The congregation of the Missionaries of Mariannhill developed out of the Trappist mission outreach to South Africa in 1882 founded by prior Francis Pfanner. He became the first Abbot of Mariannhill Monastery in 1885. The Trappists dedicated their first foundation in Natal to Mary and her mother, Anne; hence, Mary-Anne-hill. CMM became an independent missionary congregation in 1909, the same year in which its pioneering Trappist (Abbot Francis Pfanner) died. We are both Religious and Missionaries (priests and Brothers) who live in the community. As religious in Zambia and wherever we are found, our Trappist roots leads us back to St. Benedict, and as Missionaries we are connected with the early missionaries of Mariannhill and their tireless leader Abbot Francis Pfanner. The Benedictine motto of ‘Ora et Labora’ combines these two traits of our Congregational history and is our legacy.

Currently, in Zambia, we are found in Lusaka Province, Lusaka Archdiocese (Chunga Area St. Stephen the Martyr, In Makeni-Engelmer House of Formation and the Regional Mother House).  Northern Province, Kasama Archdiocese (Mungwi St. Margret, Kapata St. Kizito, Nseluka St. Francis of Assis and a Community and Postulancy House in Kasembo Farms right in Kasama). In Copperbelt, Ndola Diocese we are in Chambishi town, St. Nicholas. We are also in Eastern Province, Chipata Diocese- Ukwimi St. Charles Lwanga Parish. Additionally, we have Mariannhill Missionaries working in Africa (Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mozambique, East Africa Kenya and Tanzania respectively), Europe (Rome, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, Germany and Spain), Oceania (Papua New Guinea), America (Canada, and Colombia).