-St. Marcellin Champagnat

a directional statement...
a hope...
a mandate...
a prayer...

Whatever way you look at that statement of our Founder, St. Marcellin Champagnat, the message was and still is quite clear: WE NEED BROTHERS. There was a need in 1817 and there is a need today.

During Marcellin's time, when seeing children and young people without schooling and knowledge of their faith, he would say, "We need brothers!" On January 2, 1817, he set in motion his plan for the Congregation of "the little brothers of Mary" with two young recruits. That 1817 motion has developed into over 3,700 Brothers today in 78 countries striving to make Jesus known and loved. Marcellin needed Brothers in his day. We need Brothers in our day as well.

WE NEED BROTHERS today… to continue the charism of Marcellin in a world filled with young people who have little or no knowledge of their faith and to experience how that faith can direct and influence their lives.

WE NEED BROTHERS today… to receive and live the charism as consecrated Religious in a community of Brothers, inviting Marist partners into that community to witness to the world a life of community, prayer, and ministry.

WE NEED BROTHERS today… to sharpen the spiritual focus of youth who are living in a world with a variety of influences some of which lead them down non-productive, self-destructive paths.


Would you consider being one of Marcellin's "needed" Brothers today?

Sam Amos, Marist Discerner, (back row - third from right) attending vow renewal of Temporary Professed Br. Brian Poulin (back row - fourth from right) in Lawrence, Massachusetts in August 2011