13–15 October 2026, the priests and sisters of the Prado in Vietnam gathered at the Training Centre of the Diocese of Phú Cường (Vietnam) to celebrate together the Year of Antoine Chevrier (the bicentenary of his birth) and the 40th anniversary of his beatification. Three days of meetings and sharing to deepen their attachment to the founder of the Prado and to keep his spiritual legacy alive.

Exploring the Prado’s charism together 

Sixteen priests and five sisters from the Prado in Vietnam came together for two days to take part in a spiritual retreat, deepen their understanding of the history of the Prado’s foundation and rediscover the riches of its spirituality. They also shared their personal and community experiences of living out the Prado charism.

The figure of Father Antoine Chevrier was presented to them in a new light through two themes for reflection: « Poverty is the priest’s strength » and « The spirituality of the Prado is a synodal spirituality within a synodal Church«. These teachings were reflected upon in the light of the Word of God, in an atmosphere of prayer and communal discernment, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.”.

Passing on the charism to younger generations 

The priests and nuns also presented the history of the founding of the Association of Prado Priests and the Society of Prado Nuns to the seminarians in the preparatory year at the diocesan seminary in Phú Cường.

This meeting enabled them to gain a greater awareness of how their own Prado vocation forms part of the history and continuity of the Prado charism, in the service of the Church and the poorest members of society.

News of the celebrations marking the Year of Antoine Chevrier in Lyon, relayed by two Vietnamese Prado priests, Gregorio and Alphonso, who are continuing their training there, also fuelled their reflections. This enabled them to feel more closely connected to the life of the international Prado community and to all those around the world who are celebrating the bicentenary of Father Chevrier’s birth.

Following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, in the spirit of Father Chevrier

At the end of these days, the participants give thanks to God for the Prado charism, bestowed upon the Church and upon each of them.

« Let us move forward together in the footsteps of our Master, Jesus Christ, guided by the Holy Spirit, enlightened by the witness of Father Chevrier and accompanied by our brother priests and our sisters of the Prado, so that we may reach out to the poor and place ourselves at their service.« 

An invitation to continue on this journey together, remaining true to the founding vision of Father Antoine Chevrier: to follow the poor Jesus and to allow ourselves to be evangelised by the poorest among us.

As we celebrate together the anniversary of the beatification of Antoine Chevrier by Pope John Paul II on 4 October 1986, the members of the Prado in Vietnam reflect on the witness of Blessed Antoine Chevrier and his call to live according to the Gospel, in simplicity and in close solidarity with the poorest of the poor. A fraternal gathering which serves as a reminder that the founder’s vision continues to bring people together, to nourish the faith and to sustain the mission of the Prado Family throughout the world.