Fr. Louis Querbes, C.S.V. - ProfilesArchive

About Me

Father Louis Querbes - August 21, 1793 - September 1, 1859 (I died 100 years before the date of birth on my profile. MySpace did not let me put in 1793 as a birth year.)
Really, I was just a simple parish priest, but I am better known as the Founder of the Clerics of St. Viator, a Catholic Religious Order.
I was a really good priest and people really enjoyed my preaching. I worked at a very large parish in Lyon France, and had I accepted the right appointments, I could have been on the fast track to becoming a bishop.
However, the French Revolution really devestated France, and I noticed that many small towns had very little or no Catholic presence. Children were not being educated in the faith, and parents were not passing on the faith. Churches were in disrepair, and barely a prayer was being said and barely a song was being sung.
I decided to take on a parish in rural Vourles, which is just outside of Lyon. When I arrived, it was really a disaster. Slowly but surely, the parishioners and I worked to rebuild the Church in Vourles.
Some say I was ahead of my time in the 1820's, but I got to thinking that perhaps some of the other rural priests were getting discouraged. I could teach lay people to help be catechists and to teach the children of the villages. Then the lay person could live with the priest, and work with the priest to improve parish life. I had some people who supported this venture. I wanted to call them the Catechists of Saint Viator, in honor of Viator, a patron Saint from my hometown of Lyon, France.The Archbishop wrote me back and said that he would not let me form a lay association (or confraternity) but that I would have to found a Religious Order instead.
Thus the Clerics of St. Viator was founded in 1831. It was anything but a glorious founding though. There was lots of work to be done, and we had very little resources. WIth failed missions in St. Louis, MO and in India, we almost did not make it. However, with trust in the Lord, our numbers did increase, and we were able to serve in more places. People knew me to say "God will Provide". Even in the hardest of times, we have to have faith that God has a perfect plan for our lives and that God will never abandon us.
When I died the community had flourished in France; I lived to see some of that. However, the community had really flourished in Canada, but I was never able to go there to see it. Shortly after I died, the community was also present in the United States in Kankakee County, IL and then in the Chicago area.
Today the community is present all over the World. Our work covers two major areas: Teaching of the Christian Doctrine and Service to the Holy Altar. We minister to people of all ages, but we do emphasize the formation of young people. In many parts of the world, Viatorians are known as "Teachers of Faith".
Our Motto is: Adored and Loved be Jesus
Another slogan that we use is: Sinite Parvulos Venire Ad Me or "Let the Young Ones Come to Me" (Mark 10:14) and that quote summarizes the importance of young people in our mission.
Our Superior General and his staff are based in Rome, and there are Provinces in France, Spain, Canada, United States, and in Chile, with foundations in Belize, Burkina Faso, Bolivia, Colombia, Haiti, Honduras, Ivory Coast, Japan,Peru, and Taiwan.
At present about 600 men are professed as Viatorian brothers and priests. There are also hundreds of Viatorians who are lay Associates. I really like the Association, because it gives lay people, both women and men a chance to join our mission. Besides, a lay association is what I first envisioned anyway.
But who is a Viatorian? I would like to think that it is more than just the brothers and priests and associates. I would like to think that anyone who participates in the mission of the Viatorians is a Viatorian. All who participate in the lives of our parishes, schools, and other institutions are in some way part of the Viatorian Mission.
Do you attend one of our parishes? Do you attend one of our schools? Are you really in love with Jesus and committed to serving those who are accounted of least importance in society? Chances are, you are a Viatorian!
Are you a Viatorian? Learn more about who we are and what we are about by visiting www.viatorians.com
Prayer for the Beatification of Father Louis Querbes
Heavenly and gracious Father, be forever blest for your gift in Fr. Louis Querbes, a dedicated Pastor committed to education of faith, and in the service of sacred liturgy, and Founder of the Viatorian Community. Grant, we pray that in your infinite goodness and through his intercession we be granted the following favor (...) We pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Layout Generator by MyspaceLayoutSpy.com

My Interests

Some Places where my spirit is still alive! (There are many other places too, but here's just a few...)

