Taize Brothers to visit Christchurch

February 3 2015

Taize Brothers to visit Christchurch

The Taizé Brothers from France are to bring their style of worship and prayer to Christchurch at the Transitional Cathedral on Wednesday 11th February.

The Taizé community is made up of more than one hundred brothers, Catholic and from various Protestant backgrounds, coming from around thirty nations. The community strives, through a monastic life, to live a sign of reconciliation and unity among Christians and in the human family.

Each year, during the northern hemisphere summer, the community welcomes more than 100,000 young people. They gather to take part in the daily prayer of the brothers and share in the community life. There is prayer, singing, silence, Bible study, and time for personal mediation.

The visit to Christchurch, and to New Zealand, is part of the brothers’ first pilgrimage to New Zealand. Between 2012 and 2015, Taizé has been leading youth meetings on every continent in the run-up to August 2015, when a large gathering will be held at the Taizé village in southern France. That gathering will mark 75 years since the beginning of the community, 100 years since the birth of its founder Brother Roger, and 10 years since his death by a random act of violence at the beginning of a service.

The Bishop of Christchurch, Bishop Victoria Matthews, has accompanied young pilgrims to Taizé twice and been in the chapel with more than 4000 worshippers. She says its mission is still relevant across cities, countries and continents.

Shorty after World War 2, Brother Roger the founder of Taizé began to invite young people from the countries that had been at war, with each other, to come to visit and pray with him and others for reconciliation and peace. Hundreds and then thousands came and now more than 5000 young people can visit in a week.

Brother Alois is now the Senior Brother of the Community and he with Brothers Ghislain and Matthew will visit Christchurch after being in Wellington.

The brothers will lead a workshop for young adults at 7pm followed by a Taizé service at 8:30pm at the Transitional Cathedral at Madras and Hereford Streets. Registration is not required and the Christian worship service is open to all.

Further information is available from this email taizechristchurch@gmail.com

ENDS

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