Sunday 4 October 2026, members of the Prado Family and parishioners from the parishes of La Guillotière gathered to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the beatification of Father Antoine Chevrier by Pope John Paul II. A morning devoted to remembrance and prayer, marked by the transfer of the relics of the Blessed, from the Prado Chapel towards the church Our Lady of Saint Louis de la Guillotière, where the consecration of the new altar.
A morning of remembrance and thanksgiving
The day began at 9.00 am at the Prado Chapel, with the Lauds prayer. Forty years after the 4 October 1986, on the day that John Paul II proclaimed Antoine Chevrier Blessed at Eurexpo, the Prado family was invited to give thanks for the journey they had made since that celebration and for the fruitfulness of the charism received from the Prado’s founder.
At 9.30 am, the relics of Blessed Antoine Chevrier left the Prado Chapel. The procession led those present to Our Lady of Saint Louis de la Guillotière, one of the places with which Father Chevrier had a deep connection, as it was in this church that his funeral Mass was celebrated.
The procession, led by Monsignor Olivier de Germay, Archbishop of Lyon, accompanied by the altar boys and the Father Armel Bouchacourt, parish priest of the parish of Notre-Dame Saint-Louis de la Guillotière, was closely followed by many members of the The Prado family (Priests, nuns, members of the IFP – Institut Féminin du Prado), lay people and consecrated lay people, as well as parishioners from local parishes.
The priests of the Prado General, the fathers Diego Martín Peñas, Luc Lalire and Joseph Nikiema, as well as those of the Prado de France, the fathers Dominique Pellet and Yves Delavoix, were of course present. They were accompanied by the six priests from the’API 2026–2027, from five countries (Egypt, Guinea, Italy, Madagascar and Mexico), as well as by the priests of the Vietnam and Korea.
This transfer of the relics of Blessed Antoine Chevrier brought a special significance to that morning. The man who had walked the streets of La Guillotière to reach out to the residents of this working-class neighbourhood was symbolically brought back to the heart of this place where his ministry had borne so much fruit. On the day of his funeral, his coffin had, in fact, followed the same route and had been cheered on by tens of thousands of people.
Blessing of the Bicentenary Cross
In the courtyard of the Notre-Dame Saint-Louis de la Guillotière Parish, Bishop Olivier de Germay blessed the Bicentenary cross. It was a moment that was both solemn and convivial, during which everyone was able to reflect, pray and venerate the relic of the Blessed Antoine Chevrier.
Mass presided over by Bishop de Germay
À 10.30 am, parishioners from Notre-Dame Saint-Louis de la Guillotière, members of the Prado Family and worshippers from across the region gathered for Mass, presided over by Monsignor Olivier de Germay, Archbishop of Lyon.
This celebration was one of the highlights of the anniversary weekend dedicated to Blessed Antoine Chevrier. It combined the commemoration of his beatification with an event of great significance both for the parish and for the people of Prado: the consecration of the new altar at the Church of Notre-Dame Saint-Louis de la Guillotière, in which the relics of Blessed Antoine Chevrier have been enshrined.
The congregation, who turned out in large numbers, gathered to experience this significant spiritual occasion, marked by a liturgy of great beauty and accompanied by the music of the church’s historic organ.
The service began joyfully with the entrance hymn Church of the Lord, followed by a blessing and the sprinkling of living water (I saw the white water). The congregation has now entered the Liturgy of the Word specific to the 27The ᵉ Sunday in Ordinary Time, reflecting on the psalm of The vineyard of the Lord of the Universe, before listening to the homily and professing one’s faith. To access the text, click here.
The centrepiece of the Mass was the grand, solemn rites of dedication. Following the invocation of the saints during the litanies, the congregation experienced a moment of deep emotion as the the entombment of the relics of Father Antoine Chevrier within the new altar itself. The bishop then recited the prayer of dedication, before proceeding to anoint the holy table with Holy Chrism (to the singing of Psalm 117) and to incense it at five points, causing the prayers of the faithful to rise like a sweet fragrance.
The Eucharistic liturgy took on a distinctly Pradosian character during the Offertory, enhanced by the recitation of the Father Antoine Chevrier’s heartfelt and stirring prayer : «O Word! O Christ! How beautiful you are!». Nourished by the song of communion Whoever has eaten this Bread, the parishioners set off once more, renewed in their mission, sent out into the world to the joyful strains of the hymn May my soul live to praise You.
A consecrated altar, a place turned towards Christ
The consecration of an altar lends the celebration a special significance. At the heart of the church, the altar is the place where the Christian community gathers to celebrate the Eucharist.
The presence of the relics of Blessed Antoine Chevrier in this altar serves as a reminder that his entire life was centred on Christ. His spirituality, deeply shaped by contemplation of Jesus in the nativity scene, the Calvary and the tabernacle, invites us to discover in the Eucharist the presence of Christ, who gives himself and gathers his people together.
«Following the poor Jesus»
Since the start of the’The Year of Antoine Chevrier, the Prado invites visitors to rediscover its heritage through the theme: «Following the poor Jesus».
The celebration on 4 October is very much in keeping with this approach. Forty years after his beatification, Antoine Chevrier remains a spiritual figure whose example invites us to return to what really matters: knowing Jesus Christ, loving him, following him and making him known, particularly to the poorest among us.
The morning thus unfolded as a journey from remembrance to thanksgiving, and from thanksgiving to a new commission. In welcoming the relics of the Blessed, the community was also invited to embrace, even today, what his witness can inspire in the life of the Church and in the mission to the most vulnerable.
An anniversary that continues… keep following in the footsteps of Blessed Antoine Chevrier
This celebration brought to a close three days devoted to 40th anniversary of the beatification of Antoine Chevrier. From 2 to 4 October, priests, nuns, consecrated persons, lay people, young people and children were invited to gather at the Prado Chapel to explore various aspects of the founder’s spirituality: the priestly ministry, youth, solidarity and consecrated life.
The day continued at 3.00 pm at the Prado Chapel, with a tour of the premises followed by vespers. A time of prayer to bring this anniversary to a close in the chapel where the Founder of the Prado, the Blessed Antoine Chevrier.