The Society of Mary is a Boys' Catholic Order founded by Blessed Father Guillaume Joseph Chaminade (1761-1850) on October 2, 1817 in Bordeaux, France. It is made up of religious and priests, but all members have the same rights and obligations. It is an international order active in 29 countries around the world.
The Society of Mary came to Japan in January 1888 (Meiji 21) and formed its first monastic community at Kanda Church in Tokyo, and in February shortly thereafter, opened Gyosei in Tsukiji. In 1892 (Meiji 25), they established a monastery and Kaisei School in Nagasaki, which had a large Catholic population. In 1898 (Meiji 31), they established a monastery and Myojo School in Osaka. In 1901 (Meiji 34), they opened a monastery and a school for foreigners in Yokohama (closed in 2000/heisei 16). In 1906 (Meiji 39), they established a monastery and Chizan School in Kumamoto (closed in 1906). In 1910 (Meiji 43), when the Japanese "Rage Translation of the New Testament" was published, the "St. Mary the Apostle School" was opened in Shiroyama, Nagasaki, to educate the children of Catholic believers and train candidates for the Society of Mary (transferred to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in 1942). In 1934, the "St. Joseph Novitiate" was opened in Mitaka, Tokyo, but in 1934 (Showa 1939), it was requisitioned by the military and the novitiate was moved to the headquarters monastery "Akebono" in Tokyo, and later to Kiyose, Tokyo. In 14 (Showa 1941), with the outbreak of the Pacific War, the "St. Joseph Institute" in Yokohama was closed and American members were forcibly repatriated to their home country. French and other foreign members of the Society of Mary were imprisoned in Gora, Hakone. The school buildings of Gyosei and Myojo were completely burned down during the war.
After the war, in 1946 (Showa 21), the Fukuoka Diocese transferred "Taisei Gakuen" (returned to the Fukuoka Diocese in 1973 = Showa 48) and "Kosei Gakuen" from the Sapporo Diocese, and they remain in this position to this day.
Although the Society of Mary has primarily worked in the field of education, many of its graduates, educated in Christian values, have made and continue to make contributions to the Catholic Church and society.
Outside of the field of education, he served as pastor of Yamato Church in the Yokohama Diocese from 1983 (Showa 58), and in 1987 (Showa 62) he moved his center of pastoral care to Ogakura Church in the Nagasaki Diocese (in 2018 = Heisei 30, he was entrusted to the Nagasaki Diocese).
As the name of our order suggests, we look to the Virgin Mary as the first disciple who followed Christ and our greatest model. Just as the Virgin Mary accepted the Word of God in faith and brought the Savior to the world, we strive to bring the life of Christ into society. We believe that a community life in which we live, pray, and support each other enriches our faith and becomes a source of evangelization open to others.
The Society of Mary is a religious order born out of the Marianist Family of Bordeaux. It strives to build a community of faith by deepening ties with its other branches, the Lay Marianist Community, the secular Alliance Marial, and the women's Congregation of the Immaculate Conception.
The Society of Mary came to Japan in January 1888 (Meiji 21) and formed its first monastic community at Kanda Church in Tokyo, and in February shortly thereafter, opened Gyosei in Tsukiji. In 1892 (Meiji 25), they established a monastery and Kaisei School in Nagasaki, which had a large Catholic population. In 1898 (Meiji 31), they established a monastery and Myojo School in Osaka. In 1901 (Meiji 34), they opened a monastery and a school for foreigners in Yokohama (closed in 2000/heisei 16). In 1906 (Meiji 39), they established a monastery and Chizan School in Kumamoto (closed in 1906). In 1910 (Meiji 43), when the Japanese "Rage Translation of the New Testament" was published, the "St. Mary the Apostle School" was opened in Shiroyama, Nagasaki, to educate the children of Catholic believers and train candidates for the Society of Mary (transferred to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in 1942). In 1934, the "St. Joseph Novitiate" was opened in Mitaka, Tokyo, but in 1934 (Showa 1939), it was requisitioned by the military and the novitiate was moved to the headquarters monastery "Akebono" in Tokyo, and later to Kiyose, Tokyo. In 14 (Showa 1941), with the outbreak of the Pacific War, the "St. Joseph Institute" in Yokohama was closed and American members were forcibly repatriated to their home country. French and other foreign members of the Society of Mary were imprisoned in Gora, Hakone. The school buildings of Gyosei and Myojo were completely burned down during the war.
After the war, in 1946 (Showa 21), the Fukuoka Diocese transferred "Taisei Gakuen" (returned to the Fukuoka Diocese in 1973 = Showa 48) and "Kosei Gakuen" from the Sapporo Diocese, and they remain in this position to this day.
Although the Society of Mary has primarily worked in the field of education, many of its graduates, educated in Christian values, have made and continue to make contributions to the Catholic Church and society.
Outside of the field of education, he served as pastor of Yamato Church in the Yokohama Diocese from 1983 (Showa 58), and in 1987 (Showa 62) he moved his center of pastoral care to Ogakura Church in the Nagasaki Diocese (in 2018 = Heisei 30, he was entrusted to the Nagasaki Diocese).
As the name of our order suggests, we look to the Virgin Mary as the first disciple who followed Christ and our greatest model. Just as the Virgin Mary accepted the Word of God in faith and brought the Savior to the world, we strive to bring the life of Christ into society. We believe that a community life in which we live, pray, and support each other enriches our faith and becomes a source of evangelization open to others.
The Society of Mary is a religious order born out of the Marianist Family of Bordeaux. It strives to build a community of faith by deepening ties with its other branches, the Lay Marianist Community, the secular Alliance Marial, and the women's Congregation of the Immaculate Conception.
