New Colombian Brother Professes First Vows

Vocations continue to grow in Colombia, where Viatorians arrived 60 years ago this year.

Br. Luis Pedroza, CSV, was the latest to join the Viatorian Community when he professed his first vows on Tuesday. Fr. Pedro Herrera, CSV, who was delegated by Fr. Daniel Hall, CSV, Provincial, received his vows.

Br. Luis turned 26 this month. He spent two years as a pre-novice in Tunja, before spending the last year year of formation at the Viatorian novitiate run by the Latin American and Caribbean Council in Puente Alto, Chile.

Now, Br. Luis will return to live with the local Viatorian Community in Bogotá while he studies physical education at Universidad Santo Tomás.

Viatorians have seen a steady stream of vocations since arriving in Colombia and starting their successful schools, Colegio San Viator Bogotá and Colegio San Viator in Tunja.

Fr. Hererra was the first Colombian to profess vows as a Viatorian and now serves as President of Colegio San Viator in Tunja. He notes that the Foundation of Colombia is celebrating this year its 60th anniversary since the arrival of the first three Viatorians to the country.

“In these 60 years there have been 18 American religious that were part of it,” Fr. Hererra says. “The only one that still remains in Colombia is Fr. John Pisors, who arrived in Bogotá in Dec. 6th, 1967.”

At the same time, there now are 21 professed Colombian religious in the Viatorian Community — and still growing. Fr. Hererra expects that in the coming weeks, Pre-Novice Diego Carvajal will be traveling to Chile to continue his formation in the novitiate.