Marist Brothers leave Chazelles-sur-Lyon after 150 years

The Marist Brothers concluded their 150-year presence in Chazelles-sur-Lyon with a mass of thanksgiving held on Sunday, October 11, 2026. The departure of Brother Albert and Brother Jean Louis marks the end of the religious order's historical involvement in the local community.

The brothers maintained an educational mission in the area since the late 19th century. Despite political tensions and secularization laws in 1903 and 1905, the order continued its work with young people. In the late 1920s, the brothers opened a new school on the road to Saint-Galmier to accommodate 150 students.

The order previously directed the Raoul Follereau college, with Brother Adrien Dalbègue, Brother Robert Paput, and Brother Auguste Gras serving as directors. In 2007, the school transitioned to lay leadership under Michèle Ragni.