THE MARIST PROJECT

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THE MARIST PROJECT

• Marist Fathers
• Marist Brothers
• Marist Laity
• Marist Sisters
• Marist Missionary Sisters

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Chavoin 1786
Champagnat 1789
Perroton 1796
Colin 1790
The Pioneers of the Marist Project
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A COMMON ORIGIN
The Marist Project Has its origins in France,
at the Marian shrines of Le Puy and Lyon
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LE PUY- THE BEGINNING

• The Origins of the Marist Project can be traced
  back to the Marian shrine at Le Puy and a man
  know as COURVEILLE

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Le Puy is an unusual place with many shrines and
Churches built on top of ancient volcanic plugs
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LE PUY-MARIAN SHRINE

• Le Puy was a major shrine of Mary and has been a
  Pilgrimage destination for over 1000 years.
• Thousands of visitors still come to Le Puy each
  year to visit the Marian shrine.

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JEAN-CLAUDE COURVEILLE

• 1787- Born just before the French Revolution
• 1797- Contracted the Smallpox disease which
  affected his vision
• 1800- His vision was getting worse- he was
  becoming blind
• 1807- He wanted to become a priest but his bad
  eyesight was a problem

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At MARYS SHRINE
1809- Aged 22, Courveille was inspired to make a
pilgrimage to Our Lady of Le Puy to ask a cure
for his near-blindness
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THE SANCTUARY LAMPS
He took some oil from a lamp which burns before
the statue of Mary and rubbed it on his eyes
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INSTANT CURE
His prayer was answered. As soon as he wiped the
oil from his eyes he could see things very
distinctly in the Cathedral.
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GRATEFUL COURVEILLE
1810- In the same Church, before the same
miraculous statue, he promised Mary he would
devote himself entirely to her, and to do
whatever she wanted.
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REVELATION OF LE PUY

• 1812- August 15th, Feast of the Assumption of
  Mary, Courveille returned to Marys shrine. There
  he heard the Revelation of Le Puy, calling
  him to found a Religious Society in honor of
  Mary.

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MARYS REQUEST
This is what I desirea Society consecrated to
me, which will bear my name, being called the
Society of Mary. Its members will be known as
Marists..
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STUDY FOR THE PRIESTHOOD
1812- November 1st (All Saints Day), Courveille
joined the philosophy class at the Le Puy Seminary
He later transferred to the Lyon Seminary in 1814
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THE CITY OF LYON
The Modern City Today
The old streets are still an important part of
life in the city of Lyon today
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LYON- THE ROMAN CITY
From 43BC Lyon (then Lugdunum) was the capital of
Gaul- an important Roman city
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LYON- CITY OF CHRISTIAN MARTYRDOM
Saint Pothin was the first Bishop of Lyon. He
established the citys first shrine to Mary, and
the first Christian Church, in 175AD
Pothin was martyred in 177AD along with 18,000
Christians
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LYON-CITY OF TWO RIVERS
Lyon stands on one of the natural crossroads of
the continent
The turbulent Rhone, from Geneva
The placid Saone from the East of France
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LYON- FOURVIERE
Fourviere is the hill which overlooks the whole
city of Lyon
The Basilica was built in 1896
The Chapel of Our Lady was restored in 1751
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LYON- SHRINE OF MARY
1170- a shrine to Our Lady of Good Counsel was
erected on the site of the old Roman Forum
This became a place of pilgrimage to ask Mary
for special favours
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SHRINE OF MARY
The original shrine was destroyed in 1562 but was
rebuilt as the church of the Assumption. This
shrine of Mary became famous during the plague of
1628 It was restored in 1751
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LYON-SEMINARY
1814- November 1st, All Saints Day, Courveille
entered the seminary of St. Irenaeus.
The old streets of Lyon remain but the seminary
has gone.
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FIRST RECRUIT
At the seminary, below the hill of Fourviere,
Courveille first spoke of his plan to Etienne
Declas, a fellow seminarian.
I have a planto go to the poor people in
country parishes who have greater need than those
in the big towns or cities.
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THE PROJECT TAKES SHAPE
Declas approved of Courveilles idea which was
based on the work of St Francis Regis.
It was not until later that year, that Courveille
mentioned the idea of a new Order devoted to
Mary.
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DEVOTED TO MARY
Courveille and Declas looked for other suitable
seminarians to join this new order in the Church
devoted to Mary.
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SECRET MEETINGS
During 1815 and the first part of 1816 the number
of seminarians interested in the Marist Project
grew to 15.
Wherever Jesus has an altar, Mary also has hers
at the side. Jesus has his society (Jesuits) so
Mary should have hers.
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FORMULATING PLANS
Under the leadership of Courveille, the group met
frequently to encourage each other and formulate
plans for the future Society of Mary.
Our model will be that of the early Church- with
the disciples gathered around Mary.
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THE SOCIETY OF MARY
Within sight of Marys shrine on the hill of
Fourviere, the pioneer Marists prepared for their
day of Ordination and continued to talk about
plans for the new society of Mary.
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THE PIONEER MARISTS

