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 Curiously
enough, the age of growing doubt and disbelief in European society
was also a period of expansion in numbers and ministry for many
religious orders. Attempts by anti-clerical governments to suppress
the religious congregations in France failed, but they led to
the Society of Mary being established in most of the countries
of Western Europe, from Norway to Italy. This was also the epoch
of American colonial expansion. The first step out of France
was to England, and then to Ireland.
Providentially, different interests met that of the Marists and the church in London. The pastoral problem existed of catering for the spiritual needs of an influx of Irish immigrants settling in the docks area of London. Someone suggested the Marists. The Marists needed a base in London, because so many of the new missions were in British colonies New Zealand and Australia. The new missionaries had to learn English and establish shipping and banking facilities in Britain. The society accepted the invitation to establish St.Anne's parish Whitechapel to minister to the immigrant Irish community.
In their wake came also the Marist Brothers and Sisters, who remained in Whitechapel until evacuated, with their pupils, during World War 11. Serving the Irish in East End of London, and becoming familiar with the English and American scene, the priests soon realised that Irish emigration was one of the biggest factors in the expansion of the English-speaking Church, and that in Ireland they would find vocations to serve that Church.
Again, interests were to coincide. Irish Catholics were gradually emerging from the position they occupied in penal times and it was now vitally important for them to be able to obtain secondary education, without their faith being endangered from anti-Catholic proselytism. In other words, there was a need for Catholic schools.
The Marist Fathers had become successful educators in France, and they now accepted to establish a secondary boarding school in Dundalk (St. Mary's College, 1861) and a day school in Dublin (Catholic University School, 1867). The Dundalk school was a fertile ground for vocations to priesthood, both to the local diocese and to the Society. Most of the first English speaking Marists came through there.
Since this time the Marist Fathers in Ireland have opened another school in Coolock in Dublin and have responsibility for three parishes, two in Dublin diocese and one in Armagh diocese. Marists also minister in a whole variety of ways as outlined on the Mission/Ministries page.
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