In Taizé, winter has begun. Most days, towards mid day, the sun breaks through the clouds. Just a short time after the last big weeks, the tents and the marquees have been taken down, and the big kitchen and the snack bar at Oyak have been closed for several months.
At the same time, the decoration for the prayer halls in Berlin is progressing right here in Taizé. Also in preparation, for the beginning of Advent, is a life size crib that is being set up in front of the Church of Reconciliation. The crib will be lit up at night and it will gradually be added to throughout the period leading up to Christmas. Every Sunday, the crib will feature some live animals.
Among the visitors over recent weeks there have been sisters from the Protestant communities of Grandchamp and Pomeyrol, some diplomats representing various countries of the Council of Europe. Also present was Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil, from Guwahati, in the North of India.
The brothers of the Community shared the sadness of the Patriarcate of Constantinople at the death of Mgr Damaskinos Papandreou who, sent by Patriarch Athenagoras, lived in Taizé from 1965 to 1969, before going on to set up the Orthodox Centre at Chambésy and becoming the Metropolitan of Switzerland.
Brother Alois and two of the brothers visited Belarus last week. He was invited to speak about the spiritual hopes of young people in Europe, according to the experience of Taizé, during a meeting for dialogue between Orthodox and Catholics at Minsk, under the aegis of the Metropolitan of Minsk and the Pontifical Council for Unity in Rome. Before the conference began, during a day long meeting with young adults from Belarus, Brother Alois addressed the young people: “Today, praying together with you, my heart is filled with a joy that is real and profound. For so many years, young people from Belarus have been visiting us in Taizé and taken part in the European meetings organised by our little community. I in turn wished to come to visit you. Your country is situated at the heart of Europe, at the crossroads of the eastern and western traditions of the Church. As young people, you have a particular contribution to contribute to the building of a Europe and a world that are more just.”
The European Meeting of young adults, organized every year by the Taizé Community, is to be held for the first time in Berlin, from 28th December 2011 to 1st January 2012. Around 30 000 young people from the whole of Europe and from other continents will be gathering for this new step of the “Pilgrimage of Trust on Earth”. After Brussels, Poznań and Rotterdam, this 34th European Meeting is a response to an invitation by the Catholic and Protestant churches and the Mayor of Berlin.
Video: young people in Berlin speak about their expectations of the European Meeting. (3 minute and 16 minute versions)
Inga, of the preparation team, writes: Searching for host families, who will welcome participants in their homes, requires new ideas, creativity and a lot of volunteers for support. So we have a new poster saying: “WANTED: 2m² in warm conditions for one young guest”.
Two volunteers from Taizé recently returned from a visit to several parishes in Sweden. Here is an account of their journey: “We came back to Taizé after spending almost two weeks in Sweden. It was a new, important and beautiful experience for both of us. The reason for our journey to the far north of Europe was a small meeting organized in a village called Jönåker, about two hours from Stockholm. After visiting Taizé this summer, the young people of the Kiladalen parish asked the parish priest, “Why can’t we have a meeting here at our place, and meet new people, and sing and pray right here?” Yes, why not? So they invited other young people, organized musicians, food, decoration, a rock concert in the evening. Together with people the parish, the local Pentecostal church and people from the village, they united their efforts and their energy to make this meeting possible.…”
14-16 October a meeting which was part of the pilgrimage of trust on earth took place in Cracow. This meeting was meant first of all for people who run the preparation points for the European Meeting in Berlin so that, through prayer together and reflection, they could get ready for the tasks ahead of them. On the Friday, one of the Taizé brothers visiting Cracow met with the young people after the evening prayer. Saturday was an open day for young people of the Cracow diocese. Everyone could subscribe to the whole-day programme of the pilgrimage of trust and experience three prayers, a Bible introduction, sharing in small groups, workshops and singing.
“We are a nation in its infancy, we have only been in existence for three months and three days. But today we are first class citizens. What is our role in the construction of a new Sudan ? Can love find its place in politics and development?” Bishop Santo, auxiliary of Juba, introduced straightaway all the stakes for the symposium “A church of each tribe, language and people” which was held in the capital of South Sudan last October, from the 13th to the 16th. One of the Taizé brothers who lives in Nairobi took part in this meeting.
It was the first time since 1984 that the Catholic Church was meeting together and had issued a wide invitation beyond its walls: representatives from other churches, members of parliament and government representatives. The atmosphere was still marked by the proclamation of independence on July 9th 2011: gratitude, and seriousness in facing the unknown future.
God of peace, at times when we make our way forward as if in a fog, without seeing the path very well, we can recall Christ’s words: “I will send you the Holy Spirit: he will always be with you; he will be within you.”