Last week some of our volunteers were invited to visit St. Stanislav’s Institution, which is located about 6 kilometres from the city center of Ljubljana. The Institution is a cultural and educational establishment with 6 different schools and was founded in 1901 by the Diocese of Ljubljana. Approximately 1500 students study there at the moment.

The volunteers had the opportunity to meet young people in their last year of high school, and invite them to the Taizé European Meeting that is coming soon. During the hours spent in the Institute, the volunteers organised workshops for different groups of students. The young people received some words which are core to life in Taizé, such as trust, simplicity, hospitality, mercy and silence. After reflecting for some minutes they had moments of sharing about how these words resonated within them and how they live them in their daily life.

We thank the Institute and the young people for welcoming us and we continue our path of getting to know the people of Slovenia and spreading the word about the upcoming European Meeting.

One of the opportunities we have when participating in a Taizé European Meeting is experiencing how local people live their lives and their faith within the communities and parishes. It can be a beautiful experience to host pilgrims and have the chance to connect with them.

In December 2022, a group of Slovenians participated in the Taizé European Meeting in Rostock where they were welcomed by a German family. They shared daily life, special moments, and their culture and faith, which created a bond between them. Nine months after this experience, the German host family decided to spend their holidays in Slovenia and reunite with the pilgrims they had the pleasure of hosting in Rostock. During their visit they shared their experience as hosts with members of the parish of Moste, of which the pilgrims they welcomed are part. Check it out a little bit of what they shared:

What was your favourite part of the meeting?

Our favourite part was Urša, Rok, Ema and Štefan. It was so nice that they came as strangers, but now they feel like friends or family. Our favourite memory is of the Taizé prayer, where there were a lot of people. Also the drive home and the hanging out with them at our house.

How did the experience enrich your parish?

We connected as a parish and everybody was very happy that this was going on and we were a part of it.

What was this experience like?

Wonderful! We enjoyed the workshops and prayers. But the time we all got home was fantastic! We had so many conversations and sharings with each other. Before I did not know much about Slovenia, but now I am here, because they told us everything about it. It was a great exchange to get to know other people from other countries.

By Wego Family
October 2023, Ljubljana - Moste

The preparation of the European Meeting in Ljubljana is well underway, and for 2023 we have a new way to connect with the pilgrims before even arriving at Ljubljana. For the first time you will be able to see from which countries the pilgrims are coming. But that is not all; you can also filter on the interactive map if the pilgrims are coming in big, medium or small groups, or if there is an individual coming from that region. You might find even yourself if you have already registered!

If you want some information about joining one of the big groups coming from your region, you can contact us at gototaizeljubljana gmail.com

Check out the map to see our weekly updates as we prepare to welcome you in Ljubljana!

Last weekend, the Taizé preparation team for the European meeting in Ljubljana, along with local young people from Slovenia, joined the ecumenical Together event in Rome on September 30th, initiated by the Taizé Community and prepared together with various Churches and church groups.

Thousands of participants from Europe and beyond, representing different Christian backgrounds, stayed with local families and parishes, sharing our faith journey and praying together for a weekend.

As the title says, this meeting was a sign of hope for all of us.

Important global concerns like the refugees’ situation, conflicts in various countries and the climate crisis were very present in morning workshops and the evening vigil prayer.
It was moving to witness different Christian churches building bridges and coming together, holding worship services with different denominations in a historical Basilica and praying together in St. Peter’s Square, accompanied by the Pope and representatives from other churches.

We felt that this meeting was an open experience to invite the Holy Spirit to guide the future of the Catholic church during this synod, directing it towards peace, inclusion and communion.

An important part of the European meeting preparation process is getting to know the people, faith and culture of the host country.
One of Slovenia’s most iconic landscapes, as many of you may have already seen online, is the famous Lake Bled with its even more famous island in the middle, featuring the Church of the Mother of God.

Lake Bled’s church was first built in 1142, then rebuilt in Gothic style in the 15th century, and following a strong earthquake was thoroughly renovated in early Baroque style. Surviving the damages of a second earthquake, its final form has been preserved since the 17th century.
The main altar in golden carving represents the sitting Mother Divine.
In the church’s tower there is a ‘wishing-bell’ with a famous legend behind its creation, saying that whoever rings the bell and makes a wish will have it fulfilled . Don’t forget to try it out =)

To get to the island you will need a boat, or in case of good swimming skills you can enjoy the fresh waters of the lake to reach the place. Many people visit, not just tourists but also local people who take pride in this island that belongs to their parish.

Upon arriving on-site, one of the first programs for the preparation team was to participate in the youth meeting in Stična, which is a symbolic place in the history of the relationship between Taizé and Slovenia. It was in the year 1981, after the economic situation of young people in the former Yugoslavia had become more difficult, and their travel outside of their country had become challenging, that Brother Roger’s visit took place following an invitation from the newly appointed Archbishop Alojzij Šuštar. The choice of this Cistercian monastery also took into consideration the fact that young Croatian neighbors could easily access it.

The Stična meeting has changed significantly over the years, but the concern for welcoming young people from all backgrounds has remained very present. In addition to countless personal encounters among the more than 4000 young people from various regions of Slovenia and beyond, everyone could find something in the program that resonated with them. In the morning, there was an outdoor Eucharist celebration - with an invitation announcement for the European meeting! - followed by afternoon workshops on a wide range of topics, and then concerts featuring various musical genres in which young participants took part.

In the weeks to come, we hope to meet many of our new friends again!

In the last couple of months, many underground works have been completed, and hopefully, you’ve already seen some of the results on social media platforms. As the preparation team arrived in Ljubljana one week ago, a new stage begins. The team consists of 9 young people from various countries, including Brazil, Scotland, Latvia, ... and even Slovenia - not to be confused with Slovakia, which is also represented in the preparation team…

In the team there is a couple from Switzerland, two sisters of Saint Andrew and three brothers from the Taize Community.

From now on, we will do our best to regularly keep you updated on local news regarding the preparation. We will provide you with ideas for your preparations and help you get to know the country that will host you better. We will also share updates regarding the meeting program, and soon we will provide you with the registration interface, which you can start using from October 1st.

Many of you have noticed that our online presence is intensifying week after week: the first videos on YouTube, photos on Instagram, and links on Twitter and Facebook. It’s up to you on you to find out what interests you in connection with the preparation!

From today, the local preparation has a dedicated page: www.taizeljubljana.si, which you can consult for news concerning the preparations on site.

If you come from another country, keep an eye on the section (www.taize.fr/ljubljana2023) where you can find information about the program for participants.

Thanks to a fruitful collaboration with KANA, the youth pastoral office of the Archdiocese of Ljubljana, should be three working groups have been established. These groups consist mainly of young people who attended the Rostock meeting and are now eager to help prepare for the welcome of young people at the end of the year.

 One group will focus on the animation of common prayers, offering their knowledge and experience to help prepare welcoming common prayers.

 Another group is handling logistics, scouting potential places of welcome within a 45-minute train or bus ride from the Arena Stožice.

 In addition, a team is dedicated to the question of communication, exploring ways to involve and invite more people to the meeting and its preparation, including those who may not share the Christian faith but are interested in reflecting on the meaning of life and the common good of society, and who are also eager to connect with people from different backgrounds and perspectives.

After months of careful consideration and thorough research, the Arena Stožice was chosen as the central venue for the meeting. It will be no small feat to fill this expansive stadium and transform it into a space for prayer and encounter. Additionally, several churches throughout the city will be opening their doors each morning to welcome the young participants. And let’s not forget the local homes, where the young people will spend a third of their time - that is, if they manage to get enough sleep!