Our founder and other biographies

VENERABLE JEAN-CLAUDE COLIN

Born 7 August 1790; ordained priest 22 July 1816; elected superior general and professed as a Marist 24 September 1836; resigned 9 May 1854; died 15 November 1875; cause introduced 9 December 1908.The Founder of the Marist Fathers, Fr. Jean Claude Colin (1790-1875) was born on the 7th of August 1790 in Saint-Bonnet-le-Troncy, a town in the Beaujolais region of France.

He was reared in the atmosphere of the French revolution and during a time of persecution of the church. His father had been imprisoned for his faith, and sometimes had to go into hiding, taking great risks by sheltering priests. Young Jean Claude was only two when both his mother and father died. As he grew up the desire for the priesthood became strong in his mind, and later in the seminary along with some others he made plans for a religious congregation bearing the name of Mary.

On the 23rd July 1816 Fr. Colin, with other young priests and seminarians, pledged to establish a Society of Mary, in the chapel of Our Lady of Fourviere, Lyons. In the same year he was ordained and joined a country parish in Cerdon as curate. He did not seem a likely candidate to found a worldwide religious congregation, as he was shy and retiring. Yet there he began his work which eventually led him to attracting hundreds of men to his side and sending some of them across the world to die even, for the ideals he set before them.

This young curate was busy putting onto paper plans for the future Society of Mary.

In 1824 Father Colin with his brother Pierre and two other priests were allowed by the bishop to form themselves into a little band and to preach missions in the diocese (Marist Fathers). At the same time a number of young women started with him the Sisters of the Congregation of Mary (Marist Sisters).

The first beginnings of the third Order of Mary for lay people (Marist Laity) had also taken shape. Yet another group, under Saint Marcellin Champagnat, (Marist Brothers) was being formed for teaching. The original seed sown in the group of seminarians was growing into a tree with various branches.

In 1830 Fr. Colin was elected “superior” of the group of Marist aspirants as they endeavored to attain approval for their group from Rome.

In January 1836 the Pope confided the missions of Western Oceania in the South Pacific to this new group of Marist Fathers and the following April Rome approved the Society of Mary, Marist Fathers. The following September the first twenty Marist Fathers made their profession and Fr. Colin was elected as the First Superior General. On Christmas Eve 1836, the first group of Marist missionaries left for the missions in Western Oceania in the South Pacific.

In 1854 Fr. Colin resigned as Superior General of the Marist Fathers and retired to La Neyliere where an atmosphere of prayer allowed him to work on the Constitutions. Jean Claude Colin died on the 15th November 1875.

Some of the other main characters

JEAN-CLAUDE COURVEILLE

Born 15 March 1787; had the idea of the Society 15 August 1812; ordained priest 22 July 1816; left 1826; professed as a Benedictine 21 March 1838; died 25 September 1866.

SAINT MARCELLIN CHAMPAGNAT

Born 20 May 1789; ordained priest 22 July 1816; founded the Marist Brothers 2 January 1817; professed as a Marist 24 September 1836; gave up leadership of his institute 12 October 1839; died 6 June 1840; cause introduced 9 August 1896; declared blessed 29 May 1955; declared saint 18 April 1999.

JEANNE-MARIE CHAVOIN (MOTHER SAINT-JOSEPH)

Born 29 August 1786; foundation of Marist Sisters 1817; elected superior general and took habit 8 December 1824; professed 6 September 1826; resigned 29 April 1853; died 30 June 1858.

SAINT PETER CHANEL

Born 12 July 1803; ordained priest 15 July 1827; joined staff in Belley school September 1831; professed as a Marist 24 September 1836; left for Oceania 24 December 1836; was killed in Futuna 28 April 1841; cause introduced 24 September 1857; declared blessed 17 November 1889; declared saint 12 June 1954.

SAINT PETER JULIAN EYMARD

Born 4 February 1811; ordained priest 20 July 1834; professed as a Marist 16 February 1840; dispensed from his vows 14 May 1856; founded Priests of the Blessed Sacrament 1856; died 1 August 1868; cause introduced 12 August 1908; declared blessed 12 July 1925; declared saint 9 December 1962.

BLAISE MARMOITON

Born 16 March 1812; professed as a Marist 11 March 1843; left for Oceania 4 May 1843; was killed 19 July 1847; cause introduced 14 May 1919.