• The seminarians who became key people
• Jean-Claude Colin, founder of the Marist Fathers
  and Marist Sisters
• Marcellin Champagnat, founder of the Marist
  Brothers and Marist Fathers
• Terraillon assisted Champagnat at LHermitage,
  and Declas joined the first community of priests
  at Cerdon.

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WE NEED BROTHERS
The Society of Mary was to be like a tree
consisting of 3 branches-Priests, Sisters and Lay
people.
Marcellin Champagnat convinced the group that
another branch was needed-that of teaching
Brothers for children in rural areas.
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ORDINATION
July 22nd, 1816 The Church was that of St. Jean,
which was close to the seminary 8 members of the
Society of Mary group were ordained
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FOURVIERE DAY
July 23rd, the day after their ordination, 8 new
priests and 4 seminarians climbed the 800 steps
from the church of St Jean to the Marian shrine
on Fourviere.
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THE FOURVIERE MASS
At the shrine of Mary on the hill of Fourviere,
the 12 new Apostles of Mary attended Mass.
Courveille presided and gave Communion to the
other members
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THE FOURVIERE PLEDGE
At the conclusion of Mass, and before the image
of the Black Virgin, the pioneer Marists made
their special pledge to God and Mary.
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WE THE UNDERSIGNED.
Striving to work together for the greater glory
of God and the honor of Mary, Mother of the Lord
Jesus, assert and declare our sincere intention
and firm will, of consecrating ourselves at the
first opportunity to founding the pious
congregation of Marists..
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THE DISPERSAL
Colin
They promised to work at beginning a new Order
for Mary-but only 3 did, and they were in
different parts of the Diocese
Champagnat
Courveille
Cerdon
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LAVALLA
Champagnat arrived at his first parish on August
13th.
It was a rural parish in the foothills of Mt.
Pilat, with a population of around 2000
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CHAMPAGNAT at LAVALLA
He made an appointment with a young man from the
parish to meet at the local bridge Here
Champagnat outlined his vision for teaching
brothers.
After an incident with a dying boy, Champagnat
decided to act.
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FIRST MARIST HOUSE
Champagnat decided to buy a small house near the
presbytery, then spent two months renovating it.
Fr. Courveille paid half of the cost of the house
to help get the Marist Project under way.
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THE MARIST BROTHERS
Jan 2nd, 1817, less than six months after
ordination, Champagnat had the first two recruits
move into a house near the presbytery.
They made nails to earn some money, while
Champagnat taught them to read and write
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LAVALLA PRESBYTERY
Champagnat initially lived in the Priests house,
but later moved to the poorer house to join the
growing number of Brothers.
Champagnat was at Lavalla for eight years where
he attended to both his priestly duties and the
formation of his Brothers
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FIRST MARIST SCHOOL
Within two years of arriving at Lavalla,
Champagnat had his first recruit in charge of a
school in the Brothers house.
First School, 1818
The School today
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COURVEILLE RETURNS
In 1824 the Bishop sent Courveille to help
Champagnat at Lavalla
With Courveilles help, Champagnat purchased land
and began building a five storey house for the
growing number of Brothers
The foundations
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AMAZING GROWTH
LHermitage today
While Champagnat was busy building the Hermitage,
Courveille was in charge of the Brothers
formation at Lavalla
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16 YEARS LATER
In Oct. 1839, Br. Francois Rivat was elected to
take over the Brothers leadership
Champagnat died on June 6th 1840 leaving 280
Marist Brothers in 48 schools throughout France
and the Missions
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JEAN-CLAUDE COLIN
Following Ordination in 1816, Jean-Claude Colin
was sent to the small village of Cerdon
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THE COLIN BROTHERS
Jean-Claude lived with his brother Pierre who was
parish Priest of Cerdon
Cerdon- priests house today and as it was in 1816
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COLIN THE LEADER
During the next 20 years, Jean-Claude Colin was
to become the leader of the Marist Priests and
instrumental in founding the Marist Sisters
Colin shared his vision of the Marist Project
with his brother Pierre.
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COUTOUVRE
Pierre was enthused by the Marist Project and
informed his brother of two young women from his
previous parish-Coutouvre
The two young women he mentioned
were Jeanne-Marie Chavoin Marie Jotillon
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JEANNE-MARIE CHAVOIN

