Some Recent News

Palm Sunday

On Palm Sunday, the Church commemorates Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. It is also the beginning of Holy Week. In Taizé, as has been the case for a few years, this celebration began at the edge of the lake of the Saint-Etienne spring, where the brothers, the volunteers, the young people present in Taizé and friends from the region gathered, this year with the presence of the Bishop of Autun, Benoît Rivière.

On Sunday morning, for the Feast of Palm Sunday, the brothers and young people present in #Taizé gathered at 9.15am at the Saint-Etienne spring. Recalling the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, all went from there to the Church of Reconciliation, with branches in hand. pic.twitter.com/OcAUAv8xh9

— Taizé Community (@taize) March 25, 2018

Clara, Belgium

For me this Palm Sunday procession was just this great feeling of being a part of the whole creation, and it made me very happy and very joyful. You really wanted to celebrate that Jesus was there with us. I had never experienced Palm Sunday in such a way.

Monday – Wednesday

During the common prayers, Holy Week is marked by specific songs and responses and, morning and evening, two brothers take turns reading at the lectern in different languages an excerpt from the gospel accounts of the Passion.

During the Monday evening prayer, two specific intentions were read: one for the victims of the tragic fire at a shopping center in Kemerovo, Siberia; the other for the victims of the terrorist attack in Carcassonne and Trèbes, a few days earlier in the South of France. Every night, other intentions were read for difficult situations in the world.

Rob, Ireland

It’s much different than what I expected. It’s a really tightly knit community. I love going to the prayer services, at first I was not too keen about it, but it’s really grown on me, and it’s really interesting and engaging.

Holy Thursday

The evening prayer was marked by the washing of the feet. As is now the tradition for many years, the brothers went through the church to wash the feet of all who wished. Then the Eucharist was celebrated as a memorial of the last supper of the Lord. It is the first day of the Easter Triduum.

Youssef, Egypt

Being a Coptic Orthodox deacon, where prayers in the Holy Week are very rich and special, I found also the same core here, the humility, the love which is coming from God and also directed towards God. Holy Thursday is the day where Jesus, Emmanuel, God who is incarnated in the midst of us gives his body and blood for us ... for all of us to be one in Him and with Him. Not all the disciples at this table were the same, just like us here in the Church of Reconciliation we are really diverse. Different countries, different beliefs, different cultures, different traditions, but we are all united in the humility and love of God the Father in Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit, this communion can never be broken.

Une publication partagée par Taizé (@taize) le 30 Mars 2018 à 1 :30 PDT

Good Friday

At 3 pm, the hill entered for a few minutes into silence, while one of the bells rang to remind people of the moment of Jesus’ death on the cross (after Luke 23:44-45). At this time, everyone stopped what they were doing for a short time of silence.

At #Taizé this afternoon a bell rung for three minutes in order to commemorate the hour of Christ's death. Everyone on the hill was invited to remain silent during this time. pic.twitter.com/LxYQl6dL4V

— Taizé Community (@taize) March 30, 2018

In the evening, the procession of the cross took place in the Church of Reconciliation. At the beginning of the prayer, all the brothers were gathered behind the altar and then the cross was carried across the church to associate the thousands of young people present at that moment. Then the prayer continued around the cross throughout the night.

Holy Saturday

The last arrivals before Easter arrived in Taizé in the afternoon. In the evening, the icon of "the descent of Jesus into Sheol" was carried by the brothers to the end of the Church of Reconciliation and its extensions, now fully open because of the large numbers present.

In the evening, Brother Alois spoke for his weekly meditation - before a prayer vigil began in the church, interrupted by the reading of prophetic texts from the First Testament.

Easter Sunday

This year, the Easter celebration began at 6:30 am in the large, fully open church still in darkness. While a young girl was playing a cello piece, and female voices of the choir sang a resurrection song in Syriac and various languages, four sisters crossed the church carrying a lantern that contained the fire - the light of the resurrection - and a white cloth, a symbol of the shroud in which Jesus had been buried.

