Download the application form here: application form 2020
- The School’s Account Details are:
Account Name: Chaminade Marianist Sec School fees
Account Number: 1400000277365, FDH Bank, Lilongwe Old town Branch
- The Entrance Fee is MK10 000.00. This should be deposited in the above Bank Account
Text your deposit slip to the principal on the numbers above or send through an e-mail: principal@chaminademarianistschool.org
Blessed William Joseph Chaminade
William Joseph Chaminade was born on April 8, 1761, in Périgueux, France. He was the 14th of 15 children in the family of Blaise Chaminade and Catherine Béthon.
Early in his life, William knew he wanted to consecrate his life to God; he was ordained as a diocesan priest in 1785.
The French Revolution (1789 – 1799) profoundly shaped the course of Fr. Chaminade’s life path. Anti-church legislation made it impossible for Catholic clergy to continue normal ministry. Fr. Chaminade adopted a dangerous, anti-government stance; he refused to pledge allegiance to the government instead of the Roman Catholic Church and the Holy Father, Pope Pius VI.
In the early years of the revolution, Fr. Chaminade was able to continue a clandestine ministry in Bordeaux, sometimes disguising himself as a tradesman so that he could take the sacraments to his flock.
In 1797, in fear for his life, Chaminade was driven into exile in Saragossa, Spain. There he prayed daily at the shrine of Our Lady of the Pillar, continuing a devotion to the Blessed Mother that was formed in the earliest days of his childhood. During this time in exile, Chaminade conceived of a plan that would sculpt the rest of his life.
When he was able to return to France in 1800, Fr. Chaminade began implementing his vision. He formed small faith communities called sodalities. In a country where there had been no religious instruction for a decade, he believed this would be the most effective way to reignite Christianity.
Fr. Chaminade joined forces with Marie Thérèse Charlotte de Lamourous, an intelligent, brave woman who had served in the underground Church during the revolution. In partnership with Fr. Chaminade, Marie Thérèse helped form and guide the women’s sections of the sodalities.
The pair began with a handful of sodalists. By 1809, these early Marianist Lay Communities had nearly 1,000 members. One of Fr. Chaminade’s favorite expressions was “union without confusion.” Through a carefully developed system of interdependence, all members – of varying ages and social classes, and of both sexes – cooperated as equals under his leadership.
Through friends, Fr. Chaminade came into contact with a young woman named Adèle de Batz de Trenquelléon. Like Chaminade, Adèle was committed to the “mission of Mary.” In 1816, with support from Chaminade, Adèle founded the Filles de Marie Immaculée, the Daughters of Mary Immaculate, commonly known as the Marianist Sisters.
Just a year later, a group of male sodalists came to Chaminade with the goal of forming a religious institute under his direction. On October 2, 1817, these faithful men formed the Society of Mary. Like the Marianist Sisters, this congregation was pledged to carrying out Mary’s apostolic mission in the world.
From the beginning, the Marianist Sisters and the Society of Mary were open to calls of divine providence in their ministry, and they found a focus in forming others in faith, particularly through education and apostolic faith communities.
By 1830, Fr. Chaminade’s communities had established or assumed administration of many public schools. Fr. Chaminade’s dream of bringing Christ back to France was taking shape.
In his often-quoted “Letter to Retreat Masters” in 1839, Fr. Chaminade outlined what he thought were the most distinguishing characteristics of the two religious congregations. “We are convinced that we shall not bring others back to Jesus except through his most holy Mother, whom the Doctors of the church acclaim as our only hope …” he wrote. Later in the letter, he continued, “… we have taken for our motto these words of the Blessed Virgin to the attendants at Cana: ‘Do whatever he tells you.’”
Fr. Chaminade died on Jan. 22, 1850, in Bordeaux.
In the ensuing decades, Fr. Chaminade’s goal of continuing the “mission of Mary” has endured. Today the Marianist Family – brothers, priests, sisters and lay people – continue this mission in more than 30 countries.
Fr. Chaminade was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2000.
To learn more about this Marianist founder, consider reading the short biography, Chaminade: Pragmatist with a Vision, by Fr. Joseph Stefanelli.