The Institute of the Marist Brothers (FMS: Fratres Maristae a Scholis), founded in France in 1817 by St. Marcellin Champagnat, is the second largest congregation of Brothers in the Catholic Church.
An encounter with a dying young man, Jean-Baptiste Montagne, who knew nothing of his faith and was barely able to read, proved to be the defining moment for Marcellin Champagnat. Soon after the boy’s death, St. Marcellin put into motion his vision. “We need brothers,” he said, who will give their lives in the service of children and young people, especially those most in need and neglected by society.
Champagnat, a man of great faith and trust in God’s providence, dedicated his early followers to Mary, sending them among young people, especially those least favored, to “make Jesus known and loved.” The initial focus of his work was to provide education for children in rural, areas since this was a pressing need at the time, and provided an opportunity for their faith development.
Today the community numbers about 3,000 members. They are joined by a network of nearly 40,000 lay people and reach over 700,000 children and young people in 80 countries. You will find this Marist network working in schools and universities, pastoral and social centers, youth movements and youth programs and wherever they find young people most in need.
