At the end of every yearSunday 27/12 : Welcome day for the volunteers
The volunteers arrived on Sunday, two days before the other participants. They are getting ready to welcome those who come on Tuesday.
Katharina (Austria)
When I arrived this morning, I didn’t know what to expect, because I never was in Poland before. But after I met some friends at the station and saw a lot of old Taizé friends in the main building, I felt completely welcomed and at home. And then after a common meal and a prayer, I knew why I came. Our host family was very friendly and welcoming, though the conversation was very funny and mostly with hands. So until now everything is perfect and I am looking forward to the next days!
Whilssy (Philippines)
It’s my first time to attend a European meeting and I think I am really blessed to be here. Yesterday when I arrived, the first thing that struck me the most is how churches there are in Poland. I attended Mass in a Dominican church and I was really impressed by the people attending . All of them participated in the responses and singing of praises. It is indeed a proof of how religious Polish are.
Monday, 28/12: Volunteers at work to prepare the welcome
All day Monday, the hundreds of volunteers were at work in various teams. There is much to do since, beginning early Tuesday, groups of young people across Europe will arrive in Poznań.
Krzysztof (Poland)
At the parish of Saint Wojtiech in Poznan, we hosted yesterday a group of young volunteers who came two days ahead of time to help. We tried to welcome our young people warmly, preparing a hot meal and some Polish cakes for them. Then each family came to get the volunteers and take them home. And the last pilgrim arrived … from Singapore.
Claire (France)
After waking up to find snow and eating breakfast in the local fashion (tea, meats of all kinds and cheese), I completed my first job. I made some trips by car around Poznań. I had to find how to go to different welcome places to deposit envelopes full of lists of participants. Between one-way streets and roundabouts, it was not easy… Fortunately, times of prayer are islands of stability for us, volunteers in turmoil: tomorrow is our big day!
Anton (Germany)
On the way to my host family, in the exhibition halls of Poznań, I already recognized a number of young people who will also take part in the European meeting. I recognize them by their songs, their luggage and the joy in their faces. On entering the hall, I can hardly walk two feet without greeting friends. In recent weeks, there were many skeptical questions "Are you going alone to the Poznań meeting?" I always replied: "You’re never alone at a European meeting"!
Adriana (Portugal)
After two days in Poznan, I have lived a lot. I have met so many people. I made new friends. The most important thing I realized here is that I’m never alone. How could I be alone? I need only look around me, and there is always someone looking for me!
I also learned to be tolerant, to trust others: each of us has an opinion, our views and feelings. This was taught to us by the welcome of the Polish families: yesterday, when we arrived, our family gave us the keys of their house. Thus, this meeting has become for us a true pilgrimage of trust.
Tuesday, 29/12: The meeting in Poznań has begun!
Today, Tuesday, thousands of young people across Europe have flocked to Poznań, all shown hospitality by families of the city and region.
Etienne (France)
What a great day for all the volunteers who arrived in Poznan in mid-September! Early this morning we were all happy to hear from all the parishes we visited and prepared for several weeks for this day of welcome. We felt the joy and enthusiasm in the voices despite the stress of hosting sometimes more than 200 people. "Four Portuguese have arrived." "We welcomed 34 people!" "The bus has just brought 25 people; tea and cakes are ready!" "The first group left for the families; when is the next one arriving?" The phones keep ringing. The long-awaited European meeting has begun.
Chiara (Italy)
The Poles seem to have really expected us… and now they are welcoming us very warmly; their attention is touching. As we were going downtown in the tram, someone asked us where we came from and began to explain the city and its history. It was clear he was happy to see the city filled with so many countries and different languages. Many people in the street ask us if we are here for the meeting. This morning we had to get up early to welcome the Italians and Albanians. The school spontaneously prepared a hot lunch for us. This hospitality is incredible!
Claudio (Chile)
Coming from Chile, and taking part in a meeting where borders do not exist, and where love is given more and more space is a grace that God has given me. The feeling of being welcomed by a family full of love and attention to me is a deep encounter with Jesus. The most beautiful expression of Christ, the language of the heart, is present in every member of the Polish family which has welcomed me with such enthusiasm and joy.
