News from Taizé
Easter, the Joy of the Resurrection, in communion with the suffering of the world
Over Easter more than 6 000 young people spent a week or few days on the hill. Many visitors from the region around Taizé also came to join the brothers and the young people for the Easter celebrations. This year, before the Eucharist of the Resurrection, a great fire was lit outside the Church of Reconciliation. The pascal candle was then lit from the fire and everyone followed it into the church, singing. There was yet another innovation at the end of the Eucharist: as it was the women who, having found the tomb empty, went to announce the resurrection to the disciples, it was the sisters of the different communities present in Taizé who announced the traditional pascal greeting "Christ is risen" in more than 20 languages.
Spring has arrived on the hill and many young people continue to come, especially from Germany and France. An orthodox group from Moscow is also here, as every year at this time, a few weeks after hosting the pilgrim brothers and young people in their parish for Easter.
During the prayers that he offers aloud each day during the midday prayer in Taizé, Brother Alois has recently mentioned many situations of suffering: the war in the east of Ukraine, refugees drowning in the Mediterranean sea, the earthquake victims in Nepal. This attention to the world prepares the young people to return home. As a young French man, Timothy, wrote - he is indeed living the week in Taizé "with a view to going back to our lives, which are less smily and bright than they are in Taizé, so that we can share that flame that we received at home, and make it shine in the daily gloom."
Russia, Belarus and Ukraine: A further step in the pilgrimage of trust
Brother Alois, along with four other brothers and young people from a very wide range of backgrounds travelled to Russia, Belarus and Ukraine for a stage of the pilgrimage of trust. During the Easter weekend in Taizé, at the meeting with young people in the church one evening, Brother Alois mentioned these forthcoming visits. News about the pilgrimage to Moscow has been published online; the next issue of "News from Taizé by email" will include echoes from the pilgrimage to Kiev and Lviv, with testimonies of young participants.
Among the testimonies already published, Maria, from Romania, writes after her stay in Moscow: "Saints on the walls, warm colours, the smell of incense and angelic voices welcomed us into the Russian Orthodox churches. This was a new reality of a Church where people live their faith with passion and devotion, following strongly their traditions and sharing with each other the love of Christ. I was touched to see the Church so alive, where the Resurrection is lived in all its fullness. After more than four hours of Liturgy and prayers, the people share the blessed meal inside the church, transforming Easter Day into a real celebration."
Taizé 2015: The Jubilee Year Begins
During the year 2015, Taizé is proposing to all those who wish to set out together "towards a new solidarity". On and around the 12th May, 100th anniversary of Brother Roger’s birth, in his memory and in order to put into practice his call to follow Christ, young people are invited to lead prayers and organise acts of solidarity. There is still time to send your plans to info2015@taize.fr and we will put them on the map showing some of these prayers and projects all over the world.
On Sunday 10th May at 5.30pm the community will celebrate a prayer of thanksgiving in the Church of Reconciliation, along with friends from the greater region around Taizé. You can find the order of service for this prayer, as well as a special prayer written by Brother Alois to commemorate the occasion, on the website. This could be also used as a basis for prayers services being planned elsewhere.
Operation Hope: Signs of Solidarity in Action
On and around May 12 many people will be linking prayer services with practical acts of solidarity. Among initiatives that we’ve heard about in the last few days are: a collection of equipment for a local charity supporting disadvantaged families with babies, a shipment of equipment for an orphanage in Guinea-Bissau and several collections of goods for Caritas in various cities.
In Taizé itself there are three projects in preparation at the moment: an afternoon for children of the region in early June; a collection of drugs for Cuba, to which it is possible to contribute until August; and support for a refugee camp in Jordan, through Operation Hope.
Gathering for a New Solidarity
After the Reflection Week on the Relevance of a Religious Vocation in July, the main gathering of summer 2015 will take place in Taizé from 9 to 16 August. Throughout Europe and elsewhere, young people are getting ready to take part. As for the New Year European Meeting, participants will be aged between 18 and 35 and the proposed topics will be specially adapted. The program is currently being put together and many speakers have confirmed their participation. You can keep up with news about from week to week on the Facebook page dedicated to the meeting.
For the Diary
- Rome: Brother Alois has been invited to lead the morning morning each day during the Caritas International general assembly between 12 and 17 May. Every four years delegates from throughout the world gather for this assembly. Brother Alois will attend with several of the brothers and young people from different countries.
- Valencia: Several brothers are currently in Valencia in Spain, to get on with preparations for the next European Meeting which will take place between Monday 28 December 2015 and Friday 1st January 2016.
Prayer
Jesus, our peace, on the cross you stretched out your arms over the whole universe. On Easter morning you rose from the dead to gather all human beings together in God. You do away with all separation. By giving your life for love you became the source of a new creation. Even though invisible, through the Holy Spirit you are close to each one of us. Like you, we want to choose to love.
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