Seán Sammon
Encyclopedia
Brother Seán Sammon is the former Superior General of the Marist Brothers
order, a role he held from October 3, 2001 to 2009. As Superior General, he led the approximately 4500 Marist Brothers working around the world in their mission to "make Jesus known and loved", as per the maxim of their founder, Saint Marcellin Champagnat.
Brother Seán was born into a migrant family: his father was Irish
and his mother English
. He attended the Marist run St. Agnes Boys High School
, and continued on to the juniorate in Cold Spring-on-Hudson, New York. His novitiate was made in Tyngsborough, Massachusetts
and in 1967 he pronounced his first vows.
In 1970 he graduated from Marist College
in Poughkeepsie
. He taught at his alma mater
while studying at The New School
where he earned a Master's degree in 1973. In 1982 he received a doctorate in clinical psychology from Fordham University
. In 1978 he was invited to be a staff member at the House of Affirmation, a renewal and rehabilitation center in Massachusetts
, and was named its International Clinical Director in 1982, a position he held until 1987.
He has published 10 books and multiple articles on topics of religious life and psychology
. He was named provincial of the Poughkeepsie Province in 1987 and was elected president of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men Religious of the US. He has been Vicar General of the Marist Brothers since 1993. He was elected Superior General of the Marist Brothers on October 3, 2001, a position he held until 2009.
In 2009 he received the title of Doctor honoris causa, from the Catholic Pontifical University of Paraná
, Brazil.
Marist Brothers
The Marist Brothers, or Little Brothers of Mary, are a Catholic religious order of brothers and affiliated lay people. The order was founded in France, at La Valla-en-Gier near Lyon in 1817 by Saint Marcellin Champagnat, a young French priest of the Society of Mary...
order, a role he held from October 3, 2001 to 2009. As Superior General, he led the approximately 4500 Marist Brothers working around the world in their mission to "make Jesus known and loved", as per the maxim of their founder, Saint Marcellin Champagnat.
Brother Seán was born into a migrant family: his father was Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
and his mother English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
. He attended the Marist run St. Agnes Boys High School
St. Agnes Boys High School
Saint Agnes Boys High School is a small private Catholic high school in New York City run by the Marist Brothers in conjunction with the Archdiocese of New York. This school has just over 400 students during a given semester. The tuition cost is roughly $6,000 a year, with tuition assistance...
, and continued on to the juniorate in Cold Spring-on-Hudson, New York. His novitiate was made in Tyngsborough, Massachusetts
Tyngsborough, Massachusetts
Tyngsborough is a town located in the northwest section of Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Composed of of land and surface water, Tyngsborough borders the towns of Dunstable, Groton, Westford, Chelmsford, Dracut, and the City of Lowell, as well as the New Hampshire communities of Hudson,...
and in 1967 he pronounced his first vows.
In 1970 he graduated from Marist College
Marist College
Marist College is a private liberal arts college on the east bank of the Hudson River near Poughkeepsie, New York. The site was established in 1905 by Marist Brothers, and the college was chartered in 1929...
in Poughkeepsie
Poughkeepsie (town), New York
Poughkeepsie is a town in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 42,777 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from the native term, "Uppu-qui-ipis-in," which means "reed-covered hut by the water."...
. He taught at his alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
while studying at The New School
The New School
The New School is a university in New York City, located mostly in Greenwich Village. From its founding in 1919 by progressive New York academics, and for most of its history, the university was known as the New School for Social Research. Between 1997 and 2005 it was known as New School University...
where he earned a Master's degree in 1973. In 1982 he received a doctorate in clinical psychology from Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
. In 1978 he was invited to be a staff member at the House of Affirmation, a renewal and rehabilitation center in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, and was named its International Clinical Director in 1982, a position he held until 1987.
He has published 10 books and multiple articles on topics of religious life and psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
. He was named provincial of the Poughkeepsie Province in 1987 and was elected president of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men Religious of the US. He has been Vicar General of the Marist Brothers since 1993. He was elected Superior General of the Marist Brothers on October 3, 2001, a position he held until 2009.
In 2009 he received the title of Doctor honoris causa, from the Catholic Pontifical University of Paraná
Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná
The Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná is a private, not-for-profit Catholic university. The main campus is located in Curitiba, the capital city of the State of Paraná, Brazil, and four other campuses are located in the cities of Londrina, Maringá, São José dos Pinhais and Toledo...
, Brazil.