Who We Are
About Us
We, the Marist priests and brothers, are members of the Society of Mary, an international religious congregation in the Catholic Church. We are men called to ‘be’ Mary - thinking, judging, feeling, and acting as Mary in all we do. Marist priests and brothers believe that we have been called by a “gracious choice” into the family of Mary.
The Society of Mary was established in France 1836 by Fr. Jean-Claude Colin and the USA province was established in 1863.
In the USA our ministries are focused on parishes, education, publications, and mission work. Through each of our ministries the Marist priests and brothers, working in unity, live out a concrete spirituality that teaches people how to “taste God” through the spirit of Mary.
Mary’s spirituality teaches us that true strength is found in gentleness. Marist spirituality invites us to embrace this liberating truth, which comes to us from the heart of God, by following Mary, the Mother of Jesus.
“At our best, we are instruments of God’s mercy working to help others taste the boundless love of the Lord, especially those who find themselves on the margins. As Marists, we seek to go where the Church is not. We should enable all with whom we come into contact to experience the gift of reconciliation as well as peace of heart and mind.” (Statement of Identity, US Province of the Marists
Assembly and Chapter of June 2013)