Some News from Taize January 2020

9th January 2020

Dear All,

I spent most of last year in Cape Town, South Africa. The meeting there in September saw young people being welcomed by others across the racial, economic and denominational lines which divide the population. In that respect it was quite remarkable.

The time I spent in Cape Town, much of it among materially poor communities, was a strong experience. For the meeting itself, we were delighted to welcome Archbishop John Sentamu of York and his wife as participants and to lead one of the workshops.

Wrocław European Meeting

The end-of-year European Meeting was held 28 December 2019 - 1 January 2020 in Wrocław, south-west Poland. 13,000 young adults came from outside the city to stay the five days. Everyone was accommodated in families.

Brother Alois introduced the theme for the coming year in Taizé as: “Always on the move, never uprooted.” You can read his meditations during the meeting here.

Next year's European Meeting will be held in Turin, Italy, 28 December 2020 - 1 January 2021.

London: Lenten prayer around the Cross

A brother of the Community will participate in a Lenten Prayer around the Cross in London. This year it will be held on Saturday 7 March, Church of Notre Dame de France, 5 Leicester Place, WC2H 7BX at 7:45pm (song practice from ~7:15pm). Poster (pdf)

Visits in Britain, March 2020

Two young, long-stay volunteers at Taizé, will be making visits in Britain (2-18 March), as well as a brother of the Community (7-23 March). They will be going to schools interested in bringing a group to Taizé, meeting with Church leaders to explain the Community's vocation, as well as inviting participants and workshop leaders to participate in the summer events in Taizé.

Their schedule is being planned now: ideas and invitations for these visits are welcome.

Taizé in 2020

In Wrocław, during the meeting for the small number of UK youth, one young person said, "I don't feel British, I don't want to be British." It was said with a laugh and a shrug of the shoulders, but was nevertheless indicative of what a difficult time it is for our country and the wider world.

In order to face the questions now being pressed upon us, it is so important to have experience of a deep and broad community in Christ, in the Church. As brother Alois says, we need to find a way to be “Always on the move, never uprooted”.

In Taizé in 2020:

Sunday 5 April - Monday 13 April: Holy Week and Easter Celebration
15 June 19 July: School and College Weeks
8-12 July: Gathering of friendship for young Christians and Muslims
23 to 30 August: Week of Reflection for 18-35 year-olds
28 December - 1 January 2021: European Meeting in Torino (Turin)

with best wishes,
Paolo