Society of Mary (Marianists)
The Society of Mary (Latin: Societas Mariae) abbreviated SM is a clerical religious congregation of Pontifical Right for men (brothers and priests) commonly called the Marianists or Marianist Brothers and Priests. Its members add the nominal letters "'S.M.'" to their names to indicate their membership in the Society.[2] The Society was founded by William Joseph Chaminade, a priest who survived the anti-clerical persecution 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 of faith and spirituality. They believe 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.
For other uses, see Society of Mary (disambiguation).Abbreviation
S.M. (post-nominal letters)[1]
Marianists
2 October 1817[1]
Blessed Fr. Guillaume Joseph Chaminade, S.M.[1]
Bordeaux, France
Clerical Religious Congregation of Pontifical Right (for men)[1]
- General Motherhouse
Via Latina 22, 00179 Rome, Italy[1]
930 members (309 priests) as of (2020)[1]
Latin
Servire Quam Sentire
English
Serve with Feeling
Rev. Fr. André Fétis, S.M.[1]
Educational work
Marianists around the world[edit]
There are about 1,200 Marianists: 405 priests, two bishops, and 800 brothers on four continents and 38 countries. The Marianists say that they "devote the major part of their efforts to inculturation 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."[3]
Formation process[edit]
Men who pursue a vocation with the Society of Mary follow an intense formation process that leads them to examine themselves and their spirituality. The first step to becoming a Marianist is to be a Contact. Contacts learn about the religious institute and themselves through retreats and the guidance of a Marianist whom they contact regularly. The next step is Aspirancy – a 10-month journey of living with a Marianist community and following its daily practices. Each aspirant works in a ministry to further understand Marianist spirituality and faith. At the end of this period, one enters the Novitiate, a 20-month period divided over two years. During that time, the novice learns about the institute and spends time deeply discerning his call to the institute.
At the end of the Novitiate, the novice professes Temporary Vows. He must annually renew the vows for at least three years. At the end of that time, the brother can decide to enter into Perpetual Profession. 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.
Marianists in North America[edit]
Canada[edit]
The Marianists are active in Canada, where the late Archbishop Raymond Roussin, S.M., D.D., one of their number, was head of the archiepiscopal see of Vancouver from 2004 to 2009.
United States[edit]
The United States is home to two Marianist provinces: the Province of the United States and the Province of Meribah.
The Province of Meribah, which became separate in 1976, operates only in the Diocese of Rockville Centre on Long Island, New York. There it runs an educational complex: Chaminade High School, Kellenberg Memorial High School (including the Bro. Joseph C. Fox Latin School Division, for grades 6–8); and St. Martin de Porres Marianist School (pre-kindergarten through grade 8). It also runs five retreat houses: Emmanuel Retreat House (on Kellenberg property),[4] Stella Maris Retreat House (East Islip, NY), Saragossa (on Chaminade property),[5] Meribah (Muttontown, New York), and Founder's Hollow (Accord, New York).[6] The Provincial of the Province of Meribah is Brother Timothy S. Driscoll, S.M.[7] Since the Province of Meribah was created, it has maintained in common the life of prayer, the educational apostolate, and religious garb. The brothers' motto is Servire Quam Sentire (serve with feeling).[8]
The Province of the United States recently updated their mission statement as follows:
Members of the Marianist Province of the United States are concentrated in Honolulu, Hawaii; St. Louis, Missouri; Dayton, Ohio; Cincinnati, Ohio; San Antonio, Texas; and Omaha, Nebraska. The Province runs three universities (the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio; St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas; and Chaminade University in Honolulu, Hawaii), 18 high schools, 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, 5 retreat centers, and 7 parishes. Charles J. Pedersen, 1987 Nobel laureate in chemistry, attended a Marianist high school, and thence chose to attend the Marianist University of Dayton.[10]
Marianists in Europe[edit]
France[edit]
The Marianists remain active in France, where they were first founded. The Society's Province of France includes 112 brothers and priests in 17 "houses," or community residences, in France, Belgium, and Tunisia. Fifty-eight are posted to the Ivory Coast and Congo region. Within the French Province, the Marianists operate eight schools. They also run three spiritual centers (at La Madeleine, St. Avold, and Le Vic), two residences for university students, and an extensive scholarship program for Marianist schools. In addition, they serve in youth ministry, pastoral work, and hospital chaplaincy.[11]
Italy[edit]
The Marianists' world headquarters is in Rome, Italy.
Ireland[edit]
In 1967, Archbishop John Charles McQuaid of Dublin invited Marianists from the United States to establish a mission in Ireland. Still part of the Province of the United States, the Irish Marianists operate St. Laurence College in Loughlinstown, Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown. They have also been active in diocesan youth ministry, school and prison chaplaincy, drug rehabilitation, work for peace and justice, and parish work. Four Irish Catholics have permanently joined the religious institute since 1976.
Spain[edit]
They came to Spain in 1887. In 1977, the Marianists in Spain established the Santa Maria Foundation, which publishes Marianist Editions and organizes pedagogical programs.[12] They operate the Colegio del Pilar in Madrid, the Santa Ana y San Rafael, and 15 more schools, some of which are considered among the best in Spain.
Switzerland[edit]
Fr. François Kieffer, a French Marianist priest, established the Villa St. Jean International School in Fribourg, Switzerland, in 1903, which operated until 1970.
Marianists in Latin America[edit]
Argentina[edit]
The Marianists arrived from Spain in 1932 and founded a school in Buenos Aires in the neighborhood of Caballito in 1935. It is still located there.[13] They also have a presence in Junín and Nueve de Julio in Buenos Aires province, and in General Roca, Río Negro province.
Chile[edit]
The Marianists have been active in Chile since 1948, invited by Cardinal Jose Maria Caro. In 1982, the institute formed the Province of Chile and 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 León Prado, and Instituto Linares.
Peru[edit]
The Marianists have founded various educational institutions such as Colegio Santa Maria Marianistas,[14] Colegio Maria Reina Marianistas,en 1965,[15] Colegio San Antonio Marianistas, Colegio San José Obrero Marianistas,[16] and El Instituto Chaminade Marianistas.
Puerto Rico[edit]
The Marianists have been active in Puerto Rico since 1938 when Colegio San José was founded and is among the leading college preparatory schools of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.
Marianists in Asia and Australasia[edit]
Philippines[edit]
The Marianists arrived in the Philippines in 2004. The congregation chose the more Islamic, southern part of the Philippines in the big city of Davao City as their mission area to establish a presence.