For participants from the Philippines
Taizé and the Philippines
Brothers of the Community have been visiting the Philippines since the 1970s. Every year, young people from different parts of the Philippines are invited to come and participate in the international youth meetings in Taizé for a three-month period. In this way they can share with young people from all over the world their own experience of life and faith as they live it in the Church in the Philippines. There has already been an international youth meeting in Manila in 1991, as part of the “Pilgrimage of trust” organized by Taizé. 15,000 young people, mostly from the Philippines and Asia, but also from other continents, attended this meeting.
Pilgrimage of trust in the Philippines
The meeting in Manila in February 2010 will be a new stage in the “Pilgrimage of trust on earth”, begun by Taizé’s founder, the late Brother Roger. This will be the fifth meeting of its kind in Asia, following meetings organized by Taizé in Chennai (Madras), India, in 1985 and 1988, Manila, Philippines in 1991, and Kolkata, India in 2006.
The pilgrimage has as a general theme “inner life and human solidarity”. The aim of the meeting is to support young people in their search for God and in their desire to commit themselves in the Church and society. Trust, peace, and reconciliation will be central themes of the upcoming meeting.
The daily program will consist of prayer together and sharing: in the mornings, in the parishes and religious communities of Metro Manila, and from midday onwards all together in a central place. Participants will be accommodated in families, local parishes, and religious communities.
How to prepare for the meeting in the Philippines
Taking part in the meeting in the Philippines means taking a step forward in our inner life; by finding simple ways to grow in our faith and commitments.
Preparing to go to Manila, we can:
1. Pray with our local community or with a regular prayer group. This will help make our trip a spiritual journey, connected with the life of our parish, group, or chaplaincy.
2. Reflect with others on the “Letter from Kenya”, by Brother Alois, and in particular on the theme: “We will discover the presence of Christ even in places where we would not have expected to find him. Risen from the dead, he is present in the midst of human beings. He goes before us along the roads of compassion. And already now, through the Holy Spirit, he is renewing the face of the earth” (Brother Alois, Taizé – Letter from Kenya)
3. Finding ways of discovering Asian/Philippine cultures: meeting Asians/Filipinos who live close by, meeting people who recently lived in Asia/the Philippines as volunteers or missionaries, searching the web for information on the history, today’s society and the Church in the Philippines and in Asia.
4. Committing ourselves to share our experience in our local church, when we return home after the meeting.
Over the coming months, the Taizé web site and the News from Taizé by email will give news of the preparation and further suggestions for living it.
A one week preparation program in Taizé: All those from Europe who wish to go to Manila are asked to spend one week in Taizé anytime between 1 April and 1 December. During the week in Taizé, special meetings will be organized to help people familiarize themselves with various aspects of the journey and the program, and to prepare themselves for discovering a city and a culture different from their own. If, because of work or other important commitments, you are unable to come to Taizé between these dates, please contact us.
People in other continents are asked to write to Taizé in order to be put in contact, where possible, with others preparing for the meeting.
Practical information
Dates: Pre-meeting: arrival between 24, 25 or 26 January 2010
Welcome and first prayer: 3 February 2010
Departure: 7 February 2010.
Place: Central venue in Metro Manila (details will be announced later)
Participants: From 20 to 35 years. It is important to speak English.
General theme: “Inner life and human solidarity”
Program: Morning prayers in parishes and local institutions followed by a morning program; midday prayer in a central place in Manila followed by reflection groups and workshops; evening prayer.
Accommodation: In foster families, parishes, and religious communities.
Meals: Simple meals will be served - breakfast in the accommodation place, lunch and supper at the central venue.
Contribution to costs: To be made in Euros or US Dollars at the welcome area in Manila. What you give covers meals, accommodation and other expenses of the meeting; it will also support other young people with fewer means who wish to take part. At the time of the pre-registration, the contribution will be fixed according to the value of the currency in each country. The suggested contribution, to be confirmed later, for participants from Europe, North America and the Pacific: approximately 70 € or $ 90 US (March 2009 rate; will be updated).
Pre-meeting stay: If you wish, during the week before the meeting it will be possible to discover the life of a local community in Luzon, the Northern island of the Philippines, and be welcomed by young people there. Those who come for the pre-meeting program will be asked to make an additional contribution to costs. Please contact Taizé for further details and indicate on your registration. Possible arrival dates: 24, 25 or 26 January.
How to register for the meeting: As soon as you think you will be participating in the Philippines meeting, please inform us by filling out the registration form. After receiving our confirmation, your registration, with all the details of your journey, must be completed before December 31, 2009.
Registration and information:
Meetings - Taizé Community, 71250 Taizé, France
Tel: (+33) 3 85 50 30 04 (in English)
email
http://www.taize.fr/en >> « Meeting in the Philippines »
