100 years of Marist presence in Central America
One hundred years ago, six Marist Brothers from Colombia arrived in El Salvador, and with their arrival in this country began the presence of the Marists in Central America. The Marist Brothers arrived in 1923 at the request of Monsignor Victor Basilio Plantier, to administer the “Instituto Católico de Oriente”, founded in the city of San Miguel in 1917.
The Brothers from Colombia who formed the first Marist community in El Salvador were: Josias Lacombe, Tolomeo, Eutiquiano, Timoteo, José Ángelo and Luis Gabriel.
With time the Instituto Católico de Oriente gained prestige and began to be known as the “Colegio Marista de San Miguel”. Later, the brothers created other schools in the country and extended their services to the neediest sectors and other countries in Central America: Guatemala (1949), Costa Rica (1962), Puerto Rico (1963), Panama (1968), Nicaragua (1970) and Honduras (1992).
At present, Cuba, where the Brothers arrived in 1903, is also part of the Province of Central America.
The Marists of Central America will celebrate the memory of this event until 2025. It will be a very special period for Marist life and mission in the Province.
On the occasion of the opening of the Marist Centenary in Central America, on January 25, Brother Hipólito Pérez, Provincial of Central America, fraternally greeted the entire Marist community. In his video message, the Provincial said: “We Marists want to live this centenary in 3 years. It will be three years to celebrate, to give thanks and to generate life. To celebrate the historic event of the arrival of the first brothers who sowed Marist life in these lands, and which today continues to bear fruit. Also to give thanks for our Marist Being, our life and mission of being educators and evangelizers. To thank God and our Good Mother for so much good received and offered throughout these one hundred years”.
We invite you to listen to the official song of the centenary: Generando Vida (Generating Life)
Other info in the Province’s site