Aotearoa, New Zealand

 

Our first brothers, one of whom was Brother Michel Colobon were sent by Marcellin Champagnat to New Zealand in 1838. They accompanied Bishop Pompallier and the Marist Fathers and worked alongside them to establish the Catholic faith amongst the Maori and settlers. 

A second wave of Marist Brothers arrived in 1876 and since then brothers have established a network of primary and secondary schools throughout New Zealand and in Samoa, Fiji and Kiribati. Today, we are champagnat Marists, brother and lay Marist together reaching out to needy young people in our schools and in other settings including Alternative Education, mentoring, prison chaplaincy and young adult ministry.

Our presence amonst young people is our way of leading them to know and love Jesus Christ.