Fourvière Day: Provincial Br Darren Burge on how Marcellin's pledge continues to shape the Marist mission in our Province today

23 July marks a significant date in our shared Marist history: Fourvière Day. On this day

in 1816, Marcellin Champagnat was among twelve aspiring Marists who climbed the

800 steps to the chapel of Our Lady of Fourvière, overlooking Lyon.

There they pledged themselves to the foundation of a new religious movement,

the Mary-ists, whose life and ministry would be shaped by Mary’s way of

living the Gospel. This moment became the foundation of the Society of Mary,

which would take many forms: brothers, sisters, laity and priests.

Pledge of Fourvière

Br Emili Turú, former Superior General, explains that Marcellin made the Fourvière pledge concrete through the Brothers: The Marists understood their Project to be a sharing in Mary’s work of bringing Christ-life to birth and being with the Church as it came to be born (WFR 11)….Practical man that he was, he wanted the ideals to be made concrete….he repeated time and again in his meetings with his companions of the Society of Mary: We need Brothers! His way of constructing a different Church, renewed, with a Marian face, became concrete through the foundation of the Little Brothers of Mary. ‘He Gave Us the Name of Mary’ (p.36).

For Marcellin, Fourvière was not only a pledge but a call to action, leading him to found the Marist Brothers at La Valla on 2 January 1817, creating a community dedicated to bringing Christ to young people, especially those most in need.

From that small beginning at La Valla, the Marist mission continued to grow and evolve, crossing borders and reaching generations of young people around the world. Two centuries later, that same spirit and mission continue to guide us. As we come to the end of this month, Marist Schools Australia (MSA) will gather in Perth for their biennial conference. Many of our schools are also welcoming students back after the term break, while in Aotearoa New Zealand the Marist family prepares to celebrate 150 years of Marist education.

These moments invite us to reflect on how the Marist mission continues to speak in our own time. At the heart of Marcellin’s vision was the understanding that Marist spirituality would be a living tradition - one that continues to grow and respond to the changing needs of each generation. Marcellin knew what was important for his own generation and implemented it. Today, we are invited to ask the same question: what is Marist mission asking of us in this generation?

In recent years, there has been a renewed effort to rediscover Marcellin, his vision and his way of living the Gospel. This is not simply an exercise in history; it helps us interpret the realities of today through his spirit and ask, in a meaningful way, what Marcellin might do now. Publications such as In the Footsteps of Marcellin Champagnat and Water from the Rock have supported this journey, offering signposts for how we continue the Marist mission in our own time.

At the heart of what we rediscover is Marcellin’s understanding of education. Marist mission is primarily about the formation of the whole person. Our deeper purpose is to form young people of wisdom, compassion, faith and character. To educate in this way is to build communities where young people are known by name, welcomed as family, and helped to recognise that they are loved, capable and called to serve.

This vision did not emerge in isolation. It was shaped by the example of Mary, whom Marcellin looked to throughout his life. Today, we, too, continue to look to Mary, Our Good Mother, as a guide for our own mission. In her, we see a model of humility, attentiveness, patience and faithful presence. She noticed quiet needs, listened deeply, accompanied without controlling, and stood beside those who suffered. This is Mary’s way, first embraced at Fourvière and the way entrusted to us today as we accompany young people and one another. 

These qualities of Mary’s way of being are especially significant in our own time. In an age where information is available instantly and reactions are often immediate, wisdom and discernment may become the rarest of qualities. The ability to reflect, to discern, to sit patiently with an idea before responding is increasingly valuable. The Marian way reminds us that not every response needs to be immediate; sometimes the most faithful response begins with listening, reflection and presence.

This way of being was also at the heart of Marcellin’s own approach to education. Marcellin’s great gift was his distinctive way of relating to young people. The first Brothers lived alongside him, and he became, in many ways, a father to them. His example reminds us that education begins with relationship. In a market-driven and deeply transactional world, putting relationship first may itself be a rare and countercultural act. Our strong sense of community, presence and family spirit bears witness to this Marian way of being in the world.

The world our young people will inherit is changing rapidly, and this is precisely where Marist spirituality must continue to speak. They will face climate uncertainty, political polarisation, loneliness, technological disruption, artificial intelligence, and complex questions of identity, relationships and meaning. If our education is truly to serve them, it must respond to these realities, including in new places where we meet and accompany young people.

Since Fourvière, Marist mission has responded to the needs of each generation. While technologies, economies and cultures change, the promise made in that chapel still guides us: to make Christ known and loved in Mary’s way, helping young people know they are loved by God, called to serve, and entrusted with building a more humane world.

That was Marcellin Champagnat's vision over 200 years ago. It remains our mission today and the promise we make to every generation yet to come.  

-Br Darren Burge

Provincial