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Founders
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Joseph Vaz College was found by the Marist Brothers.
Marist Brothers
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The Marist Brothers were founded in 1817 by Marcellin Champagnat, a newly-ordained
priest raised in France during the French Revolution. Marcellin and his first two
recruits observed and fought against the spiritual and educational devastation the
war had inflicted on young people. Like today's Marist Brothers, the early Marist
communities of religious Brothers were known for their family spirit and simple
Gospel way of being fully present to each other and all people. Then, as now, the
goal was to bring the love of Jesus and Mary to others through lives of service.
The first Marist school opened in LaValla, France in 1818 and is still in operation
today. Marist schools began to multiply at the rate of almost a dozen a year. Marcellin's
mission quickly spread to other countries, coming to the United States in 1885-86.
By the turn of the 20th century, the Marist Brothers had accepted invitations from
many countries around the world. Today, Saint Marcellin Champagnat's legacy lives
on in the more than 3,400 Marist Brothers worldwide -- 165 in the United States.
Each day, in large cities and remote villages, across 78 countries and on six continents,
Marist Brothers transform the lives and situations of thousands through education
and spirituality, and by challenging young people to live their fullest potential
in Christ.
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St. Marcellin Champagnat
 St.
Marcellin Champagnat (1789-1840), a young French priest who founded the order in
1817 to combat the illiteracy and spiritual poverty in post-Revolutionary France.
Marcellin believed God called him to help young people, especially those in need.
He responded by forming a religious community of Brothers dedicated to educating
youth and conveying the love of Jesus Christ through Mary. Like many youngsters
of his day, Marcellin did not attend school regularly; the French Revolution wreaked
havoc on civic life in that period. Although gifted with natural intelligence, Marcellin’s
lack of formal education caused him to struggle as a seminarian. From those difficulties
sprang his educational philosophy, “To educate children you must love them and love
them all equally.†Realizing that many young people had little religious or academic
education, Marcellin was determined to combat the illiteracy and spiritual poverty
caused by the violence and chaos of the Revolution. While still in the seminary,
Marcellin joined small group of seminarians that pledged themselves to form a new
society dedicated to Mary and open to religious and laymen and women alike. Six
months after his ordination, after encountering a dying teenager who knew little
of the Catholic faith, Marcellin founded a religious community called The Little
Brothers of Mary -- now called The Marist Brothers of the Schools. His goal: to
make Jesus Christ known and loved through the Christian education of youth, especially
the most neglected. When Marcellin died in 1840, there were 280 Brothers evangelizing
and supporting youth. In 1955 Marcellin Champagnat was declared Blessed by Pope
Pius XII. He was canonized a SAINT by Pope John Paul II on April 18, 1999.
-maristbr.com
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