From this lantern, the paschal candle was then lit and then - for the first time - the sisters and women of the village of Taizé transmitted the Easter flame to all. It was a way of emphasizing that it was the women, Mary Magdalene and some others, who first believed in the resurrection of Jesus.

During the Easter celebration, the resurrection was proclaimed by the liturgical prayer of the Exultet, read by several brothers in six languages. A French brother made his life-commitment in the community, in the presence of his family, and the Eucharist was celebrated with joy.

The last highlight of the celebration was the proclamation, again by women, of the Easter greeting, traditional in the Orthodox Church, in twenty languages: "Christ is risen! with each person answering in their own language, "He is risen indeed!" While the bells were ringing.

Easter Booklet

Tim, Netherlands

I felt a lot of joy during these days. I appreciate the rhythm; the structure of the prayers allow me to focus on the story of Easter: in the beginning you feel down, then it gradually ascents towards Easter. I felt so much joy among the people after the service, celebrating this festival of happiness together. The days here helped me to discover hope for people all over Europe, to have this celebration together and to believe that this light of Easter will be transferred all over the world.

Now, squares of natural pigments (20cm x 20cm) have been painted on canvas, using more than thirty colours; we can think of the diversity of those who come to pray three times a day. We can also think of us and all of creation. We raised the candles so they can be more visible in the extensions of the church.

In terms of greenery, for the moment we have orange trees which can survive in a low-light environment. We have also put in epipremnum aureum, a houseplant native to the Solomon Islands.

If the decoration seems a bit unfinished, that is because it is a work in progress! The internal thermal insulation work should be done between Easter and Pentecost, after which we will repaint the whole choir with lime-wash. Hopefully, by the summer things will look a bit more in order.

Since 2015, Europe has been in a migratory crisis of unprecedented scope. Faced with this challenge and supported by the generosity of many neighbors, the community continues to open its doors to welcome migrants.

Welcome and Referral Centers

In November 2015, to welcome migrants from Calais, a so-called CAO (reception and orientation center) was opened in Taizé. This place was able to accommodate thirteen young men aged 19 to 40, all Muslim, from Sudan and Afghanistan. Nine of them, who have been granted refugee status, are now working or training in the region around Taizé. One of them, widowed, had a 13-year-old son in Sudan. On the occasion of his visit last year to that country, Brother Alois brought the child back to his father. He is now attending school and his father works in a foundry of the region.

In November 2016, the community opened a CAOMI (reception center and guidance for minors) to host for a time eighteen young minors from Calais, who wanted to go to England. Seven young people decided to stay in Taizé for their asylum application procedure. One of them is now in an educational center near Taizé and four refugees are still living in the village, seeking to settle in the area.

Families

In recent years, the community has also welcomed four refugee families from Iraq and Syria. After several months in Taizé, which allowed them to regain their autonomy and begin to be integrated well in France, two of these families settled elsewhere, keeping an almost family-like relationship with the community.

Awaiting Protection

Last September, the community welcomed three young migrants from South Sudan and Sudan, aged 20 to 28 years. These young people do not yet know if they will be able to make their asylum application in France because of the Dublin regulations. In the meantime, since they do not have permission to work, they are learning French, do volunteer work and participate in exchanges on the causes and difficulties of their migratory journey.

Sponsoring Families

Every young migrant welcomed in Taizé is accompanied by a family from the region. By simple regular visits to their sponsoring family, these young people are helped to head towards a good integration into French culture and receive invaluable support. One of the young refugees recently said, “Françoise takes care of me more than a mother cares for her own son!”

French Classes

When the community opened its doors to young people from Calais, immediately a great generosity on the part of the inhabitants of the region was manifested. Today, French classes are offered four days a week at the Taizé town hall and a dozen volunteers take turns to give classes. Christine, a teacher of French as a Foreign Language (FLE), writes: “My great astonishment and my great pleasure is also to see the motivation of the asylum seekers and their commitment to learning French, despite all their other concerns.” In addition to the three migrants who participate today in the courses, a dozen foreigners from different countries living in the region also benefit from the quality of these courses.