Antoinette (Switzerland)
I came with the preparation group. All of a sudden I’ve already been there for two days, staying with a lady who speaks only Polish. The funniest moment of the day is when I wake up, because you never know what will happen. This morning we breakfasted at 5am to welcome the French and the lady served us sausages with mustard and ketchup… Culture shock! On our trip here we were supposed to be in Poznań at 7:30, but when we woke up and looked out the window, the city looked like Berlin… and when we arrived at the station we were actually in Berlin! The train was three hours late. What will happen tomorrow?
Vinod (India)
This is the first time I am attending these meetings in Europe and I am very happy. I came from a distant country, India, but since my arrival and meeting people from the parish, I didn’t feel alone any more. The welcome of the youth is particularly good and warm. My host family welcomed me with a big smile and many dishes. This meeting shows that we are one in Christ and gives us the opportunity to meet and pray together.
Marika (Latvia)
I am happy to take part in the meeting with my friends - the shared joy and the time spent together unites us! We are working in the church team, which begins its work this evening. What we heard about Polish hospitality has been proven true: the welcome, tea and cake waiting for us, then two boys accompanied us to our family. Back in Latvia, I will share with those around me what I have discovered, and this extraordinary hospitality.
Francesco (Italy)
This is my sixth European meeting, but this time I am a volunteer. So I could see the organization needed to prepare for the meeting. Moments such as work, meals, prayers with all the young people from different countries give me the strength to live each day as a gift from God. During this meeting, I am discovering life together, as a big family, with respect for one another.
Fabienne (France)
After rising early, we arrived in the cold at the school where we had to welcome the coaches coming from France today. We first had to find where they parked… and it was not easy, we were on the Lithuanian side of the welcome! Maria, the Polish girl in charge, arrived and brought us to the young people who were guiding the coaches to the parking place. The waiting began; seven coaches arrived simultaneously at 8am and then one or two every half-hour. We saw the last one arrive at 2pm, anxiously awaited.
Valentina (Croatia)
Today, when I took the city map to find my way to the parish and I began to walk, a man who was cleaning the street offered me his help. It did not seem very sure, because he spoke only Polish, but I decided to follow his instructions. Several people approached me again to show me the way. They were all very willing to help, but each had his own theory… I finally found my parish where I was greeted by many smiling faces; some kids took pictures of us when we arrived at the welcome!
Lena and Georg (Germany)
Arriving on Sunday, we had the responsibility for welcoming the Germans today. It was the best place to find young people we had met in Taizé or elsewhere. Surprisingly, we saw how the city was now being filled with young people from across Europe. As young Germans, we also look forward to getting to know our Eastern neighbors, who live so close to us but whom we do not know very well.
Wednesday, 30/12: The meeting in Poznań is in full swing
The first night in families, morning prayers and small-group sharing in the parishes, during the second day of the meeting all the participants have begun to follow the program.
Jan (Poland)
In our parish in Poznań, we had our first prayer this morning with the youth we welcomed. The church was full of people, and filled with joy! We split into small groups and shared about the question of "thirst" in our lives. Then we visited an orphanage to discover a sign of hope. Many were impressed by the atmosphere of the place, so much so that they did not know what to say after the visit. And as we were leaving, we discovered that the snow had begun to fall!
Nicolas (France)
How to describe the gratitude of the Poles for our arrival? Yesterday evening twenty of us were coming back in the tram after spending the day welcoming the French-speakers. Daga, the young Polish girl who had coordinated this welcome, took out a small notebook and started writing a word of thanks for her neighbor, balancing on the seat of the tram… and finally, by the end of the trip, each French volunteer present in the tram has had his or her little thank-you note, handwritten by Daga who had spent the day coordinating everything…
Zosia (England)
I was greeted so wonderfully in Poznan, with so many people to meet. The workshop in which I participated was very amusing, I discovered Polish folklore, songs and dances, performed by a group of Polish dancers. I even danced! The hospitality of my parish was incomparable with delicious cakes, tea and smiles without end. We even experienced the magnificent Poznan English weather: it’s cold and snowing!
