About Us

Who are we?

We are a group of people who are attracted by this particular form of catholic charism/spirituality. We call ourselves Champagnat Marists or to keep it shorter sometimes just 'Marist' after the founder of our order St Marcellin Champagnat. We are made up of two distinct groups you may have noticed the title of our website 'Brother & Lay together into a new world...' but who or what are Brothers & Lay?

Brothers

To use another term you may be familiar with, brothers are monks. These men are not Catholic priests but are another type of Catholic vocation. Marist Brothers live together in communities and have taken vows (promises) of:

• poverty
• chastity
• obedience

Much of the time, we wear ordinary clothes distinguished by a Marist cross and symbol. But there are occasions when we wear our traditional habit of soutane, knotted cord and and crucifix. Like Champagnat we are stirred by the love of God we have experienced and express that love through working with young people especially those on the margins.

Lay

Lay or 'the Laity' is a term for ordinary people within the catholic church. Champagnat Lay Marists are people from all different works of life, men and women who have decided to live the spirituality of Champagnat Marists. They are a diverse bunch of people but they live and work as any other ordinary person would but with this they also live in a Marist way working with Brothers to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to the world.

Together into a new world...

What does this mean? Well, the idea of an equal partnership between Brothers & Lay is only new. We plan together to support each other as we step into a new period of our history, creating a new way in a new world.

 

In this new world we unite under the five pillars of our common charism:

• Presence
• Simplicity
• Family Spirit
• Love of Work
• In the Way of Mary