What’s a good way to prepare?

The information below is aimed at people bringing a youth group to Taizé, but it’s valid for anyone wishing to come and can help them prepare.

Please explain well to all group members about

the simple lifestyle in Taizé

the daily programme

community prayer: morning, midday and evening.

It can help them to:

learn some of the songs;

see a video about the meetings;

hear the experiences of a young person who has already been to Taizé. If you want to find a young person in your area who has been to Taizé and who could visit your group, then write to ask us.

Everyone must be ready to participate fully in the different aspects of the week’s meetings.

The Letter 2011, published at the Rotterdam meeting, can also help for preparation. The Letter 2012 will be available around the time of the Berlin meeting. It will be used throughout the year for the meetings in Taizé.

If you’re a group leader, please see the page Further information: Bringing a group of young people to Taizé. You can then pre-register your group. Please do this as soon as you can, even if you don’t know how many people you’ll be bringing.

Even before you travel to Taizé, we suggest you fix a meeting in the weeks after your visit to gather the group once again. This will enable you to reflect together on what was important for each group member and how those experiences might help in everyday life.

Whether you’re coming alone to Taizé, leading a youth group or travelling simply as a member of a group, preparation is always important.

Understanding more about the nature of the meetings before coming will make it easier to take part fully in the programme from the outset and to continue living from the experience afterwards in a pilgrimage of trust at home.

Last updated: 9 November 2011