Viatorians have maintained a presence in the historic city of Vitoria-Gasteiz for 117 years, or just one year after they arrived in Spain. They opened Colegio San Viator in 1970 and have continued to advance the Viatorian charism while educating well-rounded students in the Catholic faith for 50 years.

This year, the Colegio San Viator launched a yearlong celebration of its milestone anniversary, which will include a visit by members of the General Council in March, as well as a reunion in June with former students and a gathering in December for former teachers, parents and coworkers.

“The mission of the Clerics of Saint Viator is to ‘proclaim Jesus Christ and his Gospel and to raise up communities where faith is lived, deepened and celebrated,’ ” says Fr. Robert M. Egan, CSV, Superior General. “It has been our privilege to live this mission in collaboration and partnership with lay associates in the Viatorian Community.

“Colegio San Viator serves as a Christian education center for students and families,” Fr. Egan added. “The administration, faculty and staff embrace the conviction that teaching and learning must be grounded in Gospel values that help to guarantee academic excellence and faith formation for the students of the school.”

Currently, the school serves 1,275 students, from kindergarten through secondary high school. There are 94 faculty members and four professed religious on staff, with more than 35 professed Viatorians and associates, who live in the surrounding communities, supporting the school and its mission.

Colegio San Viator won the “Golden Q” award in 2010 for its quality management and administrators continuously review and update its pedagogical processes. Most of the classes are taught in Spanish, however 25% are taught in English, including social sciences, technology and arts and crafts. San Viator also has exchange programs with schools in Philadelphia, southern France, and in Hamburg, Germany.

“We start from the conviction that all learning must be immersed in our Catholic faith,” school officials say, “and that the teaching process must convey our evangelical principles and values.”