Our Mission as Marianists

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Our Mission as Marianists

• Who Are We and What Do We Do?

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Who are the founders?
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The Marianist Founders
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The French RevolutionA Turning Point

• The French Revolution disrupted the civil and
  religious foundations of the country.
• Because of the association of the upper clergy of
  the Church with the privileged classes, it became
  a target of persecution.
• Churches and Catholic run schools were closed and
  confiscated.

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The French Revolution cont.

• Priests and religious were required to sign a
  Civil Oath requiring allegiance to the
  government.
• Those who refused to sign the oath risked
  imprisonment and the guillotine.
• Others chose exile or to go underground.

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Blessed William Joseph Chaminade(1761-1850)

• Ministered in the city of Bordeaux where he was
  involved with the formation of sodalities.
• During the persecution of the Church went
  underground.
• Went around in disguise while he continued to
  minister to people in secret.
• Later was exiled to Saragossa, Spain.

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Chaminade continued

• Chaminade had a strong devotion to Mary
  Immaculate.
• While praying at the shrine of Our Lady of the
  Pillar he received the inspiration to found a
  society of men to help re-Christianize France
  after the revolution.
• Called this group the Society of Mary
• Believed education was a key way to promote faith
  and founded normal schools to promote this
  endeavor.

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Chaminade continued

• Chaminade believed that it would be principally
  the laity who would carry on the mission.
• He saw the role of the religious as one of
  guidance and support for the laity.
• The suppression of the sodalities led him to
  refocus his efforts on the religious.
• Chaminade was beatified on September 3, 2000.
• Pope John Paul II spoke of him as the prophet to
  the laity.
• His feast is January 22.

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Adele de Batz de Trenquellion

• She and her family went into exile during the
  French Revolution.
• Started an association of young women to serve
  the poor and evangelize.
• Corresponded with Fr. Chaminade. They never met
  they communicated through letters.
• Chaminade helped her to form a religious
  community of women the Daughters of Mary
  Immaculate.

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Marie Therese de Lamourous

• During the revolution was a part of the
  underground church ministered to peoples
  spiritual needs when no priests were available.
• Friend of Chaminade who was her confessor worked
  together for 40 years.
• Helped with the Bordeaux sodality, was
  Chaminades financial advisor, and recommended
  Adele to lead the Daughters of Mary.
• Worked to rehabilitate prostitutes at the
  Misericorde (Mercy).

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Chaminades Spirituality

• Believed faith should be transformative so we
  would become more like Christ.
• His System of Virtues was the basis of his
  spiritual direction.
• To Jesus through Mary.
• Seek the help of Mary to help us become more like
  Jesus.
• Do whatever he tells you.
• Our mission is to change the world multiply
  Christians.
• We do this in community.
• Community should be inclusive the Family of Mary
  is composed of priests, brothers and sisters, and
  laypeople.

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Marian Centered Spirituality

• Mary as the Model Disciple
• Mary as Intercessor
• Formed her Son and we can look to her to form us
  in the image of her Son
• Mary continues Jesus mission

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Mission

• Mission was a key element of Chaminades
  spirituality.
• Based on Jesus mission to preach and incarnate
  the message of salvation.
• The Early church was entrusted to carry on this
  mission.
• Through Mary we enter into this mission
• It is a permanent mission to provide stability.

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Mission continued

• Chaminade saw Mary as integral to carrying on the
  mission of her Son.
• Do whatever he tells you.
• Done in the context of community
• Building up the community was a mission in
  itself, a permanent mission to provide stability.
• Community grows through the method of absorption
  an invitation for others to participate and be
  members drawing others in.

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Community

• In community
• the presence of Christ is felt
• the message is shared
• works are carried out
• the virtues of Jesus are lived
• there is a burning desire to spread community
• there is the living spectacle of the Gospel

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Marys Mission

• From our association with the universal mission
  of Mary comes our sense of personal mission.
• Every Marianist, lay and religious, is called to
  be a missionary.
• We offer ourselves to Mary
• We are inspired by her.
• We seek her aid and help to grow in maturity and
  in the virtues of Christ.

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The School Mission

• Missionary Action (The mission in the Marianist
  family is not so much what we do but by how we do
  it and by who we are when we do it.)
• Raise up little missionaries
• Preferential option for youth
• Help others see our unity and glory in the God
  who brings unity out of diverse groups
• Educate those in our schools of the mission
• Live the mission
• See school missions in light of the Marianist
  mission

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Characteristics of Marianist Education

• Educate for Formation in Faith
• Provide an Integral Quality Education
• Educate in Family Spirit
• Educate for Service, Justice, and Peace
• Educate for Adaptation and Change

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• Bill Raddell
• Villa Angela St. Joseph High School
• wraddell_at_vasj.com or braddell_at_juno.com