Dates
Formative years (1790-1825)
1790 Jean-Claude Colin born, Aug 07, hamlet of Barbery, central France
1795 Death of his parents, three weeks apart
1801 Family moves to village of St Bonnet-le-Troncy
1804 Begins minor seminary education at St Jodard, Nov 01
1809 Moves to minor seminary at minor seminary of Alix
1812 Received clerical tonsure, Alix, May 23
Begins studies in philosophy at minor seminary of Verrières-en-Forez
1813 Moves to major seminary of St Irenaeus, Lyons
1816 Ordained priest in the chapel of St Irenaeus, Jul 22
Among Marist aspirants pledging to form the Society of Mary, Fourvière, Jul 23
Celebrates his first Mass, at Salles, Jul 26
Appointed as curate, Cerdon parish, Aug 08
1817 Begins drafting a rule for the Society of Mary
1822 Sends letter to Pope Pius VII (Jan 25) and the Pope's reply (Mar 09)
Visits Paris to confer with the Papal Nuncio on the Marist project and rule (Nov)
1823 Returns to Paris to see the Papal Nuncio and others about the rule
Experiences encouragement of the Blessed Virgin on the La Coria road, Jul
1824 Welcomes Fr Etienne Declas to Cerdon to form the first community of Marist priests.
Fr Pierre Colin writes to the bishop: 'Today the Society of Mary begins!' (Oct 29)
Belley (1825-1839): struggles & achievements
1825-1829 Bugey missions beginning at La Balme, Jan 09
1829 Becomes school principal. minor seminary, Belley, Easter Monday
1830 Becomes central superior of Marist groups of Belley & Lyons
1832 La Capucinière established - 'the cradle of the Society of Mary'
1833 First visit to Rome
1835-1836 Negotiations leading to acceptance of the mission to Western Oceania
1836 Pope Gregory XVI approves SM (Apr 29)
Jean-Claude Colin becomes Superior-General (Sep 24)
Sends first band of missionaries, leaving for Oceania (Dec 24)
Fourteen more groups followed until 1849,
with a total of 74 priests, 43 brothers, including FMS brothers.
Lyons (1839-1854): governing the Society of Mary
1839 Moves seat of administration from Belley to Lyons
1842 Draft of Constitutions accepted by General Chapter, taken to Rome
In this period
Recruitment: Society of Mary began on Sep 24, 1836 with 20 priests; by the time Fr Colin retired in May 1854 it numbered 258 priests; in same period 33 brothers (not FMS) professed (note: in early years the line between FMS and SM brothers not always clear)
Marist apostolates under Fr Colin – missions and other preaching, hearing confessions, teaching catechism, visiting prisons, military chaplains, social works, looking after lay groups, sisters' communities.
Takes over Marian shrine of Verdelais, with parish attached; accepts two other Marian pilgrimage centres, which also served as bases for missioners
1845 Opens first school (at Valbenoîte); later opening or taking over five more;
Took over major seminary of Moulins; later took over three more
La Neylière (1854-1875): the Founder
1854 Resigns as Superior General (May), retires to La Neylière
1856 Writes Constitutions for the Marist Sisters
1872 Completes Constitutions for Marist Fathers and Brothers
1873 Constitutions approved by Rome, so completing his work as Founder
1875 Dies at La Neylière (Nov 15)
