Marist Brothers of the Schools is a Religious Missionary Congregation in the Catholic Church. The Congregation was founded in Champagnat1817 in La Valla, France by St. Marcellin Champagnat, a French Priest. The sole mission of the Marist Brothers is Christian Education of Children and young people particularly those most neglected. Marist Brothers are in over 80 countries of the world.
Dream of the Founder: A dying young boy by name Granjon was visited by Fr. Marcellin. Upon interaction, he realized that the little boy knew nothing about God and the Catholic faith. This incident made Fr. Champagnat to resolve to found a Congregation of teaching Brothers to eliminate such ignorance in the world.
The Marist Brothers of the Schools have a network of over 600 Secondary Schools worldwide and 89 Tertiary Institutions in all the five continents of the world. The Marist Brothers came to Nigeria in 1949. The first schools managed by the Marist Brothers were Bishop Shanahan College (BSC), Orlu in Imo State, and College of Immaculate Conception (CIC), Enugu.
Mission: Sole mission is Christian education of young people, particularly those most neglected.
Presence in the world: The Marist Brothers in a more than 80 countries in the world. With presence in all the five continents.
Schools owned: Marist Brothers have a network of over 600 secondary schools worldwide, and 29 tertiary institutions.
Mission in Nigeria.
Arrived in 1949 through the invitation of Bishop Whelan of Owerri Archdiocese. Bishop Whelan was inspired by the works of the Marist Brothers in his home Diocese in Ireland. Hence, he invited the Brothers to do same in Nigeria.
First Mission: Handed over the management and running of Bishop Shanahan College (BSC), Orlu, and College of Immaculate Conception (CIC), Enugu. These schools were later taken over by the government of Eastern Nigeria in 1970 after the civil war.
Current Missions: Currently, the Marist Brothers have 8 Secondary Schools in Nigeria. They include: Marist Brothers’ Juniorate, Uturu, Abia State, Marist Comprehensive Academy, Uturu, Abia State, Marist Comprehensive College, Ezzagu, Ebonyi State, Christ the King College, Gwagwalada, Abuja, Marist Comprehensive College, Nteje, Anambra State, Sacred Heart Marist College, Ejule, Kogi State, Marist College, Yangoji, Abuja, and Christ the King Catholic Marist College, Ire-Ekiti, Ekiti State.Currently the Brothers run 8 Secondary schools, 4 primary schools, computer institute, Hopeville Rehabilitation Centre. ( list them). Marist Polytechnic, Umuchigbo-Iji Nike, P.O. Box 104, Emene-Enugu, Enugu State, and proposed Marist University is under construction at Udi Local government, Enugu.
The distinctive Marist style and pedagogy of education which has stood the test of time is rooted in these principles: presence, simplicity, family spirit, love of work, and following in the footsteps of Mary.
