July 23rd 2016 marked the 200th anniversary of the "Promise of Fourvière". On that day in 1816 a small group of newly ordained priests and some seminarians went to the chapel at Fourvière, in Lyons France, and pledged themselves, before the statue of Mary, to found the Society of Mary. Four religious congregations are offshoots of that pledge: the Marist Fathers and Brothers (SM), the Marist Brothers (FMS) the Marist Sisters (SM) and the Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary (SMSM).
This year hundreds of young people from around the world who are associated with the Marists came to Fourvière for a program called "Dare to Dream". It was a time to visit the "places of origin" of the Marists, and to pray and reflect together on the mission of Mary in today's world.