«Blessed Antoine Chevrier: Following Jesus in His Poverty»
On this page, you'll learn about the journeys of a few Pradosian figures around the world, Spain, Portugal, Poland, but also in Africa (Madagascar), in East (Lebanon, Syria, Egypt) and in Asia (Vietnam, Korea).
To get to know other equally exceptional figures from the’Prado Women's Institute (IFP), priests from the Prado in’South America (Brazil, Colombia) but also of France, Click here. On this page, take a moment to watch the video of a father from Mongolia.
the The Prado Family offers you a series of Themed podcasts created to accompany the celebration of the’Antoine Chevrier Year. To learn more about the life, spirituality, work, and legacy of the Prado’s founder through personal accounts, historical insights, spiritual reflections, and inspiring stories, listen to the Le Prado Podcasts.
SPAIN
FRANCISCO GIRÓN FERNÁNDEZ, HUELVA (1922–2009)
Father Francisco, who spent his entire pastoral life in the Diocese of Huelva—notably as a high school teacher and parish priest—belonged to the Prado Priests« Association, whose spirituality shaped his pastoral work. A fellow priest described his spirituality as “ Christ-centered in the manner of Saint Paul: committed and incarnate; close to the poor and the sick; and marked by a smile and a clear gaze ».
He was a much-loved priest, full of virtues. Popular support is driving the cause for his canonization, which has been initiated by the Diocese of Huelva.
© Photo - huelvainformacion.es
PORTUGAL
MANUEL PIMENTEL (1939–2004)
He recounts his chance discovery, in France, of the priests of the Prado: « I was inspired by the way the priests on this team lived their lives ». He introduced the Prado Institute to Portugal, sharing its spirit and priestly mission. In his pastoral and priestly ministry, he has always sought to combine the freedom to denounce injustices with the mission of proclaiming the Gospel as liberating Good News and a source of life for all.
See also the article dated September 10, 2014 (in Portuguese) on the Ouvidoria da Povoação blog—Ombudsman of Povoação, Click here.
ORIENT
MGR YOUSSEF ANIS ABI AAD - MARONITE ARCHBISHOP OF ALEPPO (LEBANON-SYRIA, 1940–2017)
Ordained a priest in 1966, he founded the parish center at Notre-Dame du Puits Church, in a working-class neighborhood of Beirut, which became a meeting place for various movements in an atmosphere of fellowship, dedicated to spiritual formation and the planning of parish activities. All of this was done in a spirit of ecumenism, which fostered greater openness toward neighboring churches of different rites.
FATHER ELIAS ZAHLAWI (SYRIA)
As a priest working with young people, he officially founded the University Parish of Our Lady of Damascus in 1968. He asked Monsignor Ancel to lead the first retreat in Lebanon, which marked the beginning of the Prado movement in Lebanon and Syria.
FATHER MAKRAM KOZAH (LEBANON)
He became involved with the Prado at a very early age and went on to serve for many years as the director of education at the Prado d’Orient. He was recognized as a religious figure in contexts related to Maronite ecclesiastical life. He died during the COVID-19 pandemic.
FATHER MICHEL LEBORDAIS (FRANCE - EGYPT 1931–2020)
After arriving in Egypt in 1974, he established the Prado there with other priests and leads a simple life. In his parish, he has focused on building superintendents and their families. His attention was directed toward child laborers, manual laborers, and disadvantaged communities. At the religious education institute where he taught the Bible, he emphasized putting faith into practice and studying the Gospel in relation to daily life.
See also « Poverty cannot be overcome by money alone, but by restoring dignity and self-confidence. »on the Blog« Missing Church »by Father Michel DURAND,", Click here.
FATHER JOSEPH MARIE GJISHIK (POLAND-EGYPT 1925–20??)
Born in Poland, he became an Egyptian citizen. He co-founded the Prado of Egypt with Michel Lebordais. He settled in Assiut, where Bishop Alexandre entrusted him with founding the Institute of Religious Education in 1966. The Prado’s mission includes training qualified teachers in Christian education. Teaching the faith is above all a lived experience, an experience conveyed through the life of Christ within us.
MADAGASCAR
FATHER BERNARD RABEFIHAVANANA (1937–2023)
Most of the priests who attended the Kianjasoa seminary remember him as a man deeply committed to forming «good priests» in the spirit of Father Chevrier: poor priests for the poor people of Madagascar. He was one of those missionaries eager to gain a deep understanding of Malagasy culture in order to better integrate into it and bear witness to the Gospel there. He embodied this through his life of great simplicity and his willingness to welcome seminarians. He was a man of great simplicity, always joyful. His life of prayer was structured around three pillars: the Liturgy of the Hours, the Rosary, and the Eucharist. His presence was quiet, yet it bore witness to another Presence: that of Jesus.
VIETNAM
CLAUDE COLLAUDIN (1921–1985)
His 10 years in Saigon were the centerpiece of his life as a priest. There, he founded a «community» school where Buddhists and Catholics worked together to provide an education for the neighborhood’s children. This founding initiative continues to inspire the regular dialogue that takes place in this megacity to this day.
One of his colleagues (Ludovic Robillard) describes his spirituality as follows: « The Gospel was your passion and your sustenance. You had studied it, pondered it, savored it; you were steeped in it.. Like Father Chevrier, he was convinced that « Knowing Jesus Christ is everything, because knowledge of Jesus Christ necessarily leads to love, and love leads to imitation« , », you had a deep desire to promote the study of the Gospel or the Acts of the Apostles…"
THE PRADO SISTERS IN HO CHI MINH CITY
A community of Prado sisters was established in Ho Chi Minh City in 2018. Today, the community consists of five sisters, who tell us about how they’ve put down roots. « During our New Year’s visit, a woman from the Legion of Mary shared these words with us: “We thank you for your fraternal presence and your collaboration, and we hope to continue working with you so that we may bring the Good News even more to those most in need.» These words echo our Constitutions (No. 206): «We work to ensure that the most disadvantaged are recognized. We are certain that everyone can become an apostle of the Good News.». »
For more information, please visit the website of the Sisters of the Prado in Vietnam, Click here.
SOUTH KOREA
MGR. OLIVIER DE BERRANGER (FRANCE 1938–2017, KOREA)
He was ordained a priest at the Prado Seminary in 1964 for the Diocese of Versailles; he served as superior of the Prado Seminary in 1968, and then, at the request of Cardinal Kim, Archbishop of Seoul, he was sent on a mission to Seoul, where he remained for 17 years. He is the founder of Prado Korea. Upon his return in 1996, he was appointed Bishop of Saint-Denis in France by Pope John Paul II. In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI accepted his resignation to allow him to rejoin his Prado community.
«I became familiar with the figure of Antoine Chevrier during my early years in the seminary in Limonest, from 1958 to 1960. Throughout my life as a priest and bishop, I have never ceased to draw inspiration from him. Of course, I have read and admired many other saints and great Christian authors. But whether in parish ministry or in teaching—in France or in Korea, or as bishop in Saint-Denis—I can say that no one else has had such a profound influence on me.»
Introduction to the Book «Father Chevrier, tell us your secret»
