In Lyon more than 500 young people from 46 countries gathered for a week of activities. The celebration culminated in a Eucharist celebrated in Chapel of Our Lady of Fourviere on the 23rd July

It was on this day in 1816 that twelve newly-ordained priests, went to Our Lady's shrine in Fourviere (In Lyons, France) and made a promise to consecrate themselves to "founding the pious congregation of Marists."

The Marist Family that came into being as a result of this pledge went on to play a major role in the establishment of the Catholic church in the south west Pacific.

In the the second half of the nineteenth century Marist missionaries, sisters, priests and brothers and lay people, came as missionaries to Tonga, Fiji, New Zealand, Vanuatu, Samoa, New Caledonia, The Solomon Islands, Bougainville, Wallis and Futuna.

Marists in New Zealand Mark Fourviere Day

The original idea of the Marist project was never to see the light of day.

The plan of a vast congregation of priests, brothers, sisters and lay people, all working under one leader or Superior General, was too complicated for the authorities in Rome to grasp, and too full of potential difficulties.

It was something hitherto unheard of. Neither the Canon Law of the day nor the Church's theology had any way of seeing clearly how and where this idea fitted in to the life of the Church.

The Marist family now has four religious branches and a lay branch

The religious congregations are the Marist Sisters (SM), the Marist Missionary Sisters (SMSM), the Marist Brothers (FMS), and the Marist Fathers and Brothers (SM).

The Marist Laity are an equal and integral group within the Marist Family who all share a common spirituality and draw inspiration from Mary's way of being in the early Church.

Source

• maristsmsm.org
• sm.org.nz
• Image: twitter.com

The Marist Family is made up of the Marist Brothers, Marist Sisters, Marist Fathers and Brothers, Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary and Marist Laity.

The school was divided into four houses named after the founders of the 4 religious congregations in the Marist Family.

They were St Marcellin Champagnat founder of the Marist Brothers; Fr. Jean Claude Colin founder of the Marist Fathers and Brothers; Sister Jeanne Marie Chavoin of the Marist Sisters; and Marie Francoise Perroton, founder of the Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary.

School Principal, Sr. Masela Tenisio said being the last day of this school term, they wanted to highlight the significance of the upcoming celebration.

Each house performed songs, dramas and items highlighting the history and the work of the Marist family.

What happened 200 years ago?

The Marist Family was formed on the 23rd July 1816 in Lyon France at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fourvière. Four diocesan priests and eight seminarians pledged themselves to found a congregational bearing the name of Mary.

St. Marcellin Champagnat, founder of the Marist Brothers, and Fr Jean Claude Colin, Founder of the Society of Mary, were among those who worked to carry out this promise. They were convinced that they were responding to a wish of the Mother of Mercy.

Sr. Masela said the 200 year anniversary would be a big celebration not only in Samoa but also around the world because the Marist family is a global one.

The main celebration will be held on Saturday 23 July, which will include a mass at the Mulivai Cathedral, entertainment, and a feast at the Tuutuu i le Loloto Hall.

Source

• sobserver.ws
• Image: sobserver.ws