Founders & History
The Society of Mary was established by Blessed William Joseph Chaminade (1761-1850), a priest in the diocese of Bordeaux, France and co-founder of the Sodality of the Madeleine and the Society of Mary (1817). Read more. Working closely with Father Chaminade in founding the Marianist Family were:
Marie Thérèse Charlotte de Lamourous (1754-1836), close friend of William Joseph Chaminade and co-foundress of the Sodality of the Madeleine and the Society of Mary. Read more.
Adèle de Batz de Trenquelleon (1789-1828), foundress of the Marianist Sisters and foundress of the Association. Read more.
When the church of France lay dismembered and dispirited in the ashes of the French Revolution, these three founders of the Society of Mary, largely unaware of each other's work at the beginning but then joining forces, formed communities called sodalities. These communities included both sexes, married and single persons, religious, diocesan clergy, and all classes of people. These were the faith communities that would become the rebuilding of the French church. Eventually some sodality members formed the nucleus of two religious congregations: for women, the Daughters of Mary Immaculate (founded by Adèle de Batz de Trenquelleon in collaboration with Father Chaminade in 1816) and for men, the Society of Mary (founded in 1817). Father Chaminade saw in these foundations "a person who would never die" to maintain, inspire and extend the network of communities designated by the name Marianist Family. As Mary had formed Jesus, she would now form new apostles to live the Gospel in a new age.
The Society of Mary was established in the United States in 1849 in Dayton, Ohio. The Marianist Sisters were established in the United States in 1949 in Somerset, Texas.
One of the best histories of UD was captured in a series of articles published by the Dayton Daily News in 1997. The late Roz Young, noted columnist, author and historian, most eloquently wrote of UD's founder, Leo Meyer, S.M. and his struggles to establish a school "on the Hill." In it she talks about the priest (Father Leo Meyer, S.M.), the teacher (Brother Max Zehler, S.M.), the gardener (Brother Andrew Edel, S.M.) and the cook (Brother Charles Schultz, S.M.) and others who established the school that became the University of Dayton. You can obtain a hard copy booklet by emailing a request to Carole Wiltsee. Email Carole
