Marist Brothers FMS – Marist Brothers of the Schools (Little Brothers of Mary)

Founded by Saint Marcellin Champagnat in 1817 at Lavalla, France. The Institute was created on January 2, 1817, when Marcellin Champagnat founded the lay religious Institute, or religious Institute of Brothers, under the name of Little Brothers of Mary. In 1863, the Holy See approved the group as an autonomous Institute of pontifical right. While respecting our original name, it gave us the title of Marist Brothers of the Schools (FMS). In 1872, four Brothers arrived from Europe (from St Genis Laval, France) to form the first Australian community. It is now an international Institute with headquarters in Rome, Italy and Australian Province office in Sydney.