Igor (Italy)
With other volunteers who helped with the preparation since mid-September today we visited some of our parishes, to encourage and support the teams. After morning prayer, the young people were split up into small groups to share on the Letter from China. In several parishes, the preparation team has proposed visits to some places of hope and the testimonies of those involved in local society. Around 11 o’clock, in the parishes of the city center, young people began moving towards the exhibition halls for meals and prayer. The preparation teams were divided: some accompanied those who went with the pilgrims to the place of common prayer and others remained in the parish hall to tidy the place and make it welcoming for the next day.
Yuliya (Ukraine)
Meeting young people exhausted and carrying their bags, smiling at them at the entrance to the Ukrainian and Belarusian welcome, explaining to them how to get to the parish gave me incredible joy. They asked questions, seemed slightly lost, but their eyes were hungry for this new experience of a Taizé gathering. They are so happy setting out for the parishes, impatient to know what awaits them. These young people are beginning their pilgrimage of trust right in front of me and it fills me with joy.
Magalie (France)
"To seek reconciliation, should we ignore past mistakes, suffering and abuse inflicted or experienced in order to move forward?" That was the question of a participant at a workshop on reconciliation. Both the topic and the question were difficult, as was the response that came: "Reconciliation does not depend on forgetting! The need to remember is sometimes too heavy to bear for some people and it is our duty to help them.
Rajesh (India)
I am from India and it is of course my first European meeting. I saw many young people from around the world, gathered as a family in Poznań. I am happy to share this in this gathering. I think that these young people of our generation, all gathered together in faith, hope and joy to share the love of Christ, are an example to help the younger generations to grow in the faith of Christ. In this way I myself discovered in my life faith, joy and peace of mind, something I had never found before today.
Estelle (France)
Sitting in a circle, Italians, Serbs, Germans, Poles, and French, all facing the multitude of desires within us. How to sort them out, set priorities? The first meeting, the first cautious sharing, then people start to speak. We feel this trust in God bringing us together. The announcement of the birthday of a Serb relaxed the atmosphere. The young man, happy about our discussion, told everyone how happy he would be to welcome them, to help them learn about his country and its customs. We have known each other only for an hour: the joy of simple sharing.
Adriana (Portugal)
Yesterday was an important day for everyone… it was the day of welcome! Everyone had to get up early! Was it a problem? Not for me… it was a pleasure. The Portuguese are among those who had the longest journey to make to come here. However, when we were greeted with big smiles, nobody seemed tired! They were so happy to continue the pilgrimage of trust. This morning, a new high point… meetings in every parish! Words fail me to describe the hospitality of my home parish. They are all very nice to us.
Nicolas (France)
At 8:45pm yesterday evening, the train for Czempin left Poznań. After a daring race we leap in extremis into the car already in motion. We are stuffed in like sardines between ten religious sisters. Their timid looks are liberated and changed into smiles when they hear our Polish accent. My friend and I start singing. And then one of the sisters surprises the audience by singing "Aux Champs Elysées." The entire car joins in. When the performance is over, the ensuing laughter rings out amid the general hubbub. My friend then blurts out, "We will hire you and bring you back to Paris!" This morning, on the train to Poznań, by chance or providence, these same sisters get into our car. Together, we then naturally continue our exploration of the French musical repertoire.
Lena and Georg (Germany)
Today we had our first sharing-group. There was a very "international" atmosphere since there were participants from eight different countries. Together we read the beginning of the Letter from China and, inspired by the thought of Brother Alois, we talked about our desire for God and our personal way to pray and follow Jesus. Despite differences in backgrounds and cultures, we quickly realized we were sharing the same experiences and the same difficulties.
Myriam (France)
I attended the workshop "How to share our faith with others today?" The word "mission" is a word that can be scary. Not for these young students in Poznań. They meet regularly, pray for missionaries, and meet with them, leading programs in their parishes. They also have the experience of being missionaries, going to Cape Verde, for example. These students will bring the message of God’s love to people who are most in need.
