Who We Are - Marists of Champagnat

Dear Marists of Champagnat,

We are living in exciting and hopeful times in the Marist world! A General Chapter was held last fall, electing new leadership for the Institute and giving us new calls about how to move forward in the next few years. These calls are guidelines for us: how to live out the Marist mission and charism in our own time and in our own place.

From the Message of the General Chapter, we hear, “Today, under the theme of ‘Home for All, River of Life,’ we, too, are called to build a New Hermitage. This is not a structure fixed in one place, but a living reality that moves like the river itself, wherever Marists live in faith (and in communion) and bring life to others.

The vision invites us to look beyond and to walk with boldness, tenderness, and hope.

“The calls, Vocation, Spirituality, Community, Governance and Leadership, and Mission are not separate elements, but pieces of a beautiful mosaic…”

Pope Francis, in Fratelli Tutti (2020), reminds us, “How important it is to dream together.”

These calls are our invitation to dream together! How can I personally live out these calls? How can my local group work together to live out the calls? And what can we do in our Arco Norte region and in the larger Marist Institute?

Our National Assembly is an invitation to dream together, as are the gatherings in our local groups. In prayer and fellowship, in communion, Brothers and lay together, we can not only dream, but also respond with actions that strengthen our mission: to reach out to the most vulnerable, to the most marginalized, with prayer as well as action, to make Jesus known and loved.

I encourage you in these next three years to find ways to stay connected, both locally and province-wide. There are many opportunities to do so: ongoing formation offerings for Bible study, group spiritual direction, book clubs on DEI, online retreats, the cohort formation webinars, and your local group gatherings.

To be with our fellow Marists is to nourish our spirituality, so needed in this time of chaos and uncertainty in our world.

Let us remember to pray for each other!

Maureen Hagan - Director, Marists of Champagnat USA

Shared Mission and Spirituality

At the heart of our shared spirituality are the Five Marist Pillars, which shape the way we live, serve, and build community together.

Guided by Family Spirit, Love of Work, Simplicity, Presence, and In the Way of Mary, we seek to bring Christ's love to young people and those most in need through humble service, authentic relationships, and faithful witness.

Formation Pathways

Pathway 1:

Encountering the Charism

This pathway is for anyone curious about Marist spirituality. Through conversation, reflection, and shared prayer, participants are invited to discover how the Marist story may be unfolding in their own lives.

Pathway 2:

Cohort Formation, Discerning a Vocation

For those sensing a deeper call, cohort formation offers a more intentional journey. Together, participants listen, learn, and discern whether they are being invited to live as Lay Marists of Champagnat through a formal commitment.