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Monday, March 25, 2013

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Sixth International MLC in Peru

International Marianist Lay Communities

6th International Meeting in Lima

February 7, 2013

20 Year Anniversary

Twenty years ago today was the opening of the first International Meeting of Marianist Lay Communities in Santiago, Chile. ..."

"Preparations have begun for our 6th International Meeting in Lima, Perú. We will gather as an official Assembly from January 26 to February 2, 2014. Our theme is Faith of the Heart in the Heart of the World. ...

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Japan 125th Anniversary

January 13, 2013

"The annual gathering of the Marianist Family of the Greater Tokyo Area was held on Sunday, January 13, 2013, combining the commemoration of the Memorial Days of the Founders, Blessed Chaminade (Jan. 22) and Venerable Adele (Jan. 10), with the celebration of the 125th Anniversary of the arrival of the first Marianists in Japan (1888-2013)." ...

"... All four branches of the Marianist Family were represented at the events of the day: 25 members of the Society of Mary (this year again not only from Tokyo but from throughout Japan), 35 Marianist Sisters including their novices and aspirants, 25 members of the Japan Marianist Lay Communities, and the Alliance Mariale. ..."

Via Latina 22 February 2013

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Closeup of Regional Church Belfrey

March 12 2013

Stone work continues on the belfry part of the Korean Regional Church.

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Fr. Heinrich's Work in Japan

Fr. Alphonse Heinrich founder of Marianists in Japan.


Marianist Founders in Japan

Rev. Nicholas Walter and Bro. Joseph Senentz arrived in Yokohama from the USA on December 21,1887. This team moved to Tokyo the following day.

Rev. Alphonse Heinrich and Bros. Louis Stolz and Camillus Planche arrived in Yokohama on January 4, 1988. (via latina # 220 — February 2013)


After a time, the Marianists had funds to purchase land and build a school, Gyosei Gakuen (Morning Star). On July 23, 1890, the community moved their belongings to the newly acquired property, which comprised a school for girls, and several residences.

Good Father Simler recommended that The Marianists open a novitiate as soon as possible. Nagasaki, a flourishing center of Catholicity, was the chosen site. In January of 1891 the Vicar Apostolic of southern Japan, Msgr. met Fr. Heinrich and suggested that the founding of a college in Nagasaki would be the best means to that end.

In November 1891 Kaisei Gakuen (Star of the Sea) was opened for classes.

More Brothers came from Europe and some from America, and in 1898 another school was about to be opened in Osaka. Along with the authorization to undertake this new work, came the appointment of Father Heinrich as Vice-Provincial of Japan.

This nomination of Vice Provincial extended Fr. Heinrich's powers. With the approval of his Council, he named Brother Wolff the new Director in Osaka. Meisei Gakuen (Bright Star) was completed in 1898.

Father Heinrich decided to open a school for the foreign element in Yokohama. He appointed Brother Stoltz as director. Bro. Stoltz was sent to Yokohama to rent a building for the opening in September of St. Joseph's college. The school was open for classes on September 19, 1901.

Father Alphonse Heinrich left us on December 28, 1939, at two o'clock in the morning, being then in the 80th year of his age, and the 63rd of his religious profession. lf he could have delayed his departure just another week, he would have completed his 52nd year at the mission.


The above was taken from Biographical Sketches, Volume 9, Maryhurst Normal, Kirkwood Mo. pg. 67-88


School Links:

Elementery Hyosong

Gakuen Hyosong

High School Hyosong

Kaisei Gakuen

Meisei Gakuen

Kosei Gakuen

Marianists Return to China 1933-1948

ArchDiocese of Jinan

There are 3 Marianist locations on the above map. The middle location labeled tsinan belongs to the Jinan Archdiocese (From catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dtsin.htm)

By 1919 conditions in China had improved to such an extent that the Vicar Aposolic of Kouytcheou wrote a letter dated February 25 1919 requesting Marianists return to China.

On May 8, 1933 Father Provincial Joseph Tetzlaff announced to the Brothers that the Marianists would return to China through an invitation of the Franciscan Fathers.




Development of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Tsinan (Jinan)

1839.09.03: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Shantung from Diocese of Beijing
1924.12.03: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Tsinanfu.
1946.04.11: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Jinan (Tsinan)

Marianists return to China in the Tsinan Archdiocese

Tsinanfu, Hungkialou, China - The following Brothers of Mary of the Cincinnati Province left for China, to start the new mission: Brothers Joseph Janning and John Grote; both of whom were for a number of years missionaries in Japan; Rev. Leo Mock, chaplain, and Brother Herman Schlund. They opened a college at Tsinanfu, the capital of the Shantung Province. The Franciscan Fathers were charge of the mission.

A long letter reporting on the new mission in Tsinanfu dated Tuesday, November 21, 1933 is quoted in the Apostle of Mary (February 1934). The letter reports that the missionaries arrived at Tsinanfu on November 16 at 6:00 PM after a trip of about six weeks.

Also from the letter: "Tsinanfu is a city of about half a million inhabitants. Hungkialou, which was our destination, is a village about four miles distant from Tsinanfu. Within a few minutes after our arrival at the station, we were seated in rickshaws and pulled over dark, bumpy, narrow roads towards Hungkialou."

"Upon arriving at Hungkialou the Brothers in Hungkialou were greeted at the Catholic Mission Compound by hundreds of faithful from miles around, groups of boys and girls from the Mission school, by Sisters, Franciscan Brothers and Priests, and by Most Rev. Jarre OFM, Bishop of the Apostolic Vicariate of Tsinanfu.

By 1948 all Marianists had left China. Much more can be found in my book:


Reference for this post: "Marianists in China", Bro. Eugene Frank, Cupertino, California, Revised January 18, 2001. Available in the NACMS library.