Thursday, December 31: Next year in Rotterdam!
On the last day of the year, the program of the meeting offered to young participants and people from the city a large number of workshops. In the evening, Brother Alois explained the next stages of the pilgrimage of trust on earth, before all gathered for a prayer vigil and the "feast of nations" in the parishes.
Eveline (Netherlands)
I was very happy tonight to be present in Poznań when Brother Alois announced that the next European meeting will be held in the Netherlands. For me, the meetings are a sign of hope: seeing so many young people who seek something more than material wealth, to enrich both their heart and the heart of others. I am very happy that, next year, youth from all over Europe will come to our country to bring hope, to share this hope and to continue to build trust between different countries, their people… and God.
Yulia (Ukraine)
Working at the information point may seem tedious and stressful. Someone does not know how to find his way in the parish, or has lost her documents. The questions are many; we often do not have an immediate answer. Some have sometimes seemed worried, but they are convinced that we can help them. We try to help everyone as much as we can, and we are grateful for the example they give us.
Wojtek (Poland)
During our trip to Poznan, we watched the film "Merry Christmas" about soldiers fighting during the First World War, and spending their Christmas Eve in the trenches. In both camps, they decided to stop fighting that night and make it a moment of shared peace. I realized that this was also why I came to Poznań: to build peace between nations by meeting and praying together.
Nicolas (France)
A poignant testimony this morning at Czempin. After a long descent into hell, drowning in the complexities of alcoholism, the parishioner who stands before us is a new man ever since he has found God. "I am at peace" he exclaims, standing dignified and serene beside the Taizé cross. This 50-year-old man with a child’s eyes, freed from the yoke of alcohol, now gives his time to the city’s Alcoholics Anonymous group. Shivers and eyes filled with tears were visible on the faces of the audience who gave a standing ovation to the admirable story of this resurrected man. it was a great joy to share with him this evening the New Year’s Eve Mass!
Zosia (England)
This year, I help prepare the church for evening prayer. I light candles and ask people to stop taking photos. In this way I can assist those who have done so much to organize this meeting. I’m always amazed to see how well everything is going. I am looking forward to the celebration of nations tonight; we have prepared a surprise for our parish. Before that, I hope that there will be many of us at the prayer vigil for peace; that is the most important thing.
Martti (Finland)
Meeting thousands of young adults participating in the pilgrimage of trust in Poznań has been an impressive experience. The songs of Taizé, so easy to learn, become an effective way to pray and guide us towards inner peace where we can listen to God. We have had many interesting discussions with young people of different languages and cultures, and also discovered all that we share in Christ. During our stay, our group of nine has finally been able to experience Polish hospitality.
Myriam (France)
This afternoon I attended the workshop with the Barka community, present in Poznań. I was very touched by the sincerity of the founder’s words. Leaving everything to start, with his family, a community which gives a second chance to people completely lost, what courage! I was impressed by what Barka has accomplished in Poland by finding ways for each member to take responsibility for other people.
Anton (Germany)
Today I went to a workshop on the Christians in China and their lives. Two Taizé brothers who visited the country in the autumn spoke about their experiences and about Christianity in China. This revealed to me one of the meanings of the young adult European meetings: to get to know other Christians, to open our minds and feel the unity between us through faith in God.
Friday January 1st: "Always on the road, never uprooted"
This statement from a Polish saint, Urszula Ledochowski, was quoted by Brother Alois in his last evening meditation on January 1st. For the participants, the day was marked by a meal in the families and meetings by country.
Luc (France)
On the evening of the 31st, we thought we would eat during the festival of nations, but just before leaving our family, we discovered that they had prepared something to eat. It was a joy to change our plans and share friendly moments with those who had welcomed us. We understand that the trust in the "pilgrimage of trust" is also trust in God, who leads us somewhere we did not expect to go… for our happiness.
Gabriela (Mexico)
In spending these days with a host family, I feel very grateful. Arriving in a strange country, without speaking the language, apparently placed me in a vulnerable position. Yet I found a family that opened the doors of their home. I will keep this hope-filled memory alive in me for a long time.
