Joël Anglès d’Auriac was one of the 50 beatified martyrs in Paris on 13th December 2025. He was a young man who lived through the anti-Christian Nazi persecution and was beheaded in December 1944.

Joël was linked with the Marists, as he was a pupil of our Marist school in Toulon and also a scout. Over the years, for many generations, the Marists in France were closely associated with the scout movement. While some further historical research is ongoing, the beatification of Joël was much celebrated by the Marists.

The Marist Fathers of the Toulon community were present at the thanksgiving Mass celebrated by the bishop in the local church on Sunday, as well as a delegation of staff and students from St Joseph La Cordeille.