The Congregation
The Daughters of Mary Immaculate (Marianists)
Are a religious congregation founded in Agen, France, by Blessed Adele de Batz de Trenquelléon and Blessed William Joseph Chaminade on May 25, 1816. In alliance with Mary, we continue her mission by making her Son, Jesus Christ, known, loved, and served. With her, we look at the reality of our world and seek the paths that allow Jesus to be welcomed by the men and women of today.
We are part of the Marianist Family, together with religious brothers and laypeople who share the same dream: to be Mary’s missionaries, bringing the joy of the Gospel as a force capable of transforming the world.
Founders
Two lives, one same passion for Christ and Mary
Born in Périgueux in 1761 and ordained a priest in 1785, Fr. Chaminade lived through the persecution of the French Revolution with faithfulness and courage. During his exile in Zaragoza, before the Virgin of the Pillar, he realized that faith needed to be renewed through vibrant communities, united by an alliance with Mary and committed to the mission.
Returning to Bordeaux in 1800, he founded the Lay Congregation of the Immaculate, open to men and women of all walks of life, with the desire to rebuild Christian life and form missionary disciples.
Adele was born in 1789 at the Château de Trenquelléon into an aristocratic family. At just eight years old, she was forced to go into exile with her family, taking refuge in Spain and Portugal. In San Sebastián, she received her First Communion, where she reaffirmed her desire to dedicate her life to God in the Carmelite order. Back in France, while accompanying her mother in charitable works, she became aware of the material and spiritual poverty of the countryside.
In 1804, she founded the “Little Association”, a community of young women united by faith, friendship, prayer, and the desire to serve. With great inner strength and spiritual sensitivity, Adele inspired many to live the Gospel generously, thus preparing the way for a new foundation.
In 1808, a providential meeting brought the paths of Adele de Batz and Fr. Chaminade together. He recognized Adele as an exceptional collaborator—a woman of extraordinary spiritual strength and tireless missionary zeal. Adele, in turn, found in Chaminade the wise and holy guide her heart had longed for. Between 1808 and 1816, they developed from a distance what Adele referred to in her letters as the “Cher Projet”: the dream of dedicating themselves to God and serving those most in need.
On May 25, 1816, in Agen, the project of Adele and Fr. Chaminade became a reality. Adele de Batz, taking the name Mother Mary of the Conception, took the founding step of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate, the fruit of the missionary vision they had nurtured through their correspondence. Together, they brought to life a charism centered on following Jesus Christ, in alliance with Mary.
The Church has recognized the holiness of life of our founders: Fr. Chaminade was beatified in 2000, and Mother Adele in 2018.
Today, their legacy continues to inspire the mission of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate: to live in alliance with Mary and proclaim the Gospel, forming communities that make Christ present in the world.
Discover Mother Adele through her letters:
The General Government
From the General Government, we encourage and support the life and mission of the Congregation in all the places where we are present, so that, with one heart and one spirit, we may respond to our commitment to Mary: “Do whatever He tells you”.
Sr. Susanna Kim (South Korea), Superior General
Sr. Prudence Adoki (Togo), Assistant for Religious Life
Sr. Clotilde Fernández del Pozo (Spain), Assistant for Education
Sr. Micaela Lee (South Korea), Assistant for Temporalities
The Marianist Family
The Marianist Family is a spiritual family within the Catholic Church, born from the charism that the Holy Spirit inspired in its founders, Blessed William Joseph Chaminade and Adele de Batz de Trenquelléon. In alliance with Mary, its members seek to follow Jesus, grow in His way, and work for the building of God’s Kingdom.
The Family is made up of four branches: the Marianist Lay Communities (MLC), the Alliance Marial (AM), the Daughters of Mary Immaculate (FMI), and the Society of Mary (SM). As a Family, we offer the Church the gift of our Marian charism, bearing witness to a shared mission that is enriched and brought to life through the diversity of our vocations.
Web pages:
WCMF
The World Council of the Marianist Family (WCMF), established in 1996, is the coordinating and guiding body that brings together the leaders (General Councils) of the four branches that make up our charismatic family.
World Council Documents: