News from Taizé by email

Celebrating 70 years of Taizé

In August, it will be five years since Brother Roger was killed during the evening prayer, on August 16, 2005. And it will be the seventieth anniversary of the founding of the community, since it was on August 20, 1940 by Brother Roger arrived on the hill of Taizé, at first alone. This double anniversary will be marked by a celebration at Taizé on Saturday night August 14 at 8:30pm.

As every month during this year, a short interview with Brother Roger was put online: “Free in God’s Image”.

Taizé: The long weeks of summer have begun

In June, many Benedictine abbots and monks from different monasteries all over France came to Taizé in order to take part in the 1100th anniversary of the founding of the nearby Abbey of Cluny. Among the nations represented on the hill in recent weeks were many Swedes, who often come at this time, and groups from Russia and Denmark. Now, summer has begun, with nearly 3,000 visitors in early July, of many different nationalities, including many Hungarians and Dutch, and also a small group from Armenia. The Archbishops of Valencia (Spain) and Perugia (Italy) stopped by, and also a group of Korean pastors.

Echoes, photos and videos will be regularly posted on the website throughout the summer.

Cambodia: Pentecost 2010

Two brothers of the community were in Cambodia in May:
“Participating in the Pentecost Mass in Phnom Penh was a moving conclusion to an intense week spent in Cambodia. We celebrated all the gifts of the Holy Spirit to the young Church of Jerusalem. And that spirit was evident among people who had gathered in the parish of Tampung Bong, one of only two Catholic parishes in the Cambodian capital. So many different people were there to celebrate Pentecost! This diversity was a sign that the Spirit of God unites us beyond barriers and builds community. […] All rejoiced with the seven young people confirmed that day; it was truly a festival of joy! The songs of Taizé were sung quite naturally.

Spain: The “Meeting of the Spirit” in Catalonia

In May, two brothers visited various cities of Catalonia, in response to an invitation received to take part in a “Meeting of the Spirit,” which took place in the city of Terrassa for the feast of Pentecost. The previous week, they took part in meetings and prayers in various dioceses. The “Meeting of the Spirit” is held every three years and brings together thousands of young people from Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Andorra. The young people were welcomed at the Cathedral Square, and after a meal shared with families of the city they visited the various parishes. In each parish, they were able to take part in workshops with young people committed in many areas—immigration, supporting people with disabilities, working in the fields of culture and art. The brothers were invited to animate one of the places of prayer and meeting.

Herzegovina: brothers visit in June

In Herzegovina, at Siroki Brijeg on the hill overlooking the city, is a Franciscan monastery. The evening of Friday, June 4, the church pews were removed and a large area covered with a carpet. Approximately 300 young people from the parish and the surrounding area gathered for a prayer with songs from Taizé. In the end, all those who wished could come up to the cross to lay down their burdens. And the singing went on for a long time.

After the prayer, we met to reflect together on the preparation of the meeting to be held in Sarajevo, with the presence of Brother Alois, in September. Young people are willing to come and support the preparation teams in Sarajevo. It becomes increasingly clear that the entire country of Bosnia and Herzegovina will host those who come for the meeting. The evening ended in the cloister of the monastery under a starry sky….

Argentina: preparation of the meeting in Santiago, Chile

Horacio and Sandra write: “Three months ago, we started a project for setting up places of prayer throughout the city of Buenos Aires, places where young people could come together to meet with Christ in a way that is more contemplative and more intimate. That this idea was providential was confirmed by the next stage of the pilgrimage of trust on earth that the Taizé brothers are inviting us to live in Chile at the end of this year. With some priests and some lay people, we started getting together in order to think through the project which we hope will continue after the meeting in Santiago. After three months of searching, preparation and dialogue, we began putting into effect, in the Parish of Santa Julia, the first meeting of the dream that we had worked out together.”

Prayer for Haiti: July 12

As each month, a proposed prayer was put online.

Prayer

Loving God, at times we may be disconcerted by violence or harshness. But your Holy Spirit causes, sometimes even in the heart of difficult situations, goodness of heart, forgiveness and peace to spring up. Then we would like to hear your voice when you tell us humbly: “I need you, and what you are, so that my love may shine forth in the world.”

---

 

News from Taizé by email

Taizé: since Easter

For the week after Easter, 4200 young adults came together in Taizé. During these last few days, one of the groups came from Shanghai. Along with representatives of the Orthodox and Catholic Churches, the (Lutheran) Bishop of Oslo came to Taizé to prepare the meeting that will take place in Norway in September. The Bishop of Nanterre (France), Mgr Daucourt, led a theme workshop on faith in a secularised society.

As frequently happens, world events have had repercussions in the life in Taizé. The Polish plane disaster obviously provoked much sadness among the young people from Poland and Brother Alois immediately sent messages of solidarity to Poland and on two occasions during the prayer referred to this country that has come through so many trials in its history. As for the cloud provoked by the volcano irruption in Iceland, it upset many people’s travel plans. But it also made it possible for a young woman from Canada to cancel her departure and make a week of silence! Echoes of the young adults meetings: http://www.taize.fr/en_article7052.html

Brother Alois received in private audience by Benedict XVI

Brother Alois was received by Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday 22 April. This was his fifth private audience since he became prior of Taizé; he has been received by the pope each year. Brother Roger also went to Rome each year for meetings with Popes John XXIII, Paul VI and John Paul II.

During the audience, Brother Alois spoke about the Taizé Community’s ministry with young adults: “We are doing all we can so that young people may discover a personal relationship with God.” Referring to an expression of the pope’s, according to which all believers “bear responsibility for the being and the action of the Church”, he emphasized Taizé’s desire to awaken among the young an awareness of everyone’s responsibility to be bearers of this mystery of communion that is the Church. Taizé also attempts to support an “ecumenism of prayer”, by calling Christians of different confessions to come together more often to pray. Brother Alois spoke to the pope about the recent gatherings for young people organised by the community in Poland, the Philippines, Vietnam and Portugal, as well as about the upcoming meetings in Chile and the Netherlands. He mentioned his three-week visit to China and gave the pope one of the million copies of the Bible which Taizé had printed in China and distributed throughout the country.

Rotterdam: the first information meetings

In response to a joint invitation from the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Netherlands, the PKN (Netherlands Protestant Church, the largest Protestant church in the Netherlands) and from the Netherlands Council of Churches, the 33rd young adult European meeting will take place for the first time in the Netherlands, in Rotterdam, from 28 December 2010 to 1 January 2011. The Catholic and Protestant parishes of several cities around Rotterdam (like The Hague and Delft) will also be involved in welcoming the young adults. From 18 to 30 April, brothers of the community are in the Netherlands to lead the first information meetings in the region of Rotterdam: http://www.taize.fr/nl_article9699.html Provisional program of the meeting: http://www.taize.fr/en_article4191.html Practical information: http://www.taize.fr/en_article3289.html

Cluny: Prayer on 2 May

As part of the celebrations of the 1100 anniversary of the foundation of the Abbey of Cluny, the Brothers of Taizé have been invited to lead a time of prayer at 6pm on Sunday 2 May 2010, in the transept of the Abbey of Cluny. During the prayer, Brother Alois will give a meditation. He will underline how Brother Roger, saw the closeness of Taizé to Cluny – ten kilometres; in his eyes, it was not by chance that he was led in 1940 to found a community in a village situated in the ancient lands around Cluny. http://www.taize.fr/en_article10115.html

“Proclaiming the Unknown God”: Bible texts with commentary

This speech (Acts 17:22-34) that the apostle Paul gave to the philosophers in Athens has become famous. … A Jew comes to Athens to announce “Jesus and the Resurrection.” The culture-shock must have been enormous. And Paul does not mince words in criticizing idols. … Despite the shock, Paul’s preaching is magnificent. Without avoiding the element of confrontation inherent in the announcement of something radically new, he demonstrates a rare ability to adapt. … Adapting does not mean truncating part of the truth. Paul still proclaims the heart of the biblical message. He gives a rapid summary, but a good one nonetheless: an affirmation of the Lordship of God over all things, the gift of life to humans, the coming of a man who opens the gates of forgiveness. http://www.taize.fr/en_article167.html

In Kenya: Retreat at Mji wa Furaha

Some ninety young adults from Nairobi and different provinces of Kenya took part in a four days retreat hosted by the brothers of Taizé in their new fraternity at Mji wa Furaha. Among the participants were also young people from Tanzania, Germany, Romania and France. The theme of the retreat was ’’In the light of the Resurrection’’. Participants were invited to attend each day the three daily times of prayer with the brothers. Bible meditations, personal reflexion in silence, sharing in small groups were the main elements of the daily program. Workshops on different topics – “how to read the Bible’’, “to meet and serve Christ in the poor and elderly’’, “living from God’s call’’, “living as a refugee’’, “working with street children’’, “theatre, society and faith’’… were animated by different facilitators … The Taizé brothers will facilitate other retreats for young adults in August (10th-15th) and December (8th- 12th). http://www.taize.fr/en_article9220.html

Meetings in Indonesia : February 2010

In the small town of Tegal, in Central Java, prayer with songs from Taizé is held in the TORSA Centre (Tahun Orientasi Rohani Santo Agustinus) once a month. The idea of having a weekend gathering came up quite spontaneously. Some people even came from as far away as Bandung and Jakarta! Those from outside Tegal were accommodated in families. For one of the evening prayers, over 80 young people took part. Many of them had never experienced this kind of prayer and silence before. The next day, after morning prayer, a short Bible introduction and a moment of silence, there was a prolonged time sharing in small groups … Just before the celebration of the Eucharist that concluded the weekend, someone read out the letter from Richard, from Haiti, who asked everyone to pray for Haiti on the 12th of each month; the 12th of January was the date that the earthquake struck. http://www.taize.fr/en_article3667.html

For the diary

• Norway: Two volunteers from Taizé hope to visit Norway from Sunday 25 April to Tuesday 11 May 2010. They will mostly be in the Oslo region, but also in Stavanger from Tuesday 4 to Thursday 6 May, and in Trondheim from Friday 7 to Sunday 9 May. http://www.taize.fr/en_article10109.html
• Poland: Young people from throughout the country who are preparing the European meeting in Rotterdam will meet in Sw Tomasz Parish, Warsaw, on 7, 8 and 9 May. Representatives from parishes in Poznan have been invited to attend. In Poznan, two volunteers from Taizé will visit the Christian communities, as part of the continuity after the last European meeting.
• Slovenia: In view of a meeting for young adults in Slovenia, at the end of November, brothers will be visiting the country from 25 to 29 April.
• Hungary: Between 27 April and 4 May, two of the brothers will be making visits in various cities. http://www.taize.fr/hu_article10104.html
• Italy: From 30 April to 9 May one of the brothers will be leading meetings and times of prayer in several cities in Italy, among them: Florence, Arezzo, Modena. http://www.taize.fr/it_article10082.html

Prayer

Risen Christ, faithful witness of the love of God, you welcome us always, you take upon you our suffering and even our faults. Believing in your forgiveness makes us able to see our faults with clarity and to put right what can be. In your forgiveness we find freedom and joy in living. And to your question “Do you love me?” we can reply: “Yes, I love you, perhaps not as I would wish to, but I love you.”

News from Taizé by email
Taizé, Tuesday 6 April 2010
——————————————–
* Easter at Taizé: “We are not alone in celebrating the resurrection of
Christ”
* In Santiago, Chile: The evening before Palm Sunday
* Haiti: Prayer on 12 April
* Visits in Russia in March
* Meeting in Oslo/Trondheim
* Video: Brother Roger: “All of us are seekers”
* New Books and CDs
* For the diary
* Prayer

Easter at Taizé: “We are not alone in celebrating the resurrection of
Christ”
——————————————–
The same date for Easter for all the Christians in the world: this
communion with the universal Church was quite tangible in the Church of
Reconciliation on Easter Sunday morning, as the chant “Lumen Christi”
(Light of Christ) was taken up by everyone, and the light was passed on
from one to another. As Brother Alois said, “We are not alone in
celebrating the resurrection of Christ and his forgiveness. These days,
we can see an incredible diversity among us. It is like an image of what
the Church is: Christ gathers us into one single communion, from China
to Chile.”
The previous evening, a brother who comes from Bolivia made his life
long commitment in the Taizé Community. The same evening, everyone
joined in prayer for the peoples of Haiti and Chile in their time of
great trial. Among the many groups present are young people from South
Africa and from Norway. Over 4000 young adults have arrived on the hill
to spend the week after Easter in Taizé; a certain number of them will
spend their week in silent retreat.
http://www.taize.fr/en_article10052.html

* In Santiago, Chile: The evening before Palm Sunday
——————————————–
The evening before Palm Sunday, on a hill overlooking the city of
Santiago, Chile, over a thousand young adults gathered for prayer with
the three Taizé brothers who are at present in Santiago. The young
people of Chile reacted very quickly a month ago when their country was
struck by an earthquake and all that followed. They created networks of
solidarity everywhere to bring help to those most affected. Groups of
young people in zones that had not been touched accomplished many acts
of generosity, sending food, and water, and giving of their time for
cleaning up and beginning the rebuilding. A horizon of hope appeared
where despair seemed to have carried everything away. Coming together
for prayer was their way of turning towards the source of solidarity.
http://www.taize.fr/en_article10019.html

* Haiti: Prayer on 12 April
——————————————–
As Brother Alois said the evening before Easter to the thousands of
young adults gathered in the Church of Reconciliation, “all of us want
to be close to the victims of the earthquake that took place in Haiti on
12 January. On the 12 of each month, we are following the suggestion of
a young man from Haiti and we pray for these people whose faith in God
has been expressed so strongly in their enormous trial. From now on, the
prayer also includes the people of Chile.” A proposal that can be used
for a prayer on 12 April: http://www.taize.fr/en_article9797.html

* Visits in Russia in March
——————————————–
Brothers were in Russia in March. Here one of them shares his
impressions of the visit: “On the first Sunday of our stay, a pastoral
letter from Patriarch Kirill, read out during the Holy Liturgy in each
parish, spoke about Lent not being merely an affair of food or outward
rules. He wrote to the faithful about Lent being a time of drawing
closer to God and closer to our neighbour. Faith in God is inseparable
from acts of mercy and kindness to those who are around us.
Visiting young adults who had taken part in the European Meeting in
Poznan at the start of the year also brought much joy. So many were
touched by the Polish welcome, a welcome which they had hardly expected.
The importance of being together with others, as a way of encouraging
each other to deepen our faith in our own churches, came across very
strongly. You need courage to live from the Gospel. In Russian society
today, there are so many choices that the choice of following Christ
becomes fundamental if we are to go forward on the path of faith… “The
cup of patience”: http://www.taize.fr/en_article10031.html

* Meeting in Oslo/Trondheim
——————————————–
Starting to prepare a stage on the pilgrimage of trust is perhaps first
of all taking time to “dream”. Two of the brothers visited Norway in
March to “dream” together with young Norwegians what the September
meeting in Oslo/Trondheim might be like.
The dream of the city coming together… Like so many cities, Oslo has
an east side and a west side, divided by the river. The two very rarely
come together, and both have prejudices about the other. How could we
have a real “meeting” of people from “Grønland”, an area of high
immigration, and those from the area around the King’s castle? Dreams
that during the meeting Norwegians from the West Coast could be hosted
by Filipino families in Oslo, and thus experience the life of “guest
workers” in Norway… http://www.taize.fr/en_article9971.html

* Video: Brother Roger: “All of us are seekers”
——————————————–
To mark the 70th anniversary of Taizé and the 5th anniversary of Brother
Roger’s death, an extract from unpublished video interviews with Brother
Roger will appear on the Taizé web site at the beginning of each month
through 2010, beginning at Easter. Here is a first extract, taken from
an interview that took place in 1990.
http://www.taize.fr/en_article10037.html

* New Books and CDs
——————————————–
The new CD “Mane Nobiscum” has now been released in Europe and will soon
be available elsewhere. It was recorded at Taizé in the village church
with an international group of 40 young people, and includes most of the
new songs of the last few years, and some others that are not available
on recent recordings. For a contents list and information on
distribution or download, see http://www.taize.fr/en_article1221.html

The original version of the Rule of Taizé in French (”La Règle de
Taizé”) has been published again. Written by Brother Roger during a long
silent retreat, it expresses for the brothers “the essential that makes
a common life possible”, with the freshness of the first years of the
Community. Les Presses de Taizé 2010, ISBN 9782850402968, 80 pages.

* For the diary
——————————————–
- Following the February pilgrimage of trust meeting in Manila, two of
the brothers will be in the Philippines in April-May visiting various
parts of the country. http://www.taize.fr/en_article10044.html
- From 14 to 19 April, one of the brothers will be in Sarawak (East
Malaysia) for a series of meetings with young people.
http://www.taize.fr/en_article10045.html

* Prayer at Easter
——————————————–
Christ Jesus, you did not remain in death, but you rose from the dead
and you live with God. Open our eyes and our hearts so that we can
recognize the signs of your presence: they are so humble that often we
do not notice them.
You send us the Holy Spirit, power from above. We can therefore take the
risk of believing in you, in your love without limit for every human
being. That is the source of new life for the whole of creation.
http://www.taize.fr/en_article10022.html

—

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News from Taizé by email
Taizé, Saturday 06 March 2010
——————————————–
* Taizé: On the way to Easter
* Haiti: Prayer on 12 March
* Chile: Prayer for Chile in its time of trial
* Taizé: Young adult meetings 2010
* Philippines: Meeting in Manila: “The pilgrimage is not over”
* Malta: “a silent cry that no one hears”
* Kenya: brothers in Nairobi
* For the diary
* Prayer

* On the way to Easter
——————————————–
The season of Lent is a very special time for turning towards God, in
the joyful waiting for Easter. In Taizé, the liturgy expresses this
waiting through the sung introductions at the beginning of each prayer,
through the responses and hymns of the season, and through the readings
of the Word of God.

But the waiting is also visible on a quite material level. Registrations
for the meetings at Easter are flowing in, and each one has to be
replied to. From the point of view of logistics, the preparation is
being done well upstream! The volunteers and all those who are here for
the week are hard at work putting up tents and marquees.

Among those who came recently, we noted the presence of a large group of
young adults from Lyon, who were joined for the end of their stay by
their archbishop, Cardinal Barbarin. There was also a group of young
American Protestants, as well as individual visitors from Japan, Sweden,
Australia and from Mexico. Two groups of Italian priests, from Brescia
and from San Giovanni Rotondo, spent several hours in Taizé with their
bishops. From Poland, a group of adolescents from problem families and
who are living in care hostels were given a special welcome.
Echoes of the young adult meetings: http://www.taize.fr/en_article7052.html

* Haiti: Prayer on 12 March
——————————————–
Jean-Paul, from Haiti, writes: “I have never seen such fervent people.
In all the churches and at street corners, you can see great crowds of
people praying and singing the praises of the Lord. It is as if Christ
were there, present, to heal Haiti. Your prayer is the finest thing you
can offer the people of Haiti at this time.”
Following the earthquake on 12 January, many will be praying in
communion with the people of Haiti this coming Friday 12 March. A
suggestion for a time of prayer for Haiti is now online at:
http://www.taize.fr/en_article9797.html

Chile: Prayer for Chile in its time of trial
——————————————–
At Poznan, Brother Alois announced a meeting in Santiago, Chile, for
this coming December. Two of the brothers have gone to begin the
preparation in collaboration with the local Church. And now has come the
tragic news of the earthquake. We are very much in communion with all
those who are suffering at the present time in Chile. The prayer on 12
March will also be for them.

The head of the youth ministry in Santiago writes: “I thank you with all
my heart for your support in prayer. We have great need of that because
this earthquake is a terrible catastrophe. The atmosphere in the country
has been much affected by it. There is a very strong feeling of
insecurity. We ourselves are trying to recover in order to be of help to
others. For the moment, entire zones of Chile are lacking the most basic
essentials: they have neither water, nor food nor a roof over their
heads. The most urgent thing is to re-establish peace. In Concepcion, it
was very important last Sunday to celebrate many masses in the squares
and public places. Now we are moving on from catastrophe and insecurity
to a demonstration of great solidarity. And the young people are the
main protagonists of this.”

At Santiago, a prayer with the Taizé brothers will take place on Friday
12 March, at 8pm, at Jesus of Nazareth Parish (P. Jaime Larrain, 125,
Villa Alessandri, Estacion Central).

Taizé: Young adult meetings 2010
——————————————–
The most recent pages in the “Meetings in Taizé” section are called
“What are the meetings about?” and “A week in silence”. This section of
the web site gives detailed information on:
- Who can come and when? What’s a good way to prepare? How long can we
stay? What about the costs?
- Further information on: “bringing a group of young people to Taizé”,
“adults aged 30 and over”, and “families”.
- Details on registration and staying longer in Taizé.
For an impression of what the meetings are like and what happens in
Taizé, see the “Echoes of the young adult meetings”, the photos page and
the video “A week in Taizé”. http://www.taize.fr/en_rubrique9.html

Where is Taizé? How to get there: by road, rail, regular coaches, and
the nearest airports: see the section: “Travel to Taizé”:
http://www.taize.fr/en_rubrique18.html

Philippines: Meeting in Manila: “The pilgrimage is not over”
——————————————–
“The challenge now is to continue it in our daily life, wherever we
live. How to discover life in fullness in the midst of daily life? How
to continue with moments of prayer, sharing the Word of God with others?
… ” These were some of the preoccupations at the centre of the
gathering for prayer, sharing and thanksgiving held at Saint Pedro
Poveda College on 27 February. The gathering, the “closing day”, brought
together delegates from each welcome centre, young people from the local
preparation groups, foster families, and many others who had helped
prepare the pilgrimage of trust meeting, held from 3-7 February.
Just a few days after the great event, the Taizé volunteers were busy
visiting parishes to listen to people’s experiences as they welcomed the
pilgrims. The young pilgrims from many countries did indeed experience
the warm welcome and hospitality of Filipino families. Many young people
expressed their desire to continue a regular prayer with songs from
Taizé as they experienced during the meeting.
Bishop Joel Baylon, in charge of youth ministry in the Philippines,
encouraged people to continue, together with their groups: “to reflect
and pray over specific concrete and doable steps… to continue living
in the spirit of simplicity, communion, serene joy, trust… to respond
to the request of Richard of Haiti: to remember his country in prayer
every 12th of the month” http://www.taize.fr/en_rubrique846.html

* Malta: “a silent cry that no one hears”
——————————————–
For the first time for several years, a Taizé brother visited Christians
on the islands of Malta and Gozo. Here is an account of his journey. The
Christian identity of this very religious people is closely linked to an
event mentioned in the Book of Acts (28. 1-10): the Apostle Paul is
shipwrecked at Malta on his way to Rome, as a prisoner. Today the island
knows other people who are shipwrecked! And in a certain way, they too
are prisoners. Thousands of refugees from Sub-Saharan Africa arrive in
Malta, escaping from the misery of dictatorial regimes. By its
geographical location, Malta takes in - in reception centres - all those
who do not have the strength to go farther. Great numbers of people wish
to go to Europe in order to find work and to build a future for
themselves…
In a reception centre started by a Franciscan priest, who is well on in
years, we witnessed a scene that was full of meaning. Every evening, he
goes into the dormitories of the young people, to wish them goodnight.
He puts his hand on the table and invites them all to put their hands on
his. This ends with “the cry”: We are a family! Straightening up, the
priest says to us, with a look full of kindness: “This is a silent cry
that no one hears!” In Malta and Gozo, we met Christians who commit
themselves fully and who find gestures to express their closeness.
http://www.taize.fr/en_article9901.html

* Kenya: brothers in Nairobi
——————————————–
Brothers have been living in Nairobi since September. One of them
writes, “The group of young people from Dandora invited us to a prayer.
They meet together every Sunday to share about their week. Arriving from
the terminus you have to cross the crowd of spectators surrounding the
stadium where a match is starting. Twenty metres away, under an open
tent, an Akorino community is at prayer.
To come back, there is a shortcut which avoids taking two or three
matatus (a kind of taxi) and the Sunday evening traffic jams. Gerald
shows me the way through the maze of alleyways up to the edge of the
rubbish dump. There, a landscape of dunes, covered in plastic bags,
opens up. The ground is elastic. On the path people in their Sunday
clothes are chatting, two strides away from herds of pigs rummaging in
the mud. Once past the river, we cross the Lucky Summer district, a huge
building site where life has already become established. From all sides,
people are going quietly home, children in their Sunday clothes, bright
dresses with traditional scarves or suits and more sophisticated
hairdos. People recognise and greet others… Sitting on the ground, a
mum grills the corn cobs that are eaten at all hours. Men are moving the
benches from the church, which has another use during the week. Songs
are still rising from another church where the prayer is still going on.
In the shed of the “In Christ Power Centre”, the prayer is now replaced
by the showing of the ‘Match of the Day’! …”
http://www.taize.fr/en_article9220.html

* For the diary
——————————————–
- Britain: A brother is in Britain for two weeks in March for some
meetings and visits and prayers and two young volunteers from Taizé are
in Scotland for the first fortnight of March.
http://www.taize.fr/en_article7684.html

- Bosnia-Herzegovina: Two of the brothers are in Bosnia-Herzegovina from
5 to 14 March for the preparation of the meeting to be held in Sarajevo
from 3 to 5 September. Among the items on their program, they will lead
two prayers: at Mostar; Monday 8 March, 7pm, in the Chapel of the
Cathedral, and at Sarajevo; Wednesday 10 March, 7pm, at the Church of
Saints Cyril and Methodius (next to the seminary).

