Mission & Ministry
Hero
Mission of Marist School
Marist School forms the whole person in the image of Christ through instruction grounded in religious values, the teachings of the Catholic Church, and the spirit of the Society of Mary.
This mission is advanced through communal pursuit of excellence in academic, religious, extracurricular, leadership, and service programs.
Philosophy of Marist School
The unique mission of Marist School to form the whole person in the image of Christ is created by blending three distinct traditions: the pursuit of academic excellence, the heritage of Catholic education, and the spirit of the Society of Mary.
As an academic community, Marist School maintains excellence in teaching and high expectations for learning in an environment that values scholarship and achievement.
Marist offers its students a curriculum that cultivates extensive knowledge and academic skills, intellectual acumen, formation of character, aesthetic appreciation, and physical well-being in order to prepare them for college studies, civic leadership, and the lifelong pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty.
As an academic community, Marist School maintains excellence in teaching and high expectations for learning in an environment that values scholarship and achievement. Marist offers its students a curriculum that cultivates extensive knowledge and academic skills, intellectual acumen, formation of character, aesthetic appreciation, and physical well-being in order to prepare them for college studies, civic leadership, and the lifelong pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty.
As a Catholic school, Marist is guided by the educational mission and doctrinal teaching of the Catholic Church. Respecting religious diversity, Marist welcomes a significant number of students from other traditions. Through formal instruction, common worship, and religious activities, Marist assists students in forming their consciences by emphasizing the dignity and integrity of the individual, the primacy of transcendent values and Jesus' call to love and serve others, especially the poor.
As a Marist institution, Marist School is enlivened by the spirit of the Society of Mary. It strives to create a caring and concerned family; to befriend and show confidence in young people while maintaining high expectations for their conduct; to develop among students a close personal relationship with God and the habit of prayer; to nurture a community that fosters hospitality, generosity, and responsible stewardship in students from all socio-economic and cultural backgrounds; and to foster a concern for those who are often forgotten or neglected by society.
Since 1901, Marist School has cherished these three traditions as the root and foundation of its mission. Now in its second century of service to Atlanta, Marist is dedicated to being faithful to its past while actively meeting the challenges of the future.
...so they must think as Mary, judge as Mary, feel and act as Mary in all things.
Fr. Jean-Claude Colin, Founder of the Society of Mary
Growing in Faith
Campus Ministry
Retreats
Our student-led retreats help students grow in their relationship with God through community-building activities, faith-sharing, communal prayer experiences, and individual reflection.
Peer Leaders
The Marist spirit of hospitality is on display when Peer Leaders welcome new students to our community. Peer leaders serve as role models, helping guide and support new students in their early days at Marist.
Liturgy & PrayerÂ
We embody the faith-filled nature of the Marist community when we come together for prayer and liturgy. Students and faculty participate in spiritual life at Marist through daily prayer, monthly all-school Masses, and prayer services.
Community Service
Outreach to the community is essential to the Marist spirit, especially to those who are marginalized and underserved. Marist’s commitment to service is reflected the fact that a certain number of service hours are a graduation requirement. Opportunities for service close to home and afar abound and are coordinated through our Campus Ministry Department.
The Marist Way
Marists have a certain way of living the Gospel and that is the way Jesus’ mother Mary modeled it. Marists strive to breathe in the Holy Spirit and think, judge, feel, and act like Mary, who was the first disciple of Christ. Our Marist Way program aims to maintain and deepen the Marist ethos of the school through prayer and programming for faculty, staff, students, and parents and a yearly focus on a Marist theme. Everyone in the Marist community is invited to live and share the five pillars of the Marist Way of life: prayer, community, learning, service, and vocation.
Society of Mary
Our connection to our founders, the Society of Mary, remains strong and visible. Our heritage as an educational ministry of the Marists is a spiritual legacy that we renew, refresh, and build upon daily. A Marist priest serves as our rector, working directly with the school president to ensure that our Catholic identity and Marist charism continue to be hallmarks of the school.
Family Mass
Family Mass is a cherished tradition established through our Society of Mary heritage. Three times each academic year, our Marist priests warmly invite families, alumni, and friends to come together in faith and fellowship to celebrate Mass, renew our shared beliefs, and express our gratitude for our many blessings. This collective act of worship deepens our individual spiritual experiences and reinforces our communal journey of faith as we live our mission to form the young people in our care in the image of Christ.