From left, with boxes of documents supporting Fr. Colin beatification: Fr. Larry Duffy, s.m., vicar general of the Marist Fathers and Brothers, Fr. Carlo Maria Schianchi, s.m., postulator for the cause of Fr. Colin, and, Fr. John Hannan, s.m., superior general of the Marist Fathers and Brothers.On September 24, 2014, seven boxes containing the documentation necessary for the reopening of the cause of beatification of Marist founder Fr. Jean-Claude Colin have been sent to the Archdiocese of Lyons in France. With this significant event, the first important phase of the process comes to an end.
The general postulator, Fr. Carlo-Mario Schianchi, s.m., has spent the past years in overseeing the preparatory work and in putting together the required documents. He says the boxes pictured in the photo "contain the patient and precise work of some of our confreres: Frs. Coste, Lessard, Fagan, Bourtot and Greiler, whom I thank wholeheartedly. The books, which we send out today, have been produced from the ‘50s until today, and have titles we know very well: ‘Origines Maristes,’ ‘Colin sup.,’ ‘Colin Fondateur,’ ‘Conférences et discours du p. Colin,’ ‘Autour de la Règle,’ ‘Jean-Claude Colin – Descriptive Chronology of his life,’ ‘Antiquiores Textus,’ and ‘Quelques souvenirs’ et ‘Entretiens Spirituels.’"
Each of the seven boxes contains the same material. One is for the diocese of Lyons, three for the committee of theologians, and three for the committee of historians. According to Schianchi, each will study the documentation and formulate a judgment from their field of expertise. He said it’s now up to the diocese of Lyon to activate all necessary procedures for the further development of the cause. "The only work that remains entrusted to us Marists," Schianchi said, "is to accompany this moment with a special prayer to Fr. Colin.”
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About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDPMA is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.