USA: Meeting in Chicago
A Taizé gathering that is part of the "Pilgrimage of Trust across the earth" will take place in Chicago from 25 to 28 May 2012 (Memorial Day Weekend). We hope it will be the first of several gatherings in different regions of North America.
The venue will be DePaul University in Chicago.
Young adults between the ages of 18 and 35 from all over the United States and Canada will take part.
Starting next February, three Taizé brothers will be living in Chicago and be coordinating preparations in the city and region. Among other things, they will be working with friends from Chicago to find accommodation with families for the young adults coming from outside the Chicago area.
They will also travel in the U.S. and Canada to stimulate interest in the Chicago weekend. Please contact them if you have any ideas or suggestions or anything that you think might help to spread the word. You can write to chicago2012 taize.fr.
You can find the provisional program here. The plan is to come together much as we do at Taizé for prayer, reflection, workshops and fellowship, beginning Friday May 25th, early evening and finishing Monday 28th at around noon.
A video especially made for the preparation of the Chicago meeting is now available. The link is here. You are welcome to download it onto a USB key or use the file to burn a DVD and show the video to others.
Preparation material (poster, logo...) will be available on the Taizé website in the coming months.
Some reactions to the announcement of the Chicago meeting
Grant, from Iowa, is a student at DePaul University in Chicago
"This meeting in Chicago is for all. I think it is important to know that whether you have questions about your faith, or you don’t have a faith started, there is still an open invitation for you to come and discover something about God."
Pamela, Chicago
"The pilgrimage in Chicago will address one of the things that’s missing in society today: opportunities for people to gather in a safe space, and share communal experiences; to share things that we all have in common, which are faith, aspirations, hope, dreams, and to learn new ways to respond to conflict through prayer, communication, and trust..."
Pauline, Chicago
My hope for the Chicago meeting... is that as we pray together and sing together, and recognize the message of solidarity and oneness, that this can lead to any kind of transformation towards an understanding of ourselves as part of one community.
Dominika, Chicago
What I hope Taizé will bring to Chicago is some calm. Some calm, and some peace.
Jennifer, Bowdoin College, Maine
Although we are more globally networked than ever before, the youth of America today seek a better way to connect with each other. We thirst for something greater: greater purpose, greater connection, and greater unity. My hope for the Taize meeting in Chicago is that, through singing, praying, and spending time together, we can begin to quench this thirst: we can connect! Only through community and connection will we be able to fuel our great hope for change in our country, and discover new ways to begin working together. No matter your background in faith, coming to Chicago with trust, openness, and excitement to be a part of this community can create the change we want for ourselves and for communities. Can’t wait to see you there!
Jeff, Chicago
One thing that I’ve noticed about being at Taize is that there are so many different people and stories, but everyone is able to come together and pray. That’s out of this world, and I really hope that will happen in Chicago this coming May.
Luke, Chicago
If you don’t trust anyone you live alone – what a lonely life. There’s so much joy in being able to share and trust others.
Will, Nebraska
I believe a lot of people have stopped asking the important questions, the deeper questions. I believe that this gathering in Chicago will offer people the medium to ask those questions, and start searching for the answers.