Marist Laity​

Fr. Jean-Claude Colin envisioned that the Marist movement was to embrace the whole world and be open to involve the active participation of everyone, lay people as well as religious. Being Marist would be a certain, chosen way of living the Gospel by following Mary of Nazareth’s fiat, dedication, and example. It would do the work of her Son for the Church especially in this modern era. The initiative for the lay branch of the Marist family began in 1833 and was acknowledged as a lay confraternity by Pope Gregory XVI in 1834. In 1850 it was canonically established by Pope Pius IX as the Third Order of Mary. This lay branch now takes many forms throughout the world. Together with consecrated Marist religious, many lay people now embody the spirit and mission of the Marian Church which Fr. Colin first envisioned. This Marist Way of Life brings laity together with priests and religious in proclaiming the Good News.