Dundalk Marists join in bicentennial celebrations
THE Marist Fathers, who first arrived in Dundalk in 1859, recently celebrated 200 years of the Society’s existence since it was founded in Lyon, France in 1816. A number of Marist priests who served in St. Mary’s College, Dundalk and the Holy Family parish attended the chief celebration which took place in Fourvière Basilica, Lyon, on July 23rd. They were among almost 2,000 members of the worlwide Marist family – priests, sisters, brothers and laity – thronged the basilica for the commemoration. Marist missions throughout the world were also represented. Chief celebrant was an Irishman, Superior- General Fr. John Hannan. THE decision of the Marist Fathers to come to Dundalk in 1859 was influenced by their experiences in England. Having earlier ministered among the poor in the East End of London, they were struck by the levels of poverty and suffering of the Irish who had emigrated there during and after the Famine. Following consultation with the Archbishop of Armagh, they settled on Dundalk as their first house. They bought Church Hill House and later built the first Marist church beside it. The opening of St. Mary’s College soon followed in 1861. It was the first English-speaking Marist school in the world. IN Dundalk, the Marists’ bicentenary also saw the opening in April of the new state of the art St. Mary’s College building on the existing campus, replacing the original 1861 building among others. The school, with a current enrolment of 700 and a staff of 50, looks forward to a new era in Marist education in the town.