| Society of Mary (Marist Fathers) |
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| Written by REA - Magazine |
| Tuesday, 03 November 2009 13:18 |
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The first idea of a “Society of Mary” originated in Lyons, France in 1816 after the French Revolution when the Church was in turmoil. A group of seminarians looked at the early Church to learn and face the challenges of their present age. At the ancient shrine of Our Lady of Fourviere, built on a hill overlooking the city of Lyon, 12 newly ordained priests and seminarians pledged to found a religious congregation bearing the name of Mary. The real founder of the congregation however was Jean-Claude Marie Colin, one the 12, who began by drafting a tentative rule and founding at Cerdon, where he was pastor, the Sisters of the Holy Name of Mary. On April 29, 1836, Pope Gregory XVI, issued a Brief approving definitively the “Priests of the Society of Mary” or Marist Fathers, as a religious institute with simple vows and under a superior general. The Marists model their lives on the person of Mary. As a member of the Society of Mary, Marists are to think, judge and act as Mary would. They strive to make Mary present in the world today by imitating her attitude of service and humility. Their spirituality, as patterned after Mary, accepts the ordinary realities of any life but quietly seeks to place God at the center of it. Just as Mary was at the various stages in her life, living as a Marist means doing so without fuss or show — being brave, joyful and generous. The Marist Fathers now evangelize in various apostolates around the world as academics, musicians, carpenters and artists. They work in colleges, missionary parishes, inner cities and across international borders. The Philippine district was founded in October 1981 with the arrival of an international team of four Marists. They began a ministry helping rural parishes and in running retreats before taking over the care of a few parishes in Mindanao. Some are now working with tribal people while another work with homeless children, plus a lot of other outreaches such as jail chaplaincy, ministry in mental hospital, etc. For more information, please visit or call: SOCIETY OF MARY
P.O. Box 80539 8 Morning Side Heights, 8000 Davao City tel. 224-1883 E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |