EUROPE/FRANCE - Exhibition on display in Lyon from February 4th: “Destination Asia, a missionary journey with Lego bricks”

Lyon (Agenzia Fides) – The exhibition “Destination Asia: A Missionary Journey with Lego Bricks,” created by the Paris Foreign Missions Society (MEP), is coming to Lyon.

The exhibition will be on display in Lyon from February 4 to June 29, 2026, at the Maison de Lorette. The Maison de Lorette is part of the Pontifical Mission Societies in France and not only preserves the history and spirituality of the foundress of the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith, Blessed Pauline Jaricot, who was born there in 1799, but also serves as the headquarters of the Pontifical Mission Societies in France.

The exhibition, which was a great success with the public at the Paris headquarters of the Society for Foreign Missions from November 2024 to July 2025, is coming to Lyon thanks to the long-standing collaboration between the MEP and the Pontifical Mission Societies in France. One of Blessed Pauline Jaricot's brothers was a priest in the Paris Foreign Missions and told his sister in China about the conditions and difficulties faced by the missionaries who set out to proclaim the Gospel in distant lands. This sparked Pauline Jaricot's desire to support the missionaries with prayers and donations. This marked the beginning of the story of the Pontifical Mission Societies, which later became the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith.

The exhibition, which will be on display in Lyon and is made up of 102,850 Lego bricks, is a slightly scaled-down version of the Paris exhibition but pursues the same goals. The primary goal of “Destination Asia: A Missionary Journey with Lego Bricks” is to appeal to a broad audience, from grandchildren to grandparents. It aims to build a bridge between France, Asia, and the Indian Ocean by illustrating a shared human heritage through a modern, intergenerational, and multicultural language.

As an instrument of contemporary artistic expression, the building blocks are more than just a toy; they become an innovative means of communication, uniting play, inventiveness, and education. Eight Lego brick models take visitors from Japan through China, Vietnam, and India to Madagascar. This journey of discovery through the cultures, religions, and peoples of this vast continent is made possible by the exhibition and access to documents from the archives of the Pontifical Mission Societies, as well as the presentation of impressive videos.

The exhibition is divided into four thematic sections, preceded by an introductory section entitled “Welcome to Asia.” This section provides information on the historical, geographical, cultural, and religious context and is linked to a Lego model of Singapore's Marina Bay Sands, an architectural complex that has become a symbol of the futuristic modernity of many Asian cities. Visitors are then accompanied by a guide, a volunteer from the MEP, to explore the various themed areas.

The first section, entitled "In the Footsteps of the First Bridge Builders," tells the story of the founding of the Society for Foreign Missions of Paris, from the establishment of the seminary to the first missions in Asia, as well as its work and contributions in the fields of linguistics and printing to the dissemination of the Bible in Asia. An expression of this commitment is the Lego model of the Nazareth Printing House in Hong Kong, followed by a model of the Oura Church in Nagasaki, a symbolic monument to the history of the so-called "hidden Christians of Japan." It was in this church that Father Bernard Petitjean encountered Japanese Christians who had survived the long period of persecution in Japan.

“On the path of dialogue,” the second section, highlights the diversity of Asia’s peoples. The continent was the birthplace of the three major monotheistic religions and is also the cradle of Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and many other religions and spiritual traditions. The exhibition explores interreligious dialogue in its Asian specificity (mission – dialogue – harmony). The Lego models in this section depict Myeongdong Cathedral in Seoul and the Varanasi Steps on the banks of the Ganges River in India.

“Alongside those in need” is the third section, which honors the social commitment of missionaries past and present, particularly their work with local populations in the areas of education and health. The remarkable work accomplished in 30 years of missionary work in Madagascar is illustrated by the Lego model of Tsarahasina, as is the essential role played by the women’s congregations represented by the Convent of the Lovers of the Cross in Ho Chi Minh City.
The last Lego model, representing the fourth section, "Proclaiming the Good News," reproduces the Divine Mercy mosaic in Port Bergé, Madagascar. All the models in the exhibition are displayed on wooden transport crates, immersing visitors in the world of missionary journeys. Each model is adorned with a decorative backdrop in the form of a cloth, reminiscent of the country depicted.


All the exhibition materials—explanatory texts, images, and supplementary resources—are available online, allowing visitors to follow, explore, and revisit the exhibition virtually. Finally, in collaboration with "Les Trésors de Paris," a brochure has been created for children under 14 visiting the exhibition, which is also being distributed to school classes and parish groups. (EG) (Agenzia Fides, 1/2/2026)

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