A true heart knows no bounds

House Colour – Yellow

St Marcelling Champagnat was born in Le Rosey, a country hamlet in Southern France in 1789, the year of the French Revolution.  He spent his boyhood years working on the farm with his father and learnt many skills that were to stand him in good stead later on, when he founded the Marist Brothers.
He was ordained in 1816 and was appointed to the Parish of La Valla,  his first recruits gathered on January 2nd, 1817 the foundation day of the Marist Brothers.  At this time, Marcellin was only 27 years old.  Marcellin Champagnat loved young people.  They, in turn, found his enthusiasm and energy contagious.  Three elements fuelled his passion for life and shaped his spirituality;  an awareness of God’s presence, an unwavering confidence in Mary and her protection, and the two uncomplicated virtues of simplicity and humility.  He gave his brothers a clear mission, “proclaim the Word of God directly to the young”, he said.  He knew that to teach young people you have to love them first.  Marcellin guided his life and work by that principle and expected his brothers to do the same.

He died at the age of 52, twenty three years after starting the brothers.  Yet in his short time he was able to leave behind him three hundred brothers and fifty schools.

Champagnat Leadership & Staff