• Born at Coutouvre in 1786
• She had a deeply religious disposition which was
  developed through
• Assisting the parish priest
• Being an active member of the parish Association
  of Divine Love
• Making retreats at a Lyon convent
• Looking for a new way to serve God

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CHAVOIN AT CERDON
At the invitation of Colin, Chavoin came for a
meeting at the Cerdon Presbytery
Jeanne-Marie was instantly impressed with Colins
vision of the Marist Project and hurried home
to share her news with her friend.
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MARIST PROJECT GROWS
Towards the end of 1817 both women came to live
at Cerdon. Two years later Jeanne-Marie lived and
worked in the presbytery with the Colin brothers
to develop plans for the Marist Project
Cerdon Church
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SLOW PROGRESS
Church approval for the Marist Project was very
slow. In 1820 Chavoin traveled to LePuy to seek
approval for the Marists to be located there, but
had no success. Bishops did not want a new
Religious Group with an independent organisation.
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DAUGHTERS OF MARY
Finally, Bishop Devie gave permission, and on
Sept. 8th 1823, the first community of Marist
sisters came together.
On Dec. 8th 1824, in the Church at Cerdon, the
first Clothing Ceremony took place- the first
ceremony of the Society of Mary.
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MOVE TO BELLEY
Bishop Devie invited the three Marist priests
to Belley so they could conduct missions in the
mountain hamlets.
The Colin brothers arrived in June 1825. Five
days later (June 29th) the Sisters arrived-15 in
all- (10 Novices and 5 Postulants)
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MARIST SISTERS
When Jeanne-Marie and the other sisters arrived
at Bon Repos, they found a small house, a barn
and a disused field
Jeanne-Marie lost no time in adding an extra
storey to the house and in transforming the barn
into a chapel.
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SISTERS FIRST VOWS
It was here on Sept 6th 1826 that the Sisters
made their first vows to Bishop Devie
Jeanne-Marie Chavoin
Sisters Chapel
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BON REPOS TODAY
The Mother house still has a community of
sisters who look after a retirement home for women
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CONFLICT OF VIEWS
Relations between Colin and Chavoin became
strained between 1839 and 1852
Colin wanted the sisters to lead an enclosed
monastic life which included singing the Office
in choir. Chavoin wanted them to be free to
respond to the needs of people
The Choir Stalls can be seen to the right of
photo
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CHAVOINS RESIGNATION
Chavoin resigned and went to live with the
community at Meximieux. Here, her inactivity and
isolation were a great suffering.
Colin resigned in 1854 and his successor, Fr
Favre and the Superior General of the Sisters,
invited Chavoin to open a new house in the small
village of Jarnosse. Better things were ahead.
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MIRACLE AT JARNOSSE
At Jarnosse the community was able to live the
kind of Marist life that Jean-Marie had always
intended for the sisters. They were known and
loved by the local people.
They taught in the local school, performed parish
work and helped adults in need.
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CHAVOINS DEATH
Jean-Marie died at Jarnosse in June 1858 at the
age of 72. Her last years were spent supervising
the construction of the convent, borrowing money
to pay bills and seeing her dream for the sisters
come true
Jean-Maries body was moved to the chapel at Bon
Repos in 1962 where it resides, out of sight,
behind the choir stall.
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THE MARIST FATHERS
Events moved more slowly in the establishment of
the Marist Fathers A letter to Rome in 1819
failed to elicit a reply from the Church
authorities. The request to move to the Diocese
of LePuy in 1820 was not successful. Authorities
were opposed to a community of Marist priests in
the diocese of Lyon.
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SEEKING APPROVAL
Fr. Declas asked permission to go to Rome to
present their cause, but this was
refused. Courveille drafted a letter to be sent
to the Pope- but it was considered unsuitable.
The Colin brothers composed another letter for
Rome, which Courveille signed. This letter
received a response- the first positive sign from
the authorities (1822)
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COLIN OFF TO PARIS
Jean-Claude Colin was chosen to represent the
Marists and to present their cause in Paris. He
presented the Rule he had been working on for the
previous five years. He had to make a second
