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New Marist Way Reading Room a Wealth of Knowledge About the Society of Mary

The Marist School Library in Wooldridge Center boasts a new space devoted to the Society of Mary, the international religious congregation of priests and brothers that has owned and operated Marist School since 1901.
The Marist Way Reading Room, as the new space is called, will serve as a permanent resource for the school community to learn about the many contributions the Society of Mary has made to the Catholic Church across the world and to Marist School. The reading room houses a wide array of books and features rotating displays of artifacts from places the Marists have served since the order was founded by Father Jean-Claude Colin in France in 1816. The Marist Way Reading Room was dedicated and blessed on March 15, 2022.

The idea for the space was initially conceived of by Father John Harhager, S.M., during his 2008-2017 tenure as Marist School president. He currently resides in Rome, Italy, where he serves as vicar general for the Society of Mary, but he visited Atlanta in March and was able to be present at the dedication to see his vision realized. The furnishings and display areas in the room were made possible by a generous donation from Christine and Greg Kordecki, parents of Marist alumna Hilary Kordecki ’15. The two wanted to fund a project that would enhance the Marist identity of the school; promote the Marist Way program, which educates people about the charism, teachings, and values of the Marists; and encourage vocations to the Society of Mary as well as growth of Marist laity. They hope the reading room will inspire present and future generations of students to learn about the Society of Mary on their journey to discover their own God-given purpose in life. The Kordeckis also have made an investment into cultivating a culture of vocations at Marist School. Their funding is allowing campus minister and theology teacher Nik Rodewald to spearhead a program that teaches students to listen for God’s call to live the Marist spirit in a way that best utilizes their talents and passions.

At the dedication and blessing, Fr. Harhager offered the following blessing on the new Marist Way Reading Room:

O Lord, bless this Marist Way Reading Room and those Marists whose contributions to the Society of Mary have made their way onto the pages of these books. Bless our students who will learn about them. May they be inspired to walk in their footsteps as members of the Society of Mary or as Marist laity. Bless the faculty, staff, parents, alumni, and members of the Marist Way who will benefit from having so many Marist resources located in this one space. May all who enter here be inspired to make their own contributions in the name of Mary, who is the inspiration for the Society of Mary and patroness of this school.

Marist School

3790 Ashford Dunwoody Road, NE
Atlanta, GA 30319-1899
(770) 457-7201
An Independent Catholic School of the Marist Fathers and Brothers