Photosfaced with numerous challenges
The pilgrimage of trust on earth in Brussels this year brought me a great deal. This began in Serbia itself, with the preparation of a group of volunteers, who arrived two days in advance to help, since this was a chance to get to know other young people. On arrival in Brussels, we were faced with numerous challenges, but I was so happy when it was possible to overcome these…. “My” Belgian family was marvellous, and I remained in contact with them after the meeting. The preparation team in my parish were deeply committed to seeing that everything went well…. In the sharing groups, I met wonderful people. And finally I should like to add that it was above all the prayers at Heysel that left the deepest impression on me, and in particular the prayer around the cross, as this is, for me personally, the closest and most intimate contact with the God of love. Andrea, Subotica, Serbia.
“Dad is arriving with 8 Poles”
December 29th: finally the day of welcome…. everything is ready to welcome our guests. Dad leaves to go to Louvain to find out what’s happening. Mum and the children prepare the midday meal. At one o’clock, the adventure begins: Dad warns us that he is arriving with 8 Poles. We heat up the meal. A little later they arrive: 6 boys and 2 girls. We try to speak English but their first wish is not to speak: “a shower!” We show them the bathroom and their bedrooms and invite them to eat something. Half an hour later, we are all around the table: us and Matteus, Tomas, Olla, Ulla, Pieter, Conrad, Robert and Sebastien (we adapted their names into Flemish, for the children.) We learn their names and learn that they all come from the same town. As they are very tired, they rest for a while and then, at six o’clock, they leave with Dad to go to Brussels. Hilde and Wim, Kaat (9 years), Nele (8 years) and Kwinten (6 years), St Pieters, Leuven, Belgium.
each person was given a different responsibility
The sun was rising on the heights of Brussels as we arrived. The welcome was all the more pleasant for that. Each person was given a different responsibility. Mine was to be the animator of a group in the parish that welcomed me. Then we travelled to the parish which was to be our base throughout our stay. This was the parish of Lede which is thirty or so kilometres west of Brussels. When we arrived at Lede, we were very warmly welcomed, thanks to the numerous parishioners waiting for us on the station platform. We got the feeling that everything possible had been done so that we could have a good stay. Then the organisers shared us out between the various families. Personally, I was with six other boys, staying in a convent belonging to Sisters of Charity. The sisters showed us exemplary hospitality, ensuring that we lacked for nothing during these five days and even deciding to change the time of their morning prayer so that they could have breakfast with us. Fred, France.
I helped decorate the halls
At Berchem we managed to find places for 175 young people. It was a beautiful and beneficial time of preparation, with strong points, ending with a meeting for the welcome families. I also went several times to the church of Saint Nicholas, to pray there and to find spiritual nourishment throughout the preparation. During the meeting I was fulltime at Heysel, where I contributed to the success of the meeting, during two weeks. As in the past, I took part in the decoration of the halls, organised by the brothers. These were long and demanding days but with such a good result! We were able to pray that the politicians and those with responsibilities in society will find the courage to attack people’s problems. Johan, Berchem.
in the traffic team
The best thing was the welcome. Never in my life have I seen so many people in the same place. I was working in the traffic team, and although I was on my feet, outside in the cold, from six in the morning until one in the afternoon, it was fantastic! I felt useful, I helped those who had large luggage, I showed them where to go and who to talk to. The best thing was the kindness of unknown people, who brought me tea to warm me up a little. Daniel, Novi Sad, Serbia.
God takes us as we are
This is the first meeting during which I have not studied the Letter from Taizé. Usually, one takes time during the small groups but this year we mostly replied to questions. I wanted to be everywhere, take part in the prayers, spend time with my friends… and it was only back at home that I was able to study the Letter from Kenya. I have been deeply touched by reading this, especially as this year I have often thought about my perception of God, who exceeds our understanding. So the words of Brother Alois said a lot to me, when he evoked the fact that God takes us as we are, whilst calling us to go beyond ourselves. Thank you for this meeting and for all this love which we received in Brussels! Lena, Russia.
silence, meditation, inner life
What moved me most was the fervour animating the group of 250 young people that we were welcoming. Silence, meditation, inner life….were lived out in an intense way by all these young people. I really felt the concrete meaning of prayer. In addition, seeing all these youngsters who had covered thousands of miles and met together to learn to know more about this God of love and to share with other young people, come from all over, gave me great enthusiasm and hope. It is, in fact, sometimes very difficult to be a young person in the Belgian Church today. One feels alone, a bit on the edge. Few moments of friendliness, of sharing…. difficult to really pray. But hearing the dynamism and optimism of groups of young Christians from Romania, Poland, Lithuania…. was very encouraging for me. Not forgetting all these friendship links, created as much within the preparation team as with the families…this was all very enriching! In short, a week which will remain engraved in my memory and my heart….and which will, I hope, will find ways to continue so that this enthusiasm lasts! Hélène, Enghien.
