Born in Cerdon (France) under the leadership of Jean-Claude Colin, the Society of Mary was recognized by an apostolic brief on April 29, 1836 and is made up of several branches (fathers, brothers, sisters, third order).

The branch of the “Marist Fathers” was founded by Jean-Claude Colin and approved by Rome on April 29, 1836 (at the same time as the Society of Mary itself).

They mainly work where the economic and social situations are the most difficult (slums, orphanages, disadvantaged neighbourhoods, juvenile detention centers, etc.).

They are contemplative and apostolic nuns (parish animation, distribution of communion to the sick, catechumenate, youth ministry, etc.).

Founded by Jean-Claude Colin, it was however Pierre-Julien Eymard who organized it, developed it, wrote its rules and obtained its approval by Rome on December 5, 1850.

Today the Society, with its Generalate in Rome, operates in five Provinces: Canada, Europe, New Zealand, Oceania, and USA, along with five mission districts: Africa (Senegal and Cameroun), South America (Brazil and Peru), Asia (The Philippines and Thailand), Australia and Mexico.

The reception from the ecclesiastical authorities in Lyon was decidedly cool since the diocese was afraid of losing priests from its control, given the dramatic local needs.

In 1823, Bishop Devie of Belley authorised Colin and a few companions to resign their parish duties and form into a travelling missionary band for the rural districts.

However, little progress could be made toward the foundation of a true religious congregation, since like the Lyons authorities, Bishop Devie wanted at most a diocesan institute only, while Fr.

Under vicar apostolic Bishop Jean Baptiste Pompallier who took up residence in New Zealand, the Marists successively moved to Wallis in 1837, soon converted by Father Pierre Bataillon; Futuna in 1837, the place of Saint Pierre Chanel's martyrdom; Tonga in 1842; New Caledonia in 1843, where Bishop Douarre, Pompallier's coadjutor, met untold difficulties and Brother Blaise Marmoiton was martyred; and, in spite of much Protestant opposition, Fiji in 1844 and Samoa in 1845.

Bishop Pompallier retained Auckland and the Navigator Islands (1851), long administered by the Vicar Apostolic of Central Oceania, along with the Prefecture of Fiji (1863).

Those various missions have progressed steadily under the Marist Fathers who, besides their religious work, have largely contributed to make known the languages, fauna, and flora of the South Sea Islands.

The growth of New Zealand was such as to call for a regular hierarchy, and the Marists were concentrated (1887) in the Archdiocese of Wellington and Diocese of Christchurch that were still governed by members of the institute.

[7] In Great Britain, the Marist foundations began as early as 1850 at the request of Nicholas Cardinal Wiseman, Archbishop of Westminster, but have not grown beyond three colleges and five parishes.

The Holy See, keen to establish the Catholic faith in this area, entrusted its evangelization efforts of Oceania to the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (Picpus Fathers).

Subsequently the territory was divided, so that the Holy See assigned a Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Oceania (including Tahiti, the Marquesas, and Hawaii) to the Picpus Fathers, and established a Vicariate Apostolic of Western Oceania (including Micronesia, Melanesia, Fiji, New Zealand, Samoa, and Tonga) which was assigned to the Society of Mary (Marists).

It was as a result of some preliminary contacts with Rome that this missionary task was proposed to the Marists, and upon their acceptance Pope Gregory XVI, by a Brief of April 29, 1836, formally approved the "Priests of the Society of Mary" or Marist Fathers as a religious institute with simple vows and under a Superior General.

Father Colin was elected Superior General on September 24, 1836, and on that same day the first Marist religious professions took place.