Exchanges

Migrants welcomed in Taizé were invited to lead a day of reflection on migration at Saint Joseph High School in Châteaubriant, Brittany. In November 2017, three of them went there and the high-school students were impressed by the story of these young people who crossed the Sahara, and the experience of hell in Libya and the Mediterranean. The migrants were likewise impressed by the quality of the listening and the seriousness of the students.

In Taizé, migrants sometimes participate in the workshops offered to the young pilgrims, where they can share their background and motivation.

At the European Parliament

In January 2018, a group of young migrants visited the European Parliament. During a meeting with the European Commissioner for Migration, with members from different parties and from different countries and with the Director General of the OFPRA (French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons), migrants were able to talk about their reception experience in Europe and their respective situations: statutory refugees, asylum seekers, “dublined” migrants, and unaccompanied minors whose age has not been recognized.

A Member of the European Parliament sent us images of this visit, filmed by Claudio CUTARELLI, concerning the Dublin Agreement:

To watch a longer clip of this meeting, click here.

Volunteering

Migrants welcomed in Taizé have always been happy to lend a helping hand around them and to feel useful in fulfilling a service for others. They regain dignity when they can give something of themselves.

Edith, treasurer of the Cluny team of the Catholic relief agency, writes that “three young migrants are volunteers and they come to lend a hand for the our activities. They have participated in several things, such as helping to staff a stand and organizing the annual big meal, where they were congratulated by everyone for the quality of their commitment.”

Migrants also enjoy volunteering alongside the young pilgrims who visit the community. Gonçalo, a young Portuguese, recently wrote: “Working with three young migrants was a unique experience; they were well integrated into our team and we shared together about some aspects of our culture and theirs. They told us about their experience and their search for peace.”

Last summer, many young people responded to the call for solidarity with migrants and donated to Taizé. With Orsi, a volunteer, three young migrants went to Calais in November to give the local Catholic relief agency sleeping bags, shower gels, shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrushes. They were guests for two nights at the Maria Skobtsova House, where the doors are open to the most vulnerable exiles. Orsi writes: “Our three friends from Taizé had seen the same misery during their own journey through many countries, the desert, the Mediterranean, and they understood what the young people of Calais are going through.”

Concluding prayer

We praise you, Christ Jesus, you are risen from the dead. You lead us to follow you, so that we may become witnesses to the joy of God and peacemakers, wherever we may be, in Taizé, in other countries or on the road.

We praise you for our brothers who live in Korea, Bangladesh, Senegal, for those who are going to South Africa, for those who are in Brazil, Cuba and Alsace, and for those who will be in Hong Kong during this year.

We praise you, Christ Jesus, for having nourished us during our council at the table of your word and your Eucharist. We praise you for the joy of brotherly love, especially apparent these days. You have also renewed us in simplicity.

Holy Spirit, you make of us a microcosm of the Church to which each adds a new stone by his life . You reawaken in us a passion for the unity of the Body of Christ, his Church. You teach us to rejoice in the diversity of ways to be Christian. In you we are already united, while being in solidarity with the Churches that are still divided.

Living God, with all our heart we would like to manifest your love by our community life. So we listen to your call to accomplish a common creation. It is as if you yourself were telling each of us these words from our little rule: "From now on, your worship and your service will take place in a community of brothers, itself set in the body of the Church ... You will be encouraged by the impetus of community life. You are no longer alone. You must take your brothers into account in all things."

You invite us to put our common creation at the service of those entrusted to us in so many places across the earth. We pray for all those we carry in our hearts.

For the participants in the European meeting in Basel. May through them the joy and peace experienced there continue to shine in the world like glimmers of hope.

