2 August 2026, the community of Fenoarivo Atsinanana (Fénérive-Est), in Madagascar, gathered in a spirit of joy to celebrate the the bicentenary of the birth of Blessed Antoine Chevrier. A celebration marked by prayer, thanksgiving and sharing.
This event, marking the 200th anniversary of the birth of Blessed Antoine Chevrier (1826–2026), brought together members of the Prado Family (mainly the sisters), priests and many members of the faithful. They all came together to give thanks to God for the life, faith and witness of Antoine Chevrier, a priest of the Diocese of Lyon and founder of the Prado.
A spiritual legacy that lives on
During the celebration, those present also commemorated the 40th anniversary of the beatification of Antoine Chevrier, celebrated in 1986.
In her address, Sister Nora, Head of the Sisters of Prado, pointed out that this double anniversary is, above all, an opportunity to rediscover the spiritual legacy left by Antoine Chevrier: to love Jesus Christ with passion, to contemplate him, to follow him closely and to serve our brothers and sisters, especially the poorest among them.
She also gave thanks for the presence of the various members of the Prado Family and for the fraternal bonds that exist within this spiritual family, in the service of the Gospel.
« Today we are celebrating the bicentenary of the birth of Blessed Antoine Chevrier […] but the most important thing is not simply to commemorate a man or a priest. What we are celebrating above all is the spiritual legacy he has left us. »
«Give them something to eat yourselves»
In his homily, Bishop Marek OCHLAK, Bishop of Fenoarivo Atsinanana, framed the celebration in the light of the Gospel account of the feeding of the five thousand: «Give them something to eat yourselves» (Mt 14:16).
For the bishop, these words of Jesus to the Apostles echo the vocation of Antoine Chevrier and the mission of the Prado. As he contemplated the poor Jesus in the manger, particularly on Christmas Eve 1856, Antoine Chevrier discovered a calling to devote his life to making Jesus Christ known to the poor.
Bishop OCHLAK emphasised that this mission begins with a heart moved by compassion: before feeding the crowd, Jesus loves them. In the same way, every Christian mission finds its source in an encounter with Christ and in the desire to make him known.
In particular, he recalled these words, which sum up Antoine Chevrier’s entire spiritual journey: «Knowing Jesus Christ is everything.»
The bishop also drew a parallel between the bicentenary and the start of a new pastoral year in the diocese, marked by new missions entrusted to several priests. In the light of the Gospel, these appointments are presented as a sending forth to serve the people of God: each is called to offer who they are and what they have, in the manner of the five loaves and two fish placed into Christ’s hands.
Exhibition: «Blessed Antoine Chevrier: Following the Poor Jesus»
This day of celebration also provided an opportunity to explore the exhibition «Blessed Antoine Chevrier: Following Jesus in his poverty», translated into Malagasy.
Through the various display panels, visitors were able to learn about Antoine Chevrier’s life, his spiritual journey, his life-changing encounter with Christ, the founding of the Prado, and the relevance of his message to Christians today.
This exhibition thus helps to raise awareness of Blessed Antoine Chevrier and his charism beyond national borders, within the Church in Madagascar, where the Sisters of Prado are committed to serving local communities and the poorest members of society.
A day of celebration and camaraderie
Following the Eucharistic celebration, the day continued with a convivial gathering over a communal meal, enabling participants to prolong the joy of this gathering and to share a moment of fellowship.
Two hundred years after his birth, Antoine Chevrier’s legacy continues to bring together men and women from all corners of the world.
In Fenoarivo Atsinanana, this celebration demonstrated just how much his call to to follow Jesus, who was poor, humble and a servant, to know him, to love him and to make him known, remains alive and fruitful.
