The Prado spiritual family and the Diocese of Lyon invite everyone to (re)discover the figure of Bishop Alfred Ancel (1898–1984), auxiliary bishop of Lyon from 1947 to 1973. The ‘Year of Ancel’, which will feature an exhibition, lectures, a symposium, retreats and other spiritual events, begins on 11 September 2024.
The main events of the Ancel year:
- 11 September: Opening of the Year of Ancel at St John the Baptist’s Cathedral. Mass at 7.00 pm presided over by Bishop Olivier de Germay.
- 14 September: Opening of the exhibition «A Bishop of Lyon in his Century» (until 31 October 2024) at 5.30 pm at the Basilica of Saint Bonaventure.
- 27 October: 1st spiritual retreat: “Sundays at Limonest”.
- 3 December: “Regard sur l’Actualité” conference – “The challenges faced by young people supported by Prado Education”, of which Alfred Ancel was the founding president.
- 19 and 20 March 2025: Symposium at the Catholic University of Lyon with Christoph THEOBALD, Christian SORREL and Jacques Benoit RAUSCHER.
- 23 March 2025: 2nd spiritual retreat: “Sundays at Limonest”.
- 15 May 2025: Les Jeudis du Prado lecture – “A witness to Christ for today”.
- 18 May 2025: 3rd “Les dimanches de Limonest” spiritual retreat.
- 29 May to 1 June 2025: Retreat entitled “Being a disciple of Christ in the footsteps of Father Alfred Ancel” at Pradines Abbey.
- 24–29 August 2025: Retreat entitled “Being a disciple of Christ in the footsteps of Father Alfred Ancel” in Limonest.
11 September 2025: Closing ceremony for the Alfred Ancel Year at Notre-Dame-Saint-Louis Church, Lyon 7th at 7.00 pm, with a Mass presided over by Bishop Dominique BLANCHET of Créteil.
More information will be available online shortly.