For the inhabitants of our region, the Christians who live here, those who are in hospitals and care homes, the homeless, migrants, all those who support the poorest and who commit themselves for the common good.

For those around the world who are sad, for those who suffer violence, wars, injustice and famine.

Keep your song in us from dying out, even in our nights, this song of which the psalm we sang tonight speaks. With the psalmist we would like to gather together all our expectations and all our desire in a movement towards you, the God of the universe. "Happy are those whose strength is in you. Happy are those in whose heart is the road upward,” those moments of intimate joy in your presence. And, by the presence of your Holy Spirit, even the valley of tears can become a place of wellsprings on the path of our pilgrimage, the source of a serene joy.

Living God, we thank you for having made yourself known, for having come to us through Christ Jesus. He loved us and gave himself for every human being. By your Holy Spirit he is present today. May the joy of his risen life be known to all. May it be a source of fraternity and peace in the brokenness of our wounded humanity and in all your creation.

And now, after singing together, those brothers who have committed their entire lives will lay on the ground to recall their offering to God.

On Sunday evening, January 28, the evening prayer will be broadcast live on “Facebook Live” and on the Taizé website, from 6.45pm onwards (Central European Time / Paris Time). It will conclude the yearly council of the community and include the gesture of “prostration” by which the brothers remember their commitment for life.

On social media

Daily news, links of importance, photos and testimonies of participants will be published through these social media:

• Facebook
• YouTube
• Twitter
• Instagram

If you put photos or feedback about the meeting online, please use the hashtag #Taize

Prayers streamed live

• The media team wants to set up a live stream of the evening prayers, and needs help to do so. If you are participating in the meeting and think you may be able to help, please make contact by email.
• Radio RCF (French Catholic Radio) will broadcast the evening prayers live. For the programme it will broadcast live on 31 December, from 9pm until after midnight, the RCF team is looking for young people ready to tell of their experience of the meeting, and of their hopes for the future. If you can help, please contact RCF (even in English) by email.

On the Taizé website

• the « Proposals for 2018 » written by Brother Alois
• the daily meditations of Brother Alois
• the messages received from Church leaders and international organisations
• the photos shared online during the meeting

Here is some of the content shared in recent months on Taizé’s various social networks:

Facebook

YouTube

Twitter

Great pic of yesterday's #rainbow at #Taizé! pic.twitter.com/rJY82HX2fB

— Taizé Community (@taize) September 10, 2017

Instagram

Une publication partagée par Taizé (@taize) le 9 Sept. 2017 à 7h47 PDT

On Tuesday evening, October 24, a special programme will be offered on “Facebook Live” and on this page from 8.15 pm to 10.15 pm. It will include the evening prayer and the weekly meditation by Brother Alois.

Taizé has been welcoming refugees from Sudan for the past two years, and the Prior of the community, brother Alois, has just spent a week in Juba and Rumbek, South Sudan, and a week in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, to better understand the situation of these two countries, to meet people active on the ground and to pray among people who are some of the most afflicted of our time.

He and another brother of the community visited the various churches, observed their work of teaching, of solidarity, of caring for the sick and the excluded, and they had many contacts with the deeply deprived population. Among other things, they visited a camp for displaced persons operating under the protection of the UN, including many children lost and never recovered by their parents in the course of violent events in the country.

Through this visit, Brother Alois also wished to express gratitude to so many people who are engaged on the ground: humanitarian workers, Church personnel and diplomats, serving local communities and the development of education, agriculture, infrastructure, and services, or the promotion of culture. Upon his return he said: “I was particularly impressed by the situation of women and children. Mothers, often very young, bear a large part of the suffering caused by the violence. Many have fled in an emergency. They remain resolved to serve life. Children from an early age must undertake an important part of everyday chores but they aspire to attend school. The courage and the hope of mothers and children is an exceptional testimony.”

The prior of Taizé will draw from this visit to Africa some concrete proposals that he will publish at the 40th European youth meeting hosted by Taizé in Basel from 28 December to 1 January next.

