The fathers of the A.P.I. 2024-2025 and Father Joseph NIKIEMA on a visit to theu Picture of St Fons.
The Association des Prêtres du Prado is organising a International Prados Year (A.P.I.), for priests who are members of Prado and have been involved in the institute for several years. This is a twice-yearly formation period, to enable PRAdosian priests to take time to review their faith life, their ministry and their PRAdosian commitment, and to deepen their understanding of the charism of Prado so that they can then resume their pastoral mission. Two Prado priests accompany this year of formation. For the A.P.I. 2024-2025, the priests are accompanied by Fathers Joseph NIKIEMA and Welcome BABINDAMA KOKANImembers of the General Council, who are trainers and coaches respectively.
For this year's edition, which kicked off on Monday 16 September 2024 and will end on Thursday 19 June 2025 with a mass at 6 p.m., 5 priests are gathered at the Saint-André house in Limonest to follow in the footsteps of Blessed Antoine Chevrier. The fathers came from Spain, Colombia, South Korea, DR-Congo and Haiti. Jordi ESPI VIVES (Diocese of Barcelona - Spain), Norbey GARCIA SALAZAR (Diocese of Cali - Colombia), Jeong Cheol KIM - Simon (Diocese of Daegu - South Korea), Jean-Pierre MVUEZOLO TSIMBA (Diocese of Boma - Democratic Republic of Congo - DRC) and Wilguens SAINT-FLEUR (Diocese of Gonaïves - Haiti) enjoy a powerful spiritual and human experience.
By taking part in this training within the Institute, the fathers whose bishops have agreed to release them on a full-time basis experience a genuine fraternal communion for which they have prepared spiritually before coming to France. The diversity of their backgrounds, their personal, ministerial and pradosian experience, within the Church of their respective countries, is a sign of missionary communion that enriches everyone.
It is worth remembering that this year of formation, which is mentioned in the Constitutions of the Association of Priests of Prado, is one of the commitments that the priests of the Institute take when they join and that they participate in with the agreement of the Bishop of their diocese. The A.P.I. is one of the major proposals of the pradosian formation.
During this special year, the rhythm of life differs from the usual pastoral routine, which is often very busy. Their daily lives are organised around times for spiritual work (to get to know Jesus Christ better through spiritual study of the Gospel) and time for prayer, including three retreats, times for fraternal community life, as well as simple service to the poor and, if possible, a few academic courses. Non-French-speaking priests arrive a few months beforehand to learn the French language, so that they can take full advantage of the teaching and the exchanges between everyone.
This 10-month training course takes place in Limonest at the Prado International Spiritual Centreideally located on the southern slopes of the Monts d'Or, a stone's throw from Lyon, an environment conducive to reflection and meditation. The Bible, "Le Véritable Disciple" (a major work by Father Antoine Chevrier), the Letters, the Constitutions of the Institute of the Priests of Prado, the documents of the Second Vatican Council and other contributions are the indispensable tools of Prado priests and serve as the basis for the various modules.
The International Prado Year is a period of intense formation aimed at forming in these priests the heart of a "true disciple-apostle of Jesus Christ", in the words of Father Antoine Chevrier, so that they can develop the missionary drive to reach out to the poor and share the joy of the Gospel. If you are a priest of Prado, don't hesitate to talk to the Prado coordinator in your country, and don't forget to talk to the bishop of your diocese to let them know of your intention to take part in this formation and to check its relevance.
Below is an excerpt from a message that the father Jean-Pierre MVUEZOLO TSIMBA from Democratic Republic of Congo has sent its colleagues pradosians from the dioceses of Boma and Matadi after 2 months at the A.P.I. : [...] Community life goes well with sharing experiences. The trainers know how to keep us busy. There's a lot of work to do, not forgetting a bit of rest. At the very least, we know how to experience being much closer to Blessed Antoine Chevrier, through many of his writings and commentaries, especially as the setting offers this. This is the silence of the houses of Saint-André and Saint-Joseph. I also encourage you, above all else, to keep the lamp burning in the footsteps of Christ, through the intercession of the apostle of La Guillotière, Blessed Antoine Chevrier, poor for the poor. Chevrier, poor for the poor... Hang in there. For the moment, I imagine that you are all busy with multiple pastoral tasks, each in his or her own charism, but be, let us be, also busy working, in teams, first of all, on the preparatory document for the General Assembly, which is in fact an invitation to become aware that Jesus walks with each of us as he did with the Emmaus people. [...] Thank you, you are all in my prayers and let's pray for each other.
More testimonials from priests in the A.P.I. 2024-2025 will soon be available online.
