Marist Brothers
The Marist Brothers is a Catholic religious order of brothers and affiliated lay people. The order was founded in France, at La Valla near Lyon in 1817 by Saint Marcellin Champagnat, a young French priest of the Society of Mary (Marist Fathers). Champagnat, disillusioned with the encroaching culture of post-revolution secularism that gripped the areas of rural France where he worked, decided to start an order of consecrated brothers in the Marian tradition, building schools for the underprivileged where they might learn to become "Good Christians and Good Citizens".
Upon conception of the idea, Champagnat chose to call his brothers Petits Frères de Marie (Little Brothers of Mary), emphasising the meekness and humbleness he wished them to pursue, and seeking their consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Early History and growth
In 1863 the Marist Brothers institute received the approbation of the Holy See, whereupon the order received the title of Fratres Maristae a Scolis (Marist Brothers of the Schools), and the post-nominal letters of fms. They received a particular mandate to follow the Marist Fathers to the Pacific and administer to the new colonies of the Pacific nations and Australia. This harkens back to a Marist legend about Champagnat. A favourite maxim of St Marcellin was that he wanted "to make Jesus known and loved" throughout the world, and to demonstrate he would run a needle through an apple (representing the earth) as an example of how he wanted the message of "Ad Jesum per Mariam" or "To Jesus through Mary" to cross the globe. The end of the needle came out in what would be the equivalent of the Pacific in relation to France where he inserted the needle, and so thus the Marist Brothers have a well-recognised presence throughout the Pacific, but particularly in Australia, where the Marist contribution to the Catholic education system has been immeasurable.
The Marist Brothers are not clerics, but are devoted to educational work throughout the world and now conduct primary and secondary schools, academies, industrial schools, orphanages and retreat houses in 77 countries on five continents: Europe, Africa, America, Asia, and Oceania.
International presence
Australia
Marist Brothers arrived in Sydney, Australia in 1872 where they opened their first school at St Patrick's Church Hill. There are now over 300 Brothers working with young people in schools as teachers and administrators, in retreat houses and camps for young people and in other areas of ministry. Australian Marist Brothers also serve in welfare ministries working with young adults in outreach programs in Indigenous Australian communities and also in missions in nearby Papua New Guinea, Bougainville, Solomon Islands, and East Timor. Marists from Australia also serve communities in Cambodia and India.
Asia
Countries in Asia where the Marist Brothers are also present include Lebanon, Singapore, Malaysia and China/Hong Kong, Philippines and Sri Lanka where they run many Marist Schools, including the Maris Stella High School in Singapore, the Catholic High School in Kuala Lumpur, the Marist Marikina School in Manila, and St Francis Xavier's College in Hong Kong (alma mater of Bruce Lee, Michael Hui, Sam Hui, Henry Fan, Tsang Chi Wai, Dickie Cheung, Anthony Neoh, Chong Chan Yau, David Lan Hung Chun, and other celebrities).
Ireland
Celtic Football Club was formed at a meeting in St. Mary's church hall in Glasgow, by Marist Brother Walfrid on November 6, 1887, with the purpose stated in the official club records as "being to alleviate poverty in Glasgow's East End parishes". The charity established by Brother Walfrid was named 'The Poor Children's Dinner Table'.
Latin America
In Latin America, "Maristas" are also very active in the following countries: Chile, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Peru, El Salvador, Mexico, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay, Paraguay, Venezuela and other countries as well. Brother Seán Sammon is the current Superior General in Rome. The largest number of brothers currently are natives from Spain and France.
Marist Saints and Martyrs
Many Marist Brothers have also been martyred for teaching and reaching out to the poor and uneducated in places where they are not welcome [1]. Some are also pending investigation into the possibility of canonisation. On October 31 1996, four Brothers were killed by refugees and martyred in a mission in Nyamirangwe (Bugobe), Zaire. These brothers were all Spanish: Br. Fernando de la Fuente de la Fuente, Br. Miguel Ángel Isla Lucio, Br. Servando Mayor García, and Br. Julio Rodríguez Jorge.
Noteworthy Marist Brothers
- Brother Ignatius O'Connor, founder of Marist College Ashgrove
- Brother Walfrid, founder of the Celtic Football Club
- Brother Fernando de la Fuente de la Fuente, one of the Martyrs of Bugobe
- Brother Jean-Paul Desbiens, a renowned Canadian author.