visit in 1823 with a revised Rule.
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1823 ANOTHER SETBACK
In 1823 Rome changed the diocesan boundaries in
France, affecting Lyon. As a result, the Marist
priests at Cerdon were in a different diocese to
those at Lavalla. They could no longer meet
together. The authorities in Paris gave Colins
Marist dossier to the new Bishop of Belley- at
first a problem.later a blessing.
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1824 A BEGINNING
May the archbishops council in Lyon decided to
transfer Courveille to Lavalla to help
Champagnat. October Fr. Declas was allowed to
leave his parish to join the Colin brothers at
Cerdon. This was the first real community of
Marist priests. The Project had begun. Marist
priests were now at Lavalla and at Cerdon.
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1825 MOVE TO BELLEY
Bishop Devie called the three Marist priests from
Cerdon to Belley in June 1825. He provided
lodging for them in the minor seminary and had
them conduct parish missions in the country
regions of the diocese
The minor seminary
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1826 MORE PROBLEMS
Fr. Courveille had not endeared himself to the
Marist Brothers at Lavalla or LHermitage and
left Champagnat in May. He had also upset Colin
and the other Marists. Fr Terraillon wanted to
join the trio of Marist priests at Belley,
instead of staying with Champagnat at
LHermitage. He left LHermitage in October to
preach a series of Jubilee sermons
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1830- SECRET ELECTION
In October, the Lyon Marists journeyed to Belley
for a meeting. They elected Colin as Central
Superior and Champagnat as Provincial-Rector
of LHermitage.
The town of Belley
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PROGRESS CONTINUES
1832- a THIRD Marist community was established
at Valbenoite 1833- Colin and two companions
went to Rome to seek papal approval for the
Marist Project 1834- Letter of approval for
the Third Order (lay people) and for the
Priests to elect a Superior. No approval for
the Marist Priests, Sisters or Brothers.
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1836-VICTORY AT LAST
20 Years after their pledge at Fourviere, the
Marist priests won approval from Rome-Not for
the Sisters or Brothers!
The Papal decree Omnium Gentium recognised the
Marist Fathers and entrusted them with the
mission area of Western Oceania
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BELLEY GATHERING
September 1836- 24 priests gathered at the Belley
seminary to discuss the election of a Superior
and to select the new missionaries.
On September 24th in the Chapel at La
Capuciniere, Colin was elected Superior General
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PRIESTS- FIRST VOWS
Twenty Marists knelt at these steps on Sept 24th
1836 to make their vows
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MARIST MISSIONARIES

• Dec 24th 1836, eight Marists left France for the
  missions of the Pacific
• Bishop Pompallier
• Four Marist Priests (including St Peter Chanel)
• Three Marist Brothers (though still not
  officially approved or recognised)

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BACK TO LYON
Colin purchased Puylata(in Lyon) in 1838, and
moved there himself in 1839. It was to be the
General House of the Marist priests for some time.
Puylata was just down the hill from the Fourviere
shrine and not far from the Marist Sisters
convent.
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COLIN AT La NEYLIERE
La Neyliere was purchased in 1852 and Colin spent
his last years there writing the Marist Rule. It
was accepted by the Priests in 1870 and approved
by Rome in 1873.
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COLINS DEATH
Colin died at La Neyliere on November 15th 1875
He is buried in the chapel there. The stone at
the left covers his grave- a simple monument to
this great man. He was leader of the Marists,
Founder of the Marist Fathers, and Co-founder of
the Marist Sisters
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THE THIRD ORDER (LAITY)
From the beginning, the laity were going to be an
integral part of the Marist Project- the THIRD
group with the Priests and Religious.
The initial Marist Laity group was established at
Cerdon. It consisted of a group of 30 men who met
together for prayer under the direction of the
two Colin brothers.
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THIRD ORDER IN BELLEY
When the Colin brothers moved to Belley, they
established another group of lay Marists, called
the Confraternity of the Mother of God Rome
gave approval to this group in 1834, but Colin
later withdrew his support and encouragement. (He
thought the Bishop might think he was usurping
his authority).
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THE LYON LAY GROUPS

