This year, the total number of families each week will be limited to 100 (75 at Easter, due to the limited indoor space available). There are quotas by country to ensure that families from all countries are able to come. When we receive your registration the meetings team will confirm whether you can come or whether you will need to change your planned dates.
We suggest that families with just one child wait until their child is three years old before coming – otherwise it is difficult to take part in the different activities both for the parents and the child.
Dates
March 28 to 5 April, 5 to 11 April, 24 to 30 May and then weekly from 20 June until 29 August. Arrive on Sunday, from 3pm, and leave the following Sunday around midday, except at Easter and Pentecost when the day for arrival and departure is Monday. Families whose children are not yet at school should avoid August, when place is most limited. We ask families with children under 2 years old to avoid coming in the week before or the week after Easter.
During the All Saints’ holidays (October 24 to November 7) we cannot welcome families at all.
Program
The group for families meets daily at Olinda, a house in the village of Ameugny, 600 metres from Taizé. Each day begins with a time of Bible reflection for parents led by one of the brothers. This is followed by sharing groups amongst the parents, during which young volunteers run groups for the children, according to age.
In the afternoon, there are activities for parents and children together. The rest of the time is spent as families, allowing parents and children to share their thoughts about the theme of the day. (Suggestions for this sharing are given each day.) In order to promote a family experience, the children are looked after by their parents.
The children go with their parents to the three times of prayer at Taizé. Parents who come with babies or toddlers must understand that silence and calm during the common prayer are very important both for the participants in the weekly meetings and for the community. Out of consideration for this, if your children fall within this age range, we ask parents to take it in turns to stay with them in one of the rooms near to the church (which are kept open) during common prayer. If you have exceptionally to bring them to the prayer, please sit with them close to the church doors and be ready to go outside of the building, especially during the time of silence.
It is important for the whole family to come prepared to spend a week in prayer and sharing.
Children of 15 or older take part in the mainstream youth meetings. They also eat with the young people, but still stay with their parents if they are aged 15 or 16.
What if we can’t stay a whole week, or can’t come when there are family meetings?
If you are not able to come at a time when there are family meetings, or to come for an entire week, then you will join the adults group (for a maximum of 3 nights, preferably from Thursday or Friday to Sunday; visits that straddle two weeks are not possible). In this case, parents organise among themselves who will look after the children during the times of sharing and of community prayer. There are no organised activities for the children. In October, we also ask families not to bring children aged over 2 years.
Practical information
Olinda is a 10 to 15 minute walk from Taizé: for children under 5 years, it is advisable to bring a pushchair.
Very basic facilities are available where those taking part in the week-long family meetings can heat up baby food.
Do not bring pets.
To encourage a good mix of people, we ask that not more than three families should come together.
Accepting to come once every two years is a way of showing solidarity with the other families who wish to come. Please respect this!