- One of the brothers will be in Italy in March for a series of prayers
and meetings. The 13 March, in the Diocese of Nota, near Naples, there
will be a day sponsored by Catholic Action and the diocesan youth
ministry. There will also be two evenings of prayer in Tuscany, on 23
and 24 March, in Pisa and Lucca. http://www.taize.fr/it_article9884.html

* Prayer
——————————————–
Jesus our peace, you came into the world not to be served but to serve.
And you give yourself so that, through forgiveness, everything in us
should always be new.

—

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News from Taizé by email
Taizé, Saturday 6 February 2010
——————————————–
* Taizé in January
* Haiti: a proposal for prayer on 12 February
* Manila: “A thirst for life in fullness… a call to transform the world”
* Iberian meeting in Porto
* Bangladesh: Estema “the assembly”
* For the diary
* Prayer

* Taizé in January
——————————————–
Like every year, following the European meeting in Poznań, the rhythm of
the meetings in Taizé was slower than usual. For the brothers, this is
above all the time for the yearly council of the community: five days of
prayer, sharing and reflection. During the final prayer of the council,
Brother Alois asked for the reading of the message received from
Richard, a young person in Haiti who was a volunteer in Taizé in 2006.

Taking advantage of this calm period, the volunteers had a week of
reflection centred on the Bible texts linked to the “Letter from China”.
For the Week of prayer for the unity of Christians, leaders of different
Christian denominations, as well as friends from the region, came to
Taizé for a time of prayer together.

Among those in Taizé recently were groups from Belgium, the Czech
Republic, and from Poland, including fifty priests from Szczecin. There
were also young people from the USA, Argentina, Canada, South Africa,
Scandinavia, as well as two pastors from Korea and two bishops from
Argentina. At mid January, several hundred leaders of the Scouts of
France organised their “faith assembly” at Taizé. Finally, for the Feast
of the Presentation, two discreet turtle doves were placed in the choir
of the church, just beside the icon representing the meeting of Simeon
with the child Jesus (Luke 2, 22-35).
In Taizé: Echoes of the young adults meetings:
http://www.taize.fr/en_article7052.html
Haiti: Messages from young people: http://www.taize.fr/en_article9734.html
“Letter from China”: http://www.taize.fr/en_article9561.html

* Haiti: a proposal for prayer on 12 February
——————————————–
Following the earthquake that took place on 12 January, the Taizé
Community invites everyone who can to pray for the people of Haiti,
either on their own or in a group. Echoing a suggestion made by Richard,
a young man from Haiti, who among other things writes:
“Life and death, I can’t tell the difference, since Tuesday 12 January
when the country was plunged into deep distress. … But God is great
and since he is love, his plan of love is already prepared for us. …
Ask all the peoples throughout the world to pray for the Haitian people
on the 12th day of each month for 12 months. Do not hesitate! It is very
important.”
At the beginning of each month will be published a proposal for prayer
that can be used on that day.
For the 12 February: http://www.taize.fr/en_article9797.html

* Manila: “A thirst for life in fullness… a call to transform the world”
——————————————–
 From Wednesday 3 to Sunday 7 February, several thousand young adults of
different denominations, from the Philippines, from Asia and from other
continents, are gathered in Manila. On arrival, the participants, aged
between 16 and 35 years of age, were welcomed in 77 parish welcome
centres. Catholic parishes and some Protestant parishes took part in
this welcome. From there the young people went to the families, “foster
homes”, where they are staying throughout the meeting.
http://www.taize.fr/en_article9754.html