This is the steeple of Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Bourbonnais, IL. Maternity Parish was the first Viatorian Mission in the U.S.A. This parish may be quite old, but if you attend mass on Sunday, it will be filled with people of all ages. Do not let a name like Maternity scare you, this is a place filled with friendly people, young and young at heart alike. Learn more about this parish by visiting www.mbvm.org

St. Martin De Porres High School in Waukegan is one of our newer missions. The High School provides a Catholic education to young people who would not normally be able to afford a Catholic Education. The students attend classes four days a week and then work one day in order to help with the tuition. Learn more by visiting www.smdpwaukegan.org

St. Viator High School in Arlington Heights, IL has been offering a quality education to the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago since 1961. The enrollment is so high, the halls are usually congested between class breaks. It's a good problem to have, knowing that many young people are eager to participate in the Viatorian Mission! To learn more, visit: www.saintviator.com

St. Viator Catholic Community in Las Vegas, NV has a lot to offer for people of all ages. Whether you want to join the Rosary Group, be a part of a vibrant youth ministry, or anything in between, come and visit St. Viator. I always knew you were going to visit Vegas just to see St. Viator Parish, and not for anything else. Right? Well just don't put too much on the line. To learn more visit: www.stviator.org

St. Thomas More Catholic Community is located in this little town called Henderson, NV, which has grown to well over 100,000 people and is one of the fastest growing communities in the U.S. St. Thomas More is home to over 5,000 people, and epitomizes the spirit of Vatican II with several lay-led ministries. There's not enough space here to cover all that happens at St. Thomas More, but you can find out MORE by visiting: www.stmlv.org

St. Viator Parish in Chicago, IL is what you would call a landmark neighborhood parish. Most of the current buildings were built in the 1920's and the architecture is breathtaking! The outside may be breathtaking, but you have to come inside and see the newly restored interior. You will also feel at home in a friendly and multi-cultural setting! They do not have a Website, but St. Viator school does, give them a visit: http://www.stviatorchicago.org/

Some of our missions in other Countries

St. Francis Xavier Church, Corozal, Belize

St. Viateur (That's St. Viator in French), Outremont, Quebec,Canada. It is truly a beautiful place and a visit to Montreal is truly worthwhile!

Clercs de St. Viateur - Joliette, Quebec, Canada

Last but not least, where it all began - Vourles

I'd like to meet:

Everyone in every institution where the Viatorian mission is still alive. Are you part of the mission? It does not take much. All you need to do is have a heart open to following Jesus, and the willingness to live out that faith by seeing the needs of society and responding to them. Our mission is also alive when you bring young people closer to Christ, or seek to be a positive role model in their life. Even if you are a young person yourself, there is still a lot you can do. Even the Prophet Jeremiah could make a difference at a young age!

Music:

I love music. When the music was bad at my Church, I worked with my choir and arranged a hymnal for them. A lot of our parishes continue the tradition of attentiveness to liturgy and music, and it makes for a good worship experience!

Movies:

Well, I lived before there were movies, but at times I would engage the young people in plays in order to teach the Gospel. You know, even brilliant French kids learn better when they can experience the story, instead of just listening to their teacher ramble.

Television:

Television? They didn't even have Television when I was growing up. I was too busy working, but I did have my garden in the backyard, and I enjoyed working out there.

Heroes:

St. Viator is one of my heroes. When I was trying to make sure the kids were learning the basics of their faith, it called to mind St. Viator, who came from my hometown but in the year 300 or so. He also served as a catechist of the church, teaching young people how to live out their faith. I know little is known about Viator, but I can attest that his mission is carried out in ways he could have never imagined possible.

My Blog

Update on Cause for Sainthood of Father Querbes

Querbes Studies Where is the Cause of Fr. Querbes? Fr. Querbes giving the rule; Parish Church, Vourles The Norms for the Causes of Saints published in 1983,&nb...
Posted by Fr. Louis Querbes, C.S.V. on Fri, 26 Jan 2007 09:01:00 PST