We are happy to offer you this Handbook for Leaders of Marist Laity Groups.
More than 80 years have passed since the publication of a handbook for leaders of Marist laity groups. Since then, many changes have occurred in the Church, the world, and the lives of lay people.
In recent decades, Marist historians and scholars have researched and studied the origins of the Marist spiritual movement. This Handbook reflects their discoveries andconclusions. Much effort has gone into producing a handbook that is true to the originalinspiration of our Founder, Father Jean-Claude Colin, S.M., and at the same timeacknowledges the Church and the world of our times.
This Handbook is a resource for group leaders. It is important that leaders becomethoroughly familial' with the contents, share information with other Marists, keep theHandbook intact, and assist in updates as needed.
Every group needs one master copy. It is not necessary or practical for every member of a group to have a copy. That said, there are many articles in the Handbook that can be photocopied and used as handouts for discussion at meetings.
We hope this Handbook proves to be a valuable resource for you. Please take the time to become familiar with it. Your comments will assist us greatly in improving the Handbook in the future.
In Mary’s peace,
Rev father Edwin L. Keel, S. M. Promoter of Marist Laity Society of Mary Atlanta Province
 
CONTENTS
PART I - The Marist Family An introduction to the five branches of the Marist Family.
PART II - Origins and History This history of the early years of the Marists includes biographies of canonized Marist saints and lay Marists of note.
PART III - In the Mind of the Founder The spiritual insights of Father Jean-Claude Colin, S.M., founder of the Marist spiritual movement, are explained in this section. This information is vital to our understanding of both the Marist spirituality and the historical development ofMarist lay groups.
PART V - Documents This section includes historical Marist documents and excerpts from writings ofVatican II that have influenced the development of the Marist lay movement.
PART VI – Activities The practical topics—appropriate organizational structures, activities, leadership,membership, inviting others to join the movement—are discussed here.
PART VII - Materials and Resources Master copies of materials that are useful for meetings and gatherings.
PART VIII - Formation Materials To Live as Mary: Marist Themes for Spiritual Formation Fifteen studies of the major Marist themes.
Exercises in Marist Spirituality Spiritual exercises that focus on “Mary in the Newborn Church,†“Maty atNazareth,†and “Mary in the Church of Our Day.â€
 
PART 1 – The Marist Family
This is the Handbook for Leaders of Marist Laity Groups
The Marist Family consists of
The Society of Mary (Marist Fathers and Brothers, S.M.)
The Marist Brothers of the Schools (F.M.S.)
The Marist Sisters (S.M.)
Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary (S.M.S.M.)
Marist Association of Marcellin Champagnat
Marist Laity
The Marist Family The Marist spiritual movement was begun by a group of seminarians in Lyons,France, in 1816. Since then, four religious congregations and a lay movement havedeveloped.
The Society of Mary (Marist Fathers and Brothers, S.M.) The Marist Brothers of the Schools (F.M.S.) The Marist Sisters (S.M.) The Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary (S.M.S.M.) Marist Laity (Groups have evolved under various names and structures. Marist Laity includes all of them.) Marist Association of Marcellin Champagnat (in Australia)
Members of the Marist family understand that the name Marist means of Mary.To be Marist means to bear Mary’s name. Mary’s name encompasses both the spirit and the mission of Marists. A person who calli-himself or herself Marist belongs to Mary.Marists accept a responsibility to promote Mary’s way of living the Gospel.
All the branches of the Marist family have appropriate organizational structuresand work throughout the world. A brief description of each branch follows.
The Society of Mary The Society of Mary is a worldwide congregation of more than 1,200 priests andbrothers. The congregation received approval from the Church in 1836, and the firstprofession of twenty priests occurred September 24, 1836, in the small town of Belley,France. The Society of Mary is organized into provinces and missionary districtsthroughout the world. The General Superior resides in Rome. The first Marist priestsarrived in North America in 1863. At that time the Society considered America to be amission territory.
Today the priests and brothers work in parishes, education, campus ministry,chaplaincies, prisons, the mission field, and wherever the needs of the Church and itspeople call them. Father Jean-Claude Colin, S. M., the Founder of the Society of Mary,told the Bishop of Belley, “We are for doing what others cannot or will not do.â€
The Society of Mary has four provinces in North America—Mexico, Canada, andtwo provinces in the United States..; In the United States, the Boston Province includesthe north eastern section of the country. The Atlanta Province includes all the other states including Alaska and Hawaii. The two Provinces cooperate especially in the training of candidates for entry into the Society.
The Marist Brothers of the Schools The Marist Brothers are a Catholic community of men who follow the spiritualityof St. Marcellin Champagnat in educating young people to know and love Jesus andMary. Founded in 1817 in France, there are now 5,000 brothers in 76 countries.
