August 2, 2026, the community of Fenoarivo Atsinanana (Fénérive-Est), Madagascar, gathered in a joyful atmosphere to celebrate the the bicentennial of the birth of Blessed Antoine Chevrier. A celebration marked by prayer, thanksgiving, and sharing.
This anniversary commemorating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Blessed Antoine Chevrier (1826–2026) brought together members of the Prado Family (primarily the sisters), priests, and many members of the faithful. They all gathered 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, participants also commemorated the 40th Anniversary of the Beatification of Antoine Chevrier, celebrated in 1986.
In her remarks, Sister Nora, Superior of the Sisters of Prado, noted that this double anniversary is, above all, an opportunity to rediscover the spiritual legacy left by Antoine Chevrier: to love Jesus Christ passionately, 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 service to the Gospel.
« Today we celebrate the bicentennial of the birth of Blessed Antoine Chevrier […] but what matters most is not merely commemorating a man or a priest. What we are celebrating above all is the spiritual legacy he left us. »
«Give them something to eat yourselves»
In his homily, Bishop Marek OCHLAK, Bishop of Fenoarivo Atsinanana, framed the celebration in 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 Antoine Chevrier’s vocation and the mission of the Prado. As he contemplated the poor Jesus in the manger, especially on Christmas Eve 1856, Antoine Chevrier discovered a call to devote his life to making Jesus Christ known to the poor.
Bishop OCHLAK emphasized 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 the encounter with Christ and in the desire to make him known.
In particular, he recalled this saying, which sums up Antoine Chevrier’s entire spiritual journey: «Knowing Jesus Christ is everything.»
The bishop also drew a connection between the bicentennial and the start of a new pastoral year in the diocese, marked by new assignments entrusted to several priests. In light of the Gospel, these appointments are presented as a sending forth to serve the people of God: each one is called to offer who he is and what he has, just as the five loaves and two fish were 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 for Christians today.
This exhibition thus helps to spread awareness of Blessed Antoine Chevrier and his charism beyond national borders, within the Church in Madagascar, where the Sisters of Prado are dedicated to serving communities and the poorest among us.
A day of celebration and fellowship
After the Mass, the day continued with a convivial gathering around a shared meal, allowing participants to extend the joy of this gathering and 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—poor, humble, and a servant, to know Him, to love Him, and to make Him known, remains alive and fruitful.
