Our Marist Tradition
The Essence of Marist Education?
The tradition of Catholic education that is known as “Marist” was begun by a French priest, Marcellin Champagnat, in 1817. Today, Marist schools, colleges and universities are found in over eighty countries around the world, leading hundreds of thousands of young people to be what Marcellin believed each of them could be – good Christians and good citizens.
Disturbed by the lack of education among the rural children of southern France and driven by his deep faith, Father Champagnat founded a network of village schools. These schools embodied many of Marcellin's own values: they emphasized hard work and academic excellence, nurtured a genuine love and respect for each individual, and fostered a strong sense of family spirit.
In these schools, young people were encouraged to develop a positive self-image, recognize their potential, and use their gifts and talents to contribute to the greater good. Special attention was given to students who struggled academically, ensuring that no child was left behind. Above all, these schools placed the Gospel at their core, inspiring students to respond with the same faith and generosity as Mary.
The Marist Charism in Today's Schools
The charism entrusted to Marcellin Champagnat is recognized as a gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church, meant to support and advance its mission.
For over two centuries, since Marcellin Champagnat began his mission, countless individuals have embraced the Marist charism as their unique way of making Jesus Christ known and loved. This charism has shaped a distinctive educational approach that empowers young people to recognize their gifts and use them to make a positive impact on the world.
Today, the Marist charism, which lies at the heart of Marist schools and educational ministries, is carried forward by both Brothers and lay men and women. Generations of educators have been inspired by the Marist way, making it the cornerstone of their teaching philosophy.
Marist schools, in their effort to integrate Christian faith into American culture, are renowned not only for their academic, athletic, and extracurricular excellence but also for their commitment to faith development, social justice, and community service. They foster a strong family spirit within their communities, creating an environment where students grow intellectually, spiritually, and socially.
To lead young people to know and love Jesus and Mary, in the belief that they all can become good Christians and good citizens. Inspired by Marcellin Champagnat, Marist educators, before all else, love their students. Their Marial approach is marked by simplicity, family spirit, love of their work and presence in the midst of those whom they are called to serve. Marist schools welcome all young people, whatever their circumstances, offering each one an education which draws faith, culture and life into harmony.
The Mission of Today's Marist Schools
Marist Marks & Pillars: Interconnected Values
As Marist educators, we share the intuition that St. Marcellin and the first Marists had - “to bring up children properly, we must love them, and love them all equally.”
Marist Educators
From this principle flow the characteristics or pillars of the Marist style of educating: presence, simplicity, family spirit, love of work, and following in the way of Mary.
Through our personal witnessing of these pillars, Marist educators, not only help to develop the Marist marks within our students but we also seek to adopt these attitudes and values as our way of enculturating the Gospel. It is the sum of the Marist Pillars and their interaction which gives our Marist style its Spirit-inspired originality.
The Marist Pillars
The Marist Pillars are the foundational characteristics of Marist schools which lead to students developing the Marks of a Marist Student.
By students being immersed in an educational community who live by the Marist Pillars, they develop the traits or marks of a Marist student. These marks are benchmarks for students graduating from Marist schools in the United States.
Marks of a Marist Student
The characteristics described both in the Marist Pillars and the Marks of a Marist Student are Marist values that help to fulfill the Marist Brothers mission -
To Make Jesus Known and Loved through the Christian education of youth, especially the most neglected. The Brothers strive to influence and transform the lives and situations of young people through education and spirituality, challenging them to live their fullest potential in Christ. Developing educators and students who live by the Pillars and Marks helps achieve their mission.
THE MARIST PILLARS
The Marks of the Marist Student
As Marist educators, we guide our students in their growth as individuals grounded in Gospel and Marist values, striving to nurture them into becoming both good Christians and responsible citizens.
