News

1–3 June 2026 in Lyon (France)

Following the official bicentenary celebrations marking the death of Father André Coindre, which took place in Lyon on Saturday, May 30, and in Paradis on Sunday, May 31, 2026, the Charism Commission held its annual in-person meeting. This took place at the Maison Coindre from June 1 to 3.

This was the first time that all the members of the commission had met in person. Those presents were:

- Brother Jean-Baptiste Ouedraogo (from the Francophone Africa and Madagascar Conference),

- Brother Dominique Savard (from the North-South Conference),

- Brother Emilio Rodrigo (from the Latin America and Spain Conference),

- Mr Thomas Mavor (from the English-speaking Conference),

- Brother Antonio López García-Nieto (as future postulator of the cause for sainthood)

- and Brother Carlos Almaraz (from the General Council).

The commission had two important topics to address: the evaluation of the preparation and celebration of the bicentenary of André Coindre and the analysis of the promotion of the charism within the entities of the Institute.

All members of the commission gave a very positive assessment of the organization and celebration of the bicentenary, sharing in the many expressions of gratitude they had received. All the entities of the Institute celebrated this bicentenary in one way or another, and for all, it has been a time of grace and growth in living out and promoting the charism. We note that the four proposed objectives (spiritual, charismatic, missionary, and celebratory) have been achieved and that there is widespread satisfaction.

Regarding the second topic (the promotion of the charism in the Institute), the commission is developing guidelines designed to help the entities assess their current situation and pursue a process that leads each one to the realization of the ‘Coindre charismatic family’, as indicated by the General Chapter of 2024.

We thank everyone who prepared and organized the activities of the celebration of this bicentenary in each entity, and especially the Delegation of France, which made it possible to celebrate an event of this importance in both Lyon and Paradis.

We believe Father André Coindre would be very proud of his sons and daughters. And he would be even more so if we took our own path to holiness seriously.

Brothers in his Cause.