Marist Teaching Brothers 

WHO ARE THEY?
The Marist Teaching brothers are religious consecrated to God, and they follow Jesus in the way that Mary did. They live in community and dedicate themselves in a special way to the education of children and young people, with a preference for those who are the most neglected.St. Marcellin Champagnat, a priest from France, founded the Congregation of the Marist Teaching Brothers in 1817. Worldwide, there are more than 4300 of them working in 76 countries on 5 continents; Europe, Africa, North America, Asia, and Oceania. Australian Marist Brothers also serve in welfare ministries working with young adults in outreach programs in Australian Aboriginal communities and also in missions in nearby Papua New Guinea, Bougainville, Solomon Islands, and East Timor. Marists from Australia also serve communities in Cambodia and India. They directly share their mission and spirituality with more than 40,000 laypeople, and together they are educating close to 500,000 children and young people.

HISTORY
The Marist order was founded in France, at LaValla near Lyon in 1817 by Saint Marcellin Champagnat, a young French priest of the Society of Mary (Marist Fathers). In 1863 the Marist Brothers institute received the approbation of the Holy See. The Marist Brothers arrived in Sydney, Australia in 1872 where they opened their first school at St Patick's Church Hill. There are now over 300 Brothers working with young people in schools as teachers and administrators, in retreat houses and camps for young people and in other areas of ministry.

BECOMING A MARIST TEACHING BROTHER
A Marist brother requires the following steps: discerning one's vocation, applying for entrance into a formation community, and then living in a novitiate for a time that concludes with the profession of vows or formal promises. After that, the newly professed brother furthers his academic education to prepare for his mission and tasks in future years, beginning his dedicated life of educating children and young people in the most diverse situations, fully aware of the priceless value of this service. WE NEED BROTHERS AND SISTERS...Marcellin Champagnat, aware of the needs of youth, and beleaguered by many requests from all over the map, used to plead, "We need brothers!". Given the social and ecclesiastical context in today's world, Marcellin would surely repeat his wish, and add to it -"We need brothers and sisters, lay people, teachers, group leaders and aides... who want to live in fraternal solidarity". This urgent message of Marcellin is summed up in the words of Jesus, "The harvest is abundant, but there aren't enough workers. Tell the Owner to send us more!". 

Just as Mary did, Marcellin kept his eyes open. She picked up on the needs of her cousin Elizabeth, and noticed the embarrassed look in the eyes of the newlyweds at Cana. Today, all of us who want to follow Marcellin need to be alert to what's going on around us. When forlorn faces of hapless youngsters, or the crying needs of the poor and abandoned enter our concerned and sensitive vision, indifference is not an option. When a generous heart is involved, situations like that bring out the best in us. In the past, most of the time we set up schools, but today we're encountering new problems sitting on our doorstep: street children, drug addicts, people in absolute poverty... In order to address these urgent needs, we need more brothers and sisters, religious and lay people.

CONTACT
Superior Laumanasa - Tenaru, Solomon Islands