Key milestones

Dates of interest in the development of the Society

15 August 1812 at Le Puy
Name and first idea of the Society

23 July 1816, at Fourvière
Promise of setting up the Society

The Marist priests, the Marist Brothers, the Marist Sisters, and the Third Order of Mary recognize in this first external act their common origin. This day is considered to be the foundation date of the society of priests.

9 March 1822
Letter of Pope Pius VII to Jean-Claude Courveille.
This is the first document of the Holy See concerning the Society

10 January 1836
Western Oceania was entrusted to the Society

29 April 1836
Pope Gregory XVI approved the Society

24 September 1836
Jean-Claude Colin was elected superior general.

28 February 1873
Pius IX approved the Constitutions

12 September 1987
The Holy See approved the new Constitutions

Together with him, the following took the religious vows:

The Superiors General

1. Jean-Claude Colin, founder of the Society (1790-1875), elected for life 24 September 1836, resigned 9 May 1854.
2.  Julien Favre (1812-1885), elected for life 10 May 1854, was given a vicar general 14 August 1884, died 25 March 1885.
3.  Antoine Martin (1822-1905), became vicar general 14 August 1884, was elected for life 21 August 1886, died 25 March 1905.
4.  Jean-Claude Raffin (1841-1922), elected for life 7 August 1905, died 31 July 1922.
5.  Ernest Rieu (1868-1953), elected for life 11 August 1923, resigned 20 September 1947, died 12 February 1953.
6.  Alcime Cyr (1882-1973), from the province of Boston, elected for life 21 September 1947, resigned 26 August 1961, died 15 March 1973.
7.  Joseph Buckley (1905-1981), from the province of Washington, elected for eight years 26 August 1961, died 11 September 1981.
8.  Roger Dumortier (b. 1928), from the province of France, elected for eight years 8 December 1969.
9.  Bernard Ryan (b. 1924), from the province of New Zealand, elected for eight years 19 September 1977.
10.  John Jago (b. 1932), from the province of Australia, elected for eight years 21 September 1985.
11. Joaquín Fernández (b. 1943), from the province of Spain, elected 14 September 1993 for eight years beginning 24 December 1993 (three months after the closing of the general chapter).
12. Jan Hulshof (b. 1941), from the province of the Netherlands, elected 20 September 2001 for eight years.
13. John Hannan (b. 1943) from the province of Europe, region of Ireland, elected ?? September 2009 for eight years.

General Chapters