Marianists

Chaminade Park, at Mount St. John.  Photo by Jack Somerville, SM.

What does the “Marianist” in MEEC’s name mean?  The Marianist Family is an international Catholic community of religious priests, brothers, sisters, and lay men and women who live their Christian life as Mary did, open to God's loving action, responsive to the Spirit's invitation, and willing to be a dynamic participant in Jesus’ mission. 

Like Mary and with Mary, we form Christ within us and embody Christ in our world and in our times.  We cry out for justice, stand with the suffering, pray at times of great uncertainty for discernment and for the courage to go out to do “ whatever he tells us.” (John 2:5)

The Marianist Family was founded in France at the end of the French revolution by Blessed William Joseph Chaminade, Adele de Batz de Trenquelleon, and Marie Therese de Lamourous.

The Marianist Family in North America is comprised of the following branches:

The Society of Mary

The Daughters of Mary Immaculate

The Marianist Lay Network of North America

Other Marianist Links
The Marianist Social Justice Collaborative works to strengthen the combined efforts of lay and religious members of the Marianist Family in educating and acting for social justice.

The North American Center for Marianist Studies seeks to help the Marianist Family grow in understanding, appreciating, sharing and developing its heritage and its place in the Church today.

The World Council of the Marianist Family represents Marianists around the world.