a simple prayer of gratitude
Welcoming the participants to our home was a gift. For many people, and it was the case for me, it was a joy to help the young people to experience what I had lived twenty years ago, in Budapest and in Vienna. We received in our home three seminarians from Madrid, Alberto, Miguel and Tono. What touched me most was their brotherly love and the attention they had for one another and for us in the daily details of life. And their joy. We talked together a great deal, and we laughed together, but we did not get much sleep. My eldest daughter, Almudena, aged five, attended just two of the prayers. But the day the pilgrims left, I asked her before she went to sleep, “What do you want us to give thanks to Jesus for today?” She replied firmly, “For the friends from Taizé who came here.” I believe that her simple prayer of gratitude expresses the feelings of the thousands of inhabitants of Brussels, Belgians or not, who experienced the grace that the meeting brought to our homes, our groups and our parishes. Mari Sol, Spanish living in Brussels.
sharing gifts while being respectful of diversity
The fact of 40,000 young adults from all over Europe meeting in Brussels certainly seems to revive the intuition and enthusiasm of the beginnings of the construction of Europe. It gives concrete expression to the reconciliation between peoples through the pooling of their resources and their specificities … Europe does not imply abandon what is specific to each people or region, but achieving a sharing of gifts while being respectful of diversity. Taizé is a very beautiful means of preserving this humanity. The meeting of several cultures makes it possible to understand them better so as to be more united, while at the same time drawing inspiration from the customs of each country: the laughter and gaiety of the Slovenians, the open arms of the Portuguese, the warmth of the Italians … Jean, Saint-Pie X Ottignies.
I thank God for saying “yes” to my life
It is the prayer that means most to me. I thank God for saying “yes” to my life and accepting me as I am. The simplicity of the meeting, the songs, the silence, and the reflection help me now. In daily life, I would also like to hear and say this “yes” that is not linked to any condition. Here at home, I am again asking the questions I brought with me from the meeting and trying to find answers and to put them into practice. Klaudia, Hungary.
I am sure: I believe
When I went to the session for people who wanted to help with the Brussels meeting, I told myself, “If I don’t help, I will never make the effort to take part.” And when I was asked to coordinate the work of the drivers, the first thing that came to mind was, “What have you got yourself involved in?” Today I feel it was the best thing that has happened to me for years. For some time, I have had real doubts about my faith and I have preferred not to ask myself too many questions about this. Life is simpler that way. But around six months ago I decided to make myself fix an appointment with hope, with my faith and with God. And on the evening of 1 January I was filled with an intense joy … For the first time, I am sure: I believe. I can see only his love and everything else seems futile … I want to shout out that love to the whole world, even though I understand that to live such a faith is demanding and raises many questions within me. Simon, Ceroux.
hearts of gold
Our “family”: people with hearts of gold who did everything for us … Mirza, a young man from Bosnia, a practicing Muslim here with his Catholic girl friend … he grew up during the war with the awareness that children have already been taught to hate the others … Sunshine, blue sky, temperatures below zero, scarf, bonnet, two pairs of socks, gloves, a frozen fountain where the young people are skating … Everything is so beautiful! The songs, the light, praying on the floor. Silence. Getting to know people who, although they are not rich, commit themselves for others and bring joy to those around them, especially the young people from the Philippines. Thousands of young people in a hall that is completely silent … Cardinal Danneels with his wonderful voice, and Queen Fabiola, holding Brother Alois by the hand and waving her cane to greet all the young people in the hall. The most beautiful New Year meeting that I have experienced. Tine. Berlin.
God speaks to us in silence
In our small group we spoke among other things of our joys and difficulties and limits. To a question that touched on the inner emptiness in our lives, we tried to find out how to live this in a positive way. A young man from Portugal said that for him Advent is a time for emptying ourselves of all the unnecessary noises by withdrawing from the dazzling lights and noise of Christmas markets in order to welcome the Redeemer. God does not speak to us by making a noise but in silence. In order to hear him, we have to enter into this silence. István, Hungary.
wellsprings of faith, peace and reconciliation still spring up on our continent
I give thanks to God for this year’s meeting in Brussels; for its atmosphere and its message. For me it has been the proof that wellsprings of faith, peace and reconciliation still spring up on our continent. After Brussels, I have a greater desire to live, to believe and to be a priest. Fr. Andrzej Przybylski, Rector of the seminary, Częstochowa, Poland.
the different way I see my neighbourhood
Once again thank you for everything. One of the fruits of this meeting is the different way I see my neighbourhood, with new eyes. As I walk along I think of all the people who took part in the meeting. When I see the names of the streets, I think of the host families who live there… I was able to meet many people who were so friendly and so different and with whom I shared moments that were simple but so true and good. During the preparation, I have the impression of having truly experienced a communion. I am writing this in the past tense, but I could write in the present as well. And I am full of energy to express it in the future as well! Claire, Brussels.