Society of Mary (Marianists)

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The Society of Mary is a Catholic religious congregation of brothers and priests called the Marianists or Marianist Brothers and Priests. The Society was founded by Blessed William Joseph Chaminade, a priest who survived the persecutions of Catholics during the French Revolution. The Society is one of the four branches of the Marianist Family. Along with the other branches, the Marianist Brothers and Priests look to Mary as a model for faith and spirituality, and they feel that the best ways to live a spiritual life are to share their faith with others, work with the poor, and educate and nourish the mind, the body, and the soul.

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[edit] Marianists Around the World

There are currently almost 1,560 Marianists--five hundred priests, including three bishops, and a thousand and sixty brothers--in four continents and thirty countries. The Marianists say that they "devote the major part of their efforts to inculturation in order to become rooted in new countries, in Asia and Africa, and also to be in tune with the surrounding cultures that challenge us and that we call modern or postmodern." [1]

[edit] Marianist Education

Marianists can be classified as priests, teaching brothers, or working brothers, but, regardless of classification, most members of the order work in schools or programs for young people. In all of their educational institutions, the Characteristics of Marianist Education guide the curriculum. These five characteristics are:

  • To educate for formation in faith
  • To provide an integral, quality education
  • To educate in family spirit
  • To educate for service, justice, and peace
  • To educate for adaptation and change.


[edit] Formation Process

Men who pursue a vocation with the Society of Mary follow an intense formation process forcing them to examine themselves and their spirituality. The first step to becoming a Marianist is to be a Contact. Contacts learn about the order and themselves through retreats and through the guidance of a Marianist who they contact regularly. The next step is the Aspirancy - a 10-month live-in with an actual Marianist community. Aspirants work in a ministry to further their understanding of Marianist spirituality and their own faith. At the end of this period, one enters the Novitiate, which is a 20-month period divided over 2 years. During that time, the novice learns about the order, and spends time deeply his call to the order.

At the end of the Novitiate, Temporary Vows are professed. These vows must be renewed every year for at least 3 years. At the end of that time, the brother can decide to enter into Perpetual Profession, in which the brother professes the vows of poverty, chastity, obedience, and stability. In addition, some brothers study to become priests at the International Marianist Seminary in Rome, Italy.

[edit] Marianists in North America

[edit] Canada

The Marianists are active in Canada, where Ray Roussin, S.M., one of their number, is Archbishop of Vancouver.

[edit] The United States

The United States is home to two Marianist provinces: the Province of the United States and the Province of Meribah.

The Province of the United States recently updated their mission statement to read as follows:

"Empowered by the Holy Spirit and inspired by the dynamism of Blessed Chaminade's charism,we—brothers and priests—vowed religious in the Marianist Family, live in community as equals. Through lives of prayer and Gospel service, we dedicate ourselves to the following of Jesus Christ, Son of God become Son of Mary. Wherever we are sent we invite others to share in Mary's Mission of making Christ present in every age and culture by forming persons and communities of apostolic faith that advance justice and reconciliation. Committed to education, we minister with youth and in solidarity with the poor." [2]

Members of the Marianist Province of the United States are concentrated in Honolulu, Hawaii; St. Louis, Missouri; Dayton, Ohio; Cincinnati, Ohio, and San Antonio, Texas. This province runs 3 universities (including the Marianists' largest educational institution, the University of Dayton), 18 high schools, 6 elementary/middle schools, and 11 parishes. Actor and activist Martin Sheen has credited his dedication to public causes to his Marianist education at Chaminade-Julienne High School in Dayton, Ohio. Marianists were also instrumental in the creation and operation of Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory in Hollywood, Florida. Archbishop Riordan High School in San Francisco, CA, also celebrates Chaminade Day, in which a special mass is celebrated.

The Meribah Province, which became separate in 1976, operates only in the Diocese of Rockville Centre on Long Island, New York. There it runs Chaminade High School, Kellenberg Memorial High School (including the Bro. Joseph C. Fox Latin School Division, for sixth-, seventh- and eight-graders), and St. Martin de Porres Marianist School (pre-k though eighth grade). It also runs three retreat houses.

[edit] Marianists in Europe

[edit] France

[edit] Marianists in Latin America

[edit] Chile

The Marianists have been active in Chile since 1948, invited by Cardinal Jose Maria Caro. In 1982, the order formed the Province of Chile, along with the Province of Argentina, by dividing the Province of the Andes. The Marianists' educational institutions in Chile include Colegio Santa María de la Cordillera, Colegio Parroquial San Miguel, Instituto Miguel, and Instituto Linares.

[edit] Marianists in Africa

Marianists came to Africa as missionaries in 1957. They are currently active in the Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, Congo, Ivory Coast, and Tunisia.

[edit] Kenya

In Kenya, they operate Our Lady of Nazareth primary school and the IMANI counseling, job training and child care center in Narirobi, and another such center, the Mastianist Development Project, in Mombassi. They serve members of the Sudanese Diocese of Rumbec in northwest Kenya, and, also in Kneya, they maintaint he St. Bakhita Formation Center, with a seminary and training schools for nurses, teachers and catechists.

[edit] Malawi

In Malawi, the Marianists' projects are the Chaminade Secondary School and at M.I.R.A.C.L.E., a rural job training service for youths orphaned by AIDS.

[edit] Zambia

In Zambia, the Marianists teach at Matero Boy Secondary School, reach out to the alumni of that school, and help the surrounding diocese by celebrating mass with their neighbors. [3]

[edit] External links

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