Saturday, October 3, 2026, the Prado Chapel hosted a morning event organized especially for children as part of the celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of the beatification of Blessed Antoine Chevrier.
From 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., children from the catechism classes in La Guillotière and the surrounding areas of Lyon gathered at the Prado to learn about Father Antoine Chevrier in a new way—his life, his prayer, and the places that shaped his journey in the footsteps of Jesus.
Led by the priests Gilles Vadon and Régis Charre, the morning began with a presentation and a video about Father Antoine Chevrier, followed by a A fun and spiritual journey through the chapel, accompanied by a booklet specially designed for children.
In front of the nativity scene: where it all begins
The first stop on the tour took the children to the daycare center, a place of particular importance in the spiritual life of Antoine Chevrier.
It was indeed in front of the nativity scene, on Christmas Eve 1856, that the young vicar of Saint-André de la Guillotière deeply reflected on the mystery of the Incarnation and discovered a special calling to follow Jesus in poverty.
Based on the story from the Gospel of Luke, the children were invited to take some time to look at the figures in the nativity scene and then write down in their workbooks what struck them: «What stands out to you in what you see? Why?»
Then another question invited them to engage personally in prayer: «What do I want to say to Jesus?»
That is how they discovered this beautiful prayer by Father Chevrier: «Jesus, how wonderful it was that you were born in that stable. There, you are easily accessible. Everyone has the right to come visit you, and that is how you want it to be—so that you can welcome everyone.»
A moment of silence then allowed everyone to look around, reflect, and, if they wished, pray.
From the Tomb to the Altar: Following in Jesus’ Footsteps
The route continued past the Jesus' tomb, depicted in the chapel. On either side of the tomb, the children discovered the figures of Mary Magdalene and Veronica.
After observing the figures and the tomb, they were invited to reflect on these words of Father Chevrier: «Jesus loves us so much that he gives his life for each one of us.»
The booklet also asked them a question: «Is it easy for you to love like Jesus? How are you able to do that?»
The tour then took the children to the’altar, where they were able to discover the various symbols that remind us of Christ’s presence: the altar of bread and wine, the altar of the Word, and the tabernacle, where the consecrated hosts are kept.
The priests explained the meaning of these various elements and how, for Christians, the Eucharist allows us to remember Jesus and to draw strength from his presence—especially when Communion is brought to those who cannot attend Mass.
The children were also invited to look up to see, above the altar, the dove depicted high up—a symbol to which Father Chevrier was particularly attached.
A quote from the Prado’s founder accompanied them: «By saying, “This is my body,” Jesus found a way to remain with us always.»
Exploring the Places Where Antoine Chevrier Lived
The morning also gave the children a more hands-on look at the history of the Prado’s founder. In particular, they were able to discover Father Chevrier's room, preserved and presented as a place that commemorates his life.
After learning about her life and the places that left a mark on her, the children were also invited to join in her prayer «O Word! O Christ!» : « O Christ, grant that I may know You and love You. Fill me with great faith in You. »
A prayer that aptly sums up Antoine Chevrier’s deepest desire: to know Jesus, to love Him, to listen to His Word, and to put it into practice.
Praying Together
After this journey of discovery, the morning concluded with a time of prayer.
The children received a prayer card asking for the canonization of Blessed Antoine Chevrier and were invited to hold a personal intention in their hearts.
Together, they prayed to the The Lord's Prayer, and then sung on «Hail Mary».
Before leaving, everyone received a few mementos from the morning: a bookmark, a sticker, the discovery booklet, and the prayer card.
A Journey That Continues
But the journey doesn't end there! A promise was made to the children: The exploration of Antoine Chevrier will continue in Limonest and Saint-Fons, two other places of significance in the history of the Prado and the life of its founder.
This morning’s event gave the youngest children the opportunity to learn about Father Antoine Chevrier in a simple, concrete, and joyful way: by watching, listening, sharing, singing, and praying.
A great way to introduce younger generations to this «friend of Jesus» and to invite them, in turn, to seek to know Jesus, to love him, and to follow him.
This event was part of the three-day program held at the Prado on October 2–4, 2026, on the occasion of the 40th Anniversary of the Beatification of Antoine Chevrier and Pope John Paul II's visit to Lyon in 1986, the year of his beatification.
