 SVHS Mission and Vision

05:29 Collaboration and Partnership

09:15 Mission Integration through Action

12:10 Accompaniment & Discernment

13:44 Conclusion

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This summer and fall, 17 new associates will make their initial commitments as Viatorians. This follows a two-year period of discernment and formation, undertaken as regional cohorts with formation teams of Viatorian religious and associates. Two of our soon-to-be new members reflect on that process:

Pre-Associate Dianne Marshall is a parish faith formation director and veteran pastoral minister who met the Viatorians while ministering at Saint Viator High School in Arlington Heights, IL.

Pre-Associate Jason Valle is a media teacher at Bishop Gorman High School and works alongside Viatorians there and in volunteer youth ministry at his parish, St. Viator Catholic Community in Las Vegas.

Hear about the pre-association process as we look ahead to welcoming new members! (This episode debuted on June 1, 2026.)

00:00 Introduction

01:38 Dianne: Learning the Charism

02:54 Dianne: Prayerfully Discerning In

04:00 Dianne: Viatorian Ministry in Archdiocesan Parish

05:38 Jason: Affirming What He’s Already Doing

07:18 Jason: Call to Accompanying Youth and Sharing the Faith 

09:16 Jason: Desire to Go Where He’s Needed

10:28 Conclusion

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St. George and Maternity BVM, two Viatorian parishes, are two years into a shared model of youth ministry with Coordinator of Viatorian Youth Ministry Amanda Fierce at the helm. Here, Amanda shares about these two Bourbonnais parishes; her partnership with religious education and Catholic schools to provide families full youth formation; a balanced set of offerings in youth ministry; and the lives of Viatorian service she encourages in young people. Amanda is a longtime teacher and MBVM parishioner, who also spent some years as a stay-at-home mom; she is coming up on her 2nd anniversary of beginning this role. (This episode debuted on May 18, 2026.)

00:00 Introduction

01:35 Our Two Bourbonnais Parishes

05:16 Teaching the Faith to Young People

07:25 Well-Rounded Youth Ministry

12:26 Encouraging Viatorian Lives of Service 

14:26 Conclusion

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