Groundwork for Taize International Meeting for Youth Opens

MANILA, June 5, 2009-Spiritual preparations have started for the upcoming Taize "Pilgrimage of Trust", an international meeting for the youth organized by the Taize Brothers set to happen early next year in Manila

Brothers from Taize are organizing prayers and meetings in various dioceses to prepare young people for the upcoming religious event from February 3-7, 2010.

The spiritual preparation aims to bring the youth to greater awareness of the importance of the upcoming event.

The worldwide assembly will gather from various continents young people who are in search of God and want to commit themselves to Church and society.

In the recent Pope John II Conference for Catechists held at Don Bosco, Makati, the Brothers, who have been around since last month, facilitated a workshop about the community and prayers in Taize.

In Mary Help of Christians Parish in Parañaque, a regular meeting for contemplative prayer with songs from Taize is being held. Such meetings are characterized with intense prayer atmosphere where participants had a candle in front of them and gathered around the cross like what is being done in Taize.

Youth Mass, a DVD presentation on Taize and prayer with songs from Taize are also held at the Our lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament Parish in Merville Subdivision, Parañaque.

To be able to interact with more young people the Brothers attend a regular meeting of youth at the Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace in EDSA after the 5:30 p.m. Mass on Mondays.

The Brothers have also met the leaders of Archdiocesan Youth Organizations and Movements in Manila (AYOM), and will be meeting the youth ministers of all Vicariates of Kalookan diocese for spiritual activities.

Three Brothers visited the country last year and have facilitated retreats in different dioceses. In view of the upcoming worldwide event, more Brothers of the community are now staying in Manila until March 2010 to prepare for the meeting.

Taize website provides some guidelines for those who want to participate in the meeting.

Young Europeans wishing to join are invited to spend a week in Taize to familiarize themselves with the various phases of the journey and program. The preparation will also help Europeans get acquainted to a culture totally different from their own.

With the over all theme of "inner life and human solidarity", the "pilgrimage of trust" meeting on February 2010 will be the fifth assembly to be held in Asia, following meetings in Chennai (Madras), India, in 1985 and 1988, Manila, in 1991, and Kolkata, India in 2006. (Pinky Barrientos, FSP)