On the international day of refugees, the brothers of Taizé and the young people gathered in Taizé have been praying for the migrants who have died in recent days off Libya as they tried to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe. A new workshop was also held like every week of the summer with the title “Taking the risk to welcome. Migrants, asylum seekers, refugees... Who are you?”

In addition, the preparations for the week looking at the theme of migrations are progressing. Many speakers have confirmed their presence, such as Pascal Brice (France), the director of OFPRA, Catherine Wihtol de Wenden (France), director of research emeritus at the CNRS, the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu (Uganda / England), Father Michael Czerny (Canada / Italy) from the Section for migrants and refugees in the Vatican, Petra Feil (Germany / Switzerland) of the Lutheran World Federation and representatives of various movements involved in providing support for migrants, such as the Jesuit Refugee Service or Caritas Europe.

It would be important for young people who know Taizé to suggest to some refugees to come and live this week together with them. If you are interested in this meeting, or if you have a suggestion for a speaker, you can contact the team at solidarity taize.fr. Finally, a concrete initiative of solidarity will be proposed in early July for young participants who wish.

On the occasion of the World Refugee Day, an ecumenical statement has been published - here are two excerpts.

Refugees: a chance to grow together

The Christian Bible tells the story of two men, Peter and Cornelius, utterly divided by religious belief and culture, who in encountering each other discovered a truth about God’s common will for them that neither had previously grasped. They learnt that the Holy Spirit brings down walls and unites those who might think that they have nothing in common.

All around the world, women, men, and children are forced by violence, persecution, natural and human-caused disasters, famine, and other factors, to leave their homelands. Their desire to escape suffering is stronger than the barriers erected to block their way. The opposition by some countries to the migration of forcibly displaced people will not keep those who undergo unbearable suffering from leaving their homes. (….)

Signs of solidarity can be multiplied beyond the borders of religion and culture. Meeting believers of other persuasions encourages us to deepen our knowledge of our own faith, and in our encounter with our refugee brothers and sisters, God speaks to us and blesses us as He did Cornelius and Peter.

 [1]

 [2]

This broadcast (mainly in English) includes:
 young people speaking about Holy Week at Taizé
 commentaries and responses by Brother Alois
 short video clips
 musical breaks with the boys of Belvedere College, Dublin, Ireland, young people from the choir of Albaida, Valencia, Spain and a harp piece by Odile, France.

On Facebook

On YouTube

 [3]

This year, Brother Alois wished to speak, among other things, of the community life of the brothers, the search for Christian unity, the welcome of the young in Taizé, and the presence alongside the community of refugees from different parts of the world. He also told the Pope about the upcoming visit to Taizé of Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople on April 25.

A few days after Easter, the Taizé Community will welcome a very special visitor. For the first time, Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople will visit for a few hours on Tuesday, 25 April. The pilgrimage to Taizé by the Ecumenical Patriarch will conclude his pastoral visit to Switzerland on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Orthodox centre of Chambésy.

During his visit, the Patriarch will take part in the community prayer at 12:00 in the Church of Reconciliation, in the presence of the brothers, representatives of different Christian communities and the young people gathered in Taizé. He will be welcomed by Brother Alois and will speak at the end of the prayer.

The prayer will be open to all. If anyone wants to come specifically to spend the day in Taizé, have lunch and participate in a workshop in the early afternoon, they should register as visitors through the Taizé website.

The groups and individuals present in Taizé the previous week, who planned to leave on Sunday 23rd, are invited to stay on longer – until Tuesday 25th in the afternoon (for adults over 30 years, this invitation applies within the limits of the available housing). If you wish to extend your stay in this way, please notify the meetings team by changing the departure date in your registration.

Radia Bakkouch, the current National President, participated in the special week for 18-35 year olds in September 2016. The community of Taizé and the Coexister association also took part together in the new initiative of the parish of Saint-Merry in Paris, the “sacred night”, which will take place again this year in the night 3 - 4 June.

