A Marist Education

Our school was founded by Marist Sisters in 1870. Being a Marist School is what makes us so special. You can use this section of the website to find out more about:

 

What is 'Marist'?
Marist is the name given to members of the 'Society of Mary' (a Catholic religious congregation) which was founded by Jean-Claude Colin in Lyon, France.

The Marist Founder (source: www.smnz.org.nz/marist/founder.htm)

Jean-Claude Colin was born in France in 1790 at the time of the French Revolution. At this time there was a great deal of turmoil and a split between the Church and French Society. The Revolution also divided the Church, some priests being faithful to Rome, while others pledged allegiance to the constitution. Jean-Claude's parents supported those loyal to Rome; his father openly supporting the parish priest. Consequently an order of arrest was issued against his father, Jacques, who had to hide for a year in fear of his life. With all this suffering Jean-Claude's mother, Marie died aged 37. His father died only three weeks later.

Jean-Claude was strongly influenced by these events and he realised that people had great needs. He believed that the best way to help them was to be a source of compassion, a gentle presence, hidden in the world but not hidden from the world, just as Mary had been for the early church. It was this way of thinking that led to Jean-Claude Colin (although he was a reluctant leader) being called to develop the vision of the Society of Mary.


Jean-Claude Colin (founder of the Marists)