The Marist Brothers first arrived in Samoa in 1871 but left six years later due to civil unrest. They returned in 1888 and established a primary school at Mulivai, Apia. This schoool is still going and will celebrate 125 years in 2013. The other school in Apia is St Joseph's College which was established as a high school in 1950 at the Mulivai property. It transferred to Lotopa in 1960 when it became a college and moved to its present site at Alafua in 1989. Its sixtieth jubilee was celebrated this year.

The brothers have also worked in American Samoa, beginning an elementary school in 1905 and a high school in 1969. The brothers withdrew from American Samoa in 1991. Today there are ten brothers working in Samoa at both primary and secondary schools.