Maud is a young French woman who stayed in Taizé with one of the “Coexister” groups who came in 2016. She shares her experience here:

We were ten young people from different religions: Christian, Jewish and Muslim people. I am Jewish and I have never been to Taizé before. It was really interesting for me to know the faith of Christian people better and to live with them for a week-end. I think I found peace in Taizé. I surprised myself just gazing at the landscape and thinking how extraordinary this experience is. We made strong bonds with lots of different people there and I am thinking of going again next year.

Concluding Prayer

We praise you, Christ Jesus, you are risen from the dead. You lead us in your steps to be witnesses to hope, peacemakers wherever we are, here in Taizé or in Senegal, Kenya, Korea, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cuba, and France .

These days you have renewed us in our vocation. We want to follow you, Jesus, gentle and humble of heart. Your Gospel invites us to develop a spirit of sharing, always seeking to simplify our way of life. So help us to focus on the essential, on the love and the continual presence of the Holy Spirit. Enable us to welcome this love, so that it touches our depths that are in need of conversion until our last breath. There lies the source of a joyous inner freedom.

When violence and the fear of the future seem to increase in the world, you enable us to stand firm in the hope that comes from your resurrection. For us it is like the anchor of our lives, sure and solid. Faith in you opens our eyes to see your presence in the world. And our prayer becomes more ardent: that the kingdom of God may be revealed and come for all human beings.

Risen Christ, your love impels us to seek the visible unity of Christians in order to be a ferment of peace in the world. It is when we go together to the wellspring that arises from your Passover that the dynamics of the Gospel unfold. Then we can welcome as a gift, with the necessary discernment, the great diversity between Christians. Enable us, the brothers, and all Christians, to consent to the sacrifices that reconciliation involves. Reawaken in our community the passion for unity; make us feel how urgent reconciliation is so that we do not stop creating trusting relationships between different traditions and so that an exchange of gifts may take place.

To prepare peace in the world, you encourage us to cause brotherhood to grow. We pray to you this evening for all those whom you entrust to us, through the welcome here in Taizé as well as in our fraternities, during the journeys and the stages of the pilgrimage of trust, for the refugees who live in our villages. Very often, through those whom we welcome, you open our hearts to your love, even without their knowing it. Keep us all in the spirit of the Beatitudes, joy, simplicity, and mercy.

And now, after the next song, those brothers who have made their life-commitment will lie on the ground to recall their offering to God.

Broadcast via "Facebook Live"

Welcome word from brother Alois

On this first day of the week of prayer for the unity of Christians, I welcome you to our Church of Reconciliation. With my brothers, I am happy to welcome you for this time of prayer. And I thank for their presence the representatives of the Catholic, Orthodox, United Protestant, Anglican, Evangelical, Mennonite Churches. May our unity grow in Christ Jesus, so that the dynamic and the truth of the Gospel may shine out in the world.

Prayer intentions read by church leaders

The Church leaders have read the following prayer intentions:

• Jesus Christ, you send your Church to prepare your way in the world. Inspire our deeds and our words, day after day, so that we may announce your Gospel around us.

• Jesus Christ, light of the world, you enlighten every human being: give us to discern your presence in each one and to welcome you in our neighbor.

• Jesus Christ, open our eyes to the sufferings of the most destitute of our time, the solitudes around us, so that we may live in solidarity with those entrusted to us.

• Jesus Christ, universal brother, you are at the side of exiles, refugees, migrants. We entrust to you all those who are welcomed in our region and we pray especially for Samir, from Sudan.

• Jesus Christ, grant us to learn to listen to you so that we can manifest together, more visibly in the eyes of all, your one Church - so the world can believe.

• Jesus Christ, praise be to you for the Christian communities of our region. For the synod of the diocese of Autun. For the Orthodox parish of Chalon. For the Protestant churches in this year of commemoration of the Reformation.