St. Marcellin was a member of the first group of priests to be professed after theSociety of Mary received approval from the Church. Pope John Paul II canonized St.Marcellin on April 18, 1999.
The first Brothers committed themselves to serving the least favored students oftheir time—those living in villages in the decades following the French Revolution. Inthe United States, the Marist Brothers serve children from all backgrounds and socio¬economic situations.
In their program, “Sharing Our Call,†the Brothers introduce teachers andadministrators to St. Marcellin and the Marist heritage. The Marist Brothers also providea variety of evangelization programs including retreats as well as leadership developmentand spiritual growth programs to students, faculty and other lay co-workers.
The Marist Sisters The Marist Sisters recognize Jeanne-Marie Chavoin in as their foundress and FatherJean-Claude Colin as their founder.
As a young woman, Jeanne-Marie was invited several times to enter differentcongregations but always refused. In 1817 she received an invitation to join FatherColin and his brother, Pierre, in shaping the future Society of Mary. She worked incollaboration with them for six years, four of those as housekeeper. In 1823 she and twoother women began living together in community in Cerdon. Even though they suffereddire poverty, soon others joined them. The first profession of sisters took place in 1826.Jeanne-Marie Chavoin, as Mother Saint Joseph, served as superior of the congregationuntil 1853.
The first sisters established several houses where they took in children anddestitute women. Today, there are 420 sisters working in 18 countries. They work ineducational, social, pastoral and health care ministries.
To be a Marist Sister is to be passionately committed to doing Mary’s work—anywhere, everywhere, and with a sense of urgency.
The Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary Marist Missionary Sisters do not claim any founder or foundress except, perhaps,that of Our Lady herself. Rather, they recognize eleven pioneer women who went out onmission to Oceania in a way that was unheard of for women of their times. Several yearsafter the Society of Mary began evangelizing the islands of Oceania, the first pioneer,Marie Françoise Perroton, left France, traveled aboard a trading vessel, and arrived at theIsland of Wallis in 1846. She had been inspired by a letter from two women who askedfor someone to come to Wallis and teach Christianity to women and children.
It was twelve years before other women from France joined Françoise. At theoutset of their journeys, these women were inducted into the Third Order of Mary for theMissions of Oceania. They followed a religious rule and were the seed of a newcongregation.
Women from the islands of the Pacific and many other countries eventually joinedthe pioneers in their missionary activities. The Congregation received officialrecognition from the Church in 1931. Today there are 600 sisters working throughout the world.
Marist Association of Marcellin Champagnat The Marist Association of St Marcellin Champagnat is a vital faith community and expression of Church that embraces God’s mission with Marian joy, hope, and audacity. Membership is based on over 900 people, including Marist Brothers, lay women and men, and clergy. The Association draws on both the Marist tradition of Saint Marcellin Champagnat, and imagination, to be game-changers for young people, particularly those most on the peripheries. They foster connectedness and communion among themselves as an Association, with the Marist spiritual family around the world, and with the wider Church.
Marist Laity The spirituality of the Marists has attracted lay people from the very beginningsof the Marist project. The lay branch of the Marists was recognized by the Church in1834 with the grant of indulgences and, in 1850, the lay branch was given officialapproval as the Third Order of Mary.
Encouraged by the various Marist religious congregations, the laity haveorganized themselves in a wide variety of ways, under many names, and in many culturesand places. “Marist Laity†has been adopted as the common name that includes all ofthem.
Diocesan clergy also have embraced the Marist spirituality and have served asspiritual directors for some groups. St. John-Marie Vianney, the Cure of Ars, was amember of the Third Order of Mary, This Handbook for Leaders of Marist Laity Groupsis dedicated to him.
It is important for individual lay Marists to meet regularly with other Marists formutual support and encouragement in living the Marist way and in doing the work ofMary. The members of Marist lay groups strive for that unity of mind and heart thatcharacterizes'the family of Mary.
Lay Marists are privileged to bear the name of Mary. They share the spirit ofMary with the Marist religious congregations, and they also bear an equal responsibilityfor the mission of the entire Marist family.
For well over a century and a half, commitment to the Marist way has been asource of joy and consolation for many thousands of people. It has placed them in aspecial relationship with Mary and through her with Jesus. Mary has become for them aprotector and guide. Their lives have been changed as they learn from Mary how best tofollow Jesus. They have felt the support, encouragement, challenge and companionshipon the spiritual journey that comes with belonging to the Marist family.
Testimonies from lay Marists around the world appear in the book. Like a Bridge,by Father Laurence Duffy, S.M., and Father Charles Girard, S.M. The maincharacteristics of Marist laity groups are evident—joy in being Marist, and unity in spiritbut diversity in structure.
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