150 years of Marist presence

This year marks a special anniversary for Belgium: it is 150 years since the Marist Brothers first put their feet on Belgium soil. It was on the 1st February that the first school at Fleurus opened its doors.
In 1856, Brother François, Superior General at the time, sent three brothers from the Province of Beaucamps to establish this foundation which was to prove itself to be fleeting as it lasted only seven years.

Since then, dozens of foundations have seen the light of day on Belgian territory, in both francophone and Flemish areas.
Today, Belgium belongs to the Province of Europe Centre-Ouest / West Central Europe with Germany, Great Britain, Ireland and the Netherlands. It is a new future which needs to be constructed in prayer and reflection with concrete realities that include ageing, rarity of vocations and the end of our missions in the schools. The 3rd Provincial Chapter of our young Province will be an important stage.

Festivities are programmed for the 19th March at Couvin: a solemn Eucharist, presided by the bishop of Namur, a reception and banquet will be the highlights of this jubilee.