The Marist Brothers, or Little Brothers of Mary, are a Catholic religious order of brothers and affiliated lay people. The first Marist contact with Australia in 1837 and took up permanent residence at Villa Maria, Hunters Hill, New South Wales in 1847. The Australian community was part of the Pacific missions province (Oceania) until 1926 and then part of the New Zealand province of the Society of Mary until 1938. In that year the province of Australia was established.
The Marist Brothers, or Little Brothers of Mary, are a Catholic religious order of brothers and affiliated lay people. The order was founded in France, at La Valla-en-Gier near Lyon in 1817 by Saint Marcellin Champagnat, a young French priest of the Society of Mary (Marist Fathers).
The first Marist contact with Australia came in 1837. Using Sydney as a supply base to support their efforts in missions throughout the vast South Pacific, the early members of the Society of Mary were based in various places around Sydney until they took up permanent residence at Villa Maria, Hunters Hill in 1847.
The Australian community was part of the Pacific missions province (Oceania) until 1926 and then part of the New Zealand province of the Society of Mary until 1938.
In that year the province of Australia was established. The provincial superior lived at St Patrick's, Church Hill in Sydney until 1966, after which the provincial headquarters were moved to Hunters Hill.
Prepared by: Leanne Howard
Created: 16 March 2011, Last modified: 11 September 2013
Last updated: 17 October 2023
Cite this: https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/ref/wa/biogs/WE00327b.htm
First published by the Find & Connect Web Resource Project for the Commonwealth of Australia, 2011
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