• Jesus Christ, like your disciples after the Resurrection, you make us brothers and sisters. Teach us to follow you and lead us on the path of life.

• Jesus Christ, we entrust to you the peoples of the Middle East, the victims of violence, all those who do not see a future in their country. Be the support of those who seek justice and peace.

Prayer by brother Alois

Christ Jesus, we are gathered in your name. Help us to welcome the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation, who unites our voices in your presence. Towards the end of your life, you prayed, "Father, may they be one". Make of us witnesses of unity and bearers of reconciliation.

The Saint Irenaeus Joint Orthodox-Catholic Working Group gathered from 2 to 6 November 2016 at Taizé. The meeting was chaired by Archbishop Job (Getcha) of Telmessos.

Brother Alois welcomed the group at the opening session. Throughout the meeting, the members of the group attended the common prayers of the Community and shared a meal with the brothers.

The Divine Liturgy was celebrated on Friday and Sunday in the village church.

After the meeting, a press release was issued in English and in German.

A reception and orientation center for minors at Ameugny, organized by the Taizé Community

In the night from Wednesday to Thursday, November 3, a group of unaccompanied underage migrants arrived in Saône-et-Loire, after the closure of the Calais camp. The group includes fifteen teenagers, 13 to 17 years old, mostly from Sudan but also from Syria and Eritrea.

This welcome has been prepared by the Taizé Community, which provides the venue, offers volunteers and logistics, in collaboration with the association "Le Pont" ("The Bridge") in Mâcon, which is taking care of all the administrative procedures. Before the arrival of the young migrants, the mayor of Ameugny and the village council had previously informed the inhabitants.

These young unaccompanied minors were welcomed last night on their arrival by the mayor of Ameugny, some village residents, staff of "Le Pont", the Taizé team and several young refugees from Sudan, welcomed last year by the community. The prefect of Saone-et-Loire was represented by his Chief of Staff, Ms. Germain.

On November 3, the prefecture published the following statement:

"This offer of shelter is temporary and estimated to last three months. It allows accommodation in optimal conditions of safety and health before these young people can be directed either to the UK or be enabled to benefit from the provisions of the law. They will benefit, first of all, from the ongoing investigation by the British authorities of their request for family unification. It is guaranteed that their cases will be dealt with within 3 to 6 weeks."

The welcoming team

The Community joins an initiative from churches in Finland, who are ringing church bells across the country, symbolizing people’s sadness and solidarity with the people of Aleppo, Syria, who endure continued air strikes.

Each Sunday at 6:30pm brothers and those who wish to join them meet together in the Church of Reconciliation for half an hour of silence to pray for peace.
As a sign of solidarity, one of the five bells, ’Witnesses of Peace’, will toll for the inhabitants of Aleppo.

At #Taizé the bell for peace will ring every Sunday for #Aleppo, #Syria https://t.co/r5zLZS4AJo @Oikoumene @WCCprayers @kirkko_evl pic.twitter.com/MAq10od2Gf

— Taizé Community (@taize) October 16, 2016

On the way to Krakow for World Youth Day, Brother Alois learned of the hostage-taking in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray and murder of Father Jacques Hamel. He then sent to Bishop Dominique Lebrun, archbishop of Rouen, and the vicar general of the diocese a short message of friendship to express his dismay and communion, and to ensure those responsible for the Church in that area of the prayers of the Taizé brothers and the young people gathered around the community.

Brother Alois also wrote this prayer to be read at Taizé, in Krakow during the prayers led there by the Taizé brothers, and in St. Malo, where young French Protestants are meeting these days:

God of mercy, enable us to realize that even in misfortune and in trials you are very close to us. The ongoing violence disconcerts us and touches us deeply. We entrust to you the deceased priest at Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, his family and the local Church of Rouen in mourning. In the face of hatred, we want to resist fear and return again and again to the wellsprings of peace, creating friendship and brotherhood around us .