Nastya (Russia)
The welcome in the parish was the most beautiful impression of the meeting that stays with me. After evening prayers and the return journey from the place of common prayer, I experienced the warm welcome in our parish. We could see how the young people of Poznań had been expecting us for a long time and how much they had prepared. They explained the program with great care as well as all the important information. And of course, hot tea and Polish specialties often awaited us.
Tobias (Germany)
As coordinator of the circulation team during the food distribution, I was impressed by this work. The first day, seeing the number of people in this team, I was a little worried, because I wondered how to motivate them. Day after day, I noticed that my concerns about how best to do our jobs were not necessary: everyone tried to create a good atmosphere in the team, even without having the opportunity to know all the others.
Julien (France)
To celebrate the New Year, I was invited to share a meal with an elderly lady. It was amazing to see her trust, because she welcomed to her table young people she did not know. She spoke only Polish, but someone helped us by translating. To tell the truth, her smile and her trust already made a good conversation possible! And she was very happy to share those moments with us. This helped me better to understand the meaning of the pilgrimage of trust.
Adriana (Argentina)
I had the chance to prepare the way for young people attending the European meeting, since I arrived in mid-September in Poznan. When I visited the parishes during the last days, I could see the preparation teams at work to prepare, for example, the feast of nations on New Year’s Eve. Their faces shone with joy, some expressing a little tiredness too, but their smiles remained a sign of the presence of the Lord.
Saturday, January 2: The time to leave has come
After a final prayer in the host parishes, participants and families said goodbye this morning. Then the coaches left for all of Europe, leaving the city of Poznan under a blanket of white snow that fell in recent days.
Bernard (Germany)
This morning after breakfast, my host family accompanied me to the last morning prayer in the parish. I received a lot during my stay in Poznań: a warm welcome, a wonderful family which was an island of quiet during a busy meeting, and last but not least, an overview of Polish cuisine! In addition they wanted to give me a goodbye gift, which I will carry back home together with lots of new impressions and memories.
Zeljka (Serbia)
What I kept from these days is primarily the hospitality of those who welcomed us. They were very kind, not hesitating to give us everything we needed. And now we have new friends, with the hope that they will be able to visit us next time.
Julie, Justine, Beatrice, Antoine, Maxime, Emeric (France)
This morning, when we left our parish, the young people who had welcomed us formed a roadblock in front of the special buses that took us back to Poznań… to try with humor to keep us from leaving! What struck us was the number of youth involved in preparing the meeting locally. We leave in an hour for Paris nourished by the youth and dynamism of the Church in Poland.
Lena and Georg (Germany)
Yesterday, for the midday meal on January 1st, we were invited by an elderly lady. We wondered how we could communicate with her because we do not speak Polish at all. The surprise for us was to see the number of guests: she had invited many members of her family, and finally we were 14 people from different countries sharing the meal. Her son spoke several foreign languages, so there was no difficulty in communicating. That delicious meal will probably be one of the fondest memories of the encounter. We now hope to continue our own pilgrimage of trust when we return home. These days here in Poznań have been a great confirmation of our search for God.
Zosia (England)
Adjectives fail to describe what I experienced these days! Everything was very special… The prayer vigil for peace, followed by the festival of nations, was a very good way to start a new decade. My host family was really very caring for us. Of course, it is sad to leave so soon but I especially want to thank everyone who welcomed us in Poznań. And I hope that what happened here is a testimony for our day.
Felicia (Germany)
At the end of the meeting, my strongest memory is perhaps the evening of December 31, which began at 11pm with a prayer for peace. Then, for the festival of nations, the young participants and parishioners of several host families gathered to sing and dance. On the morning of January 1, for the Eucharist, more than 400 people came together, young and old, from far away… and of course from Poznań. Eight priests celebrated in different languages: Polish, Hungarian, Spanish, English… In this very welcoming atmosphere, it became clear that this was above all a festival to praise the love of God. Having experienced this communion makes me grateful and gives me hope.