• In Lyon, TWO groups were established
• A group of men who became known as the Tertiary
  Brothers of Mary (1832)
• A group of women who were known as the
  Association of Christian Virgins (1836)

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THE TERTIARY BROTHERS
The Tertiary Brothers of Mary met in this
building- just 50m from the shrine of Fourviere
In 1832, under the direction of Fr. Pompallier,
they became associated with the Marist Project.
They made vows but wore no distinctive attire and
kept their own employment.
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THE CHRISTIAN VIRGINS
In 1836, four young women agreed to attend a
meeting convened by Pompallier. He invited them
to form the Association of Christian
Virgins. Soon after this, Pompallier was invited
to go to the Missions, so this new group was left
on their own without a chaplain.
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MISSION SUPPORTERS
With no Marist Priest to guide them, they
continued to meet regularly and felt very much
part of the Marist Project.
In 1845, this group had 14 members who met at the
Marist Sisters house in Lyon.They read letters
from the Missionaries, prayed for them and made
clothing for them.
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Womens groups expand
In 1850 Fr Eymard was appointed by Fr. Colin to
look after this group of women. Their numbers
increased and new groups were begun for Mothers
and Young Girls. These groups became very popular
and spread to other regions of France.
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FRANCOISE PERROTON
Born in 1796, Perroton lived in Lyon.
She had no direct contact with the Marist
pioneers, but she was involved with the
Propagation of the Faith group in Lyon. In 1843
she read a letter in one of their publications
requesting women for the missions of the Pacific.
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OFF TO THE MISSIONS
In 1845, at the age of 49, Perroton decided God
was calling her to go to the Pacific
Missions. She expressed her wish to Fr Eymard,
and spoke to the captain of a ship who was taking
supplies to the Missions. (He was a member of the
Marist Third order). After a visit to the
shrine of Fourviere (with Fr Eymard) she set off
for Wallis Island.
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MARIST MISSIONARY SISTERS
Perroton was alone on Wallis Island until 1857,
when three other women came to join her. In 1858
six more came. Another arrived in 1860. These
were the Pioneers of the Marist Missionary
Sisters
This 1890s photo from Wallis Is. shows Sr. Marie
Rose de Lima, a Pioneer from 1858 seated in the
middle
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SMSM SISTERS TODAY
Today the Marist Missionary Sisters are very much
part of the Marist Family and work to achieve the
aims of the Marist Project.
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THE MARIST FAMILY
The original concept for priests, brothers,
sisters and laity, all working under one
Superior, was too complicated for the
authorities in Rome.
A Third Order (Laity) was approved in 1834 The
Priests were given approval in 1836 The Brothers
group was approved in 1852 The Marist Sisters
were approved in 1884 The Marist Missionary
Sisters in 1932
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WORLDWIDE MARISTS
In 2001, the four Marist Orders each had their
General Chapters in Rome. They gathered on Sept
12th to celebrate the feast of The Holy Name of
Mary.
Marist World Leaders
Chapter delegates from the four Marist Orders at
a special Papal audience.
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THE WORK OF MARY
To enable Church to happen may be a useful way
of describing the Marist enterprise.
The specific task of Marists is to be there- as
Mary was at the beginning of the Church.
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The Marist Project continues today in the lives
of those who make the effort to live the dream of
the original Marist Pioneers.
Mural near the tomb of Colin, showing Mary and
the Pacific missionaries
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More information may be found under the heading
Marist Spirituality on the Maristoz
website www.maristoz.edu.au
A Marist Resources Product Produced by Br. Terry
Mulligan