Catherine is a medical student; at present she is doing an internship in
Manila: Each day during the meeting she sends news of the day’s events:
“Today we welcome and are welcomed. And with such joy!… The young
Filipinos who offer us their city take every opportunity to greet, to
share, to guide, to welcome…
Mango trees and bougainvillea offer their cool shade to those weary from
travel. And some have travelled so far. We have welcomed groups from all
corners of Asia, from Vietnam, from Bangladesh, from Japan, Indonesia,
East Timor. From other continents - Lithuania, Canada, Kenya. Others
have come from the many Philippine Islands, from Luzon, from the
Visayas. Even the journey across Manila took many hours for some. We are
especially happy to welcome groups travelling from the southern island
of Mindanao, Muslim and Christian friends together…”
http://www.taize.fr/en_article9755.html

Each day, Brother Alois gives a meditation during one of the prayers.
“…All across the world, though we have very different histories, do we
not find ourselves facing similar issues? No one can avoid asking
themselves: What can give direction to my life? What goal can I choose
that is worth the effort?
We all feel that there need to be major changes in our world. The
structures of our societies and patterns of thought from the past are
proving to be inadequate and insufficient to create greater justice on
earth, to reduce poverty, to ensure that persons and peoples can live
together in peace.
But we also discover that necessary change, particularly an overhaul of
the world economic and financial system, is not possible without a
change in the human heart…” http://www.taize.fr/en_article9756.html
- Photos of the meeting:
http://picasaweb.google.fr/taizemanila/TheMeeting#

* Iberian meeting in Porto
——————————————–
As part of the Diocese of Porto’s Mission 2010 program, a young adult
meeting will take place in Portugal from 13 to 16 February. Among those
registered to celebrate the “sources of joy” of this stage of the
pilgrimage of trust on earth, there are 1000 young people from Porto,
around 600 from Lisbon, 200 from Coimbra, 250 from Algarve, several
dozen French and Germans, a hundred Spanish and Polish, and 900 host
families. In all, some 25 countries are represented.
In the mornings, the young pilgrims will meet in their host parishes, to
discover something of the local church and to reflect on themes from the
“Letter from China”: sorting out our desires, sharing what we have,
deepening our trust in God and renewing our courage.
Twenty theme workshops will be proposed in the afternoons: “Is joy
possible?”: an exchange with the bishop of Porto; “An enlightened faith?
Deepening our faith? How? Why?”; “Praying with music: the role of the
organ in the celebration of faith”; “Struggling against poverty: how,
who, with whom?: sharing with a young consultant of the European network
against poverty”.
Each evening, during the prayer at the FC Porto sports hall, Brother
Alois will give a meditation. The detailed program of the meeting will
shortly be available on the Taizé web site in Portuguese, Spanish,
Polish and English. http://www.taize.fr/en_article8410.html

* Bangladesh: Estema “the assembly”
——————————————–
One of the brothers who has been living in Bangladesh for years wrote
recently: “This morning I returned home full of impressions of the very
big annual meeting of Muslims called the ‘Estema’ (which means
‘assembly’). Since my previous visits to the Estema everything has
become bigger and bigger. Now 2 million people had gathered at Tongi,
near Dhaka, and for the final prayer there were more than 3 million. The
organisation was very well done, by volunteers… I was probably the
only Christian present in this enormous crowd. The people found it very
beautiful to have a Christian among them. I was profoundly moved by the
simple and fervent faith of these people. They had certainly not come
looking for comfort as everything was ultra simple: we were sleeping on
mats on the ground; the meals were prepared outside the tent, thus some
distance away. The people organised themselves into groups of between 25
and 50. Everything had to be brought: wood, pans, plates, etc…”
http://www.taize.fr/en_article9777.html

* For the diary
——————————————–
* From 2 to 7 March, two of the brothers will be leading prayers and
information meetings in several cities in the Netherlands, as part of
the launching of the preparation for the European meeting in Rotterdam.
http://www.taize.fr/nl_article9699.html
* From Saturday 31 January to Wednesday 10 February, one of the brothers
is making a series of visits in Latvia and Estonia.
http://www.taize.fr/lv_article7487.html and
http://www.taize.fr/et_article7498.html
* Saskatchewan, Montréal, Ottawa, London, Ontario and Toronto: from 8
February, one of the brothers will undertake four weeks of meetings in
Canada. http://www.taize.fr/en_article4754.html

Prayer
——————————————–
God of compassion, when Mary and Joseph presented Jesus in the Temple,
they had only two turtle doves to offer. We too, with almost nothing to
offer, are seeking you as humble people of the Gospel.

—

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