THOUSANDS of youth all over the world are set to converge for a five-day “Taize Pilgrimage of Trust”, at Don Bosco Technical Institute, Makati City starting February 3.
The second time to be held in Manila, the international youth meeting themed “A thirst for life in fullness… a call to transform the world”, expects to gather around 5,000 young pilgrims from various countries.
Activities of the five-day pilgrimage will include prayer, meetings and encounters of young people in various parishes that serve as local welcome centers for pilgrims.
Pilgrims will gather at Don Bosco for their afternoon and early evening activities that include midday prayer, workshops and evening prayer.
The afternoon workshops will dwell on themes concerning faith and social commitment, according to Bro. Alois, prior of Taize community. The Taize prior is in town to facilitate the youth pilgrimage together with other Taize brothers.
The main event of the gathering, which is open to the public, is the daily evening prayer coupled with meditation to be given by Bro. Alois.
“During evening prayers we will sing a lot because our prayers are very much based on singing together, on worshipping God. There will always be long moments of silence together,” he said.
Taize prayers consist of solemn chanting of psalms and meditating on Scriptures passages punctuated with long moments of silence.
“We think young people today are looking also for interiority, for spirit of adoration in prayer,” Bro. Alois said.
“Prayer should lead us to inspire ourselves, enjoy but also to listen with our hearts when God speaks, and that’s why will have long moments of silence with thousands of people together,” he added.
On the fourth day of pilgrimage, the young pilgrims will meet by provinces, regions and countries to reflect and share together on how their experience of the meeting can continue in their life when they go back to their respective communities.
Witnesses of peace and reconciliation
The Pilgrimage of Trust on earth was started by Bro. Roger, founder of Taize community 30 years ago, to encourage young people to become witnesses of peace and reconciliation in their local communities, and churches.
The Taize brothers go to different countries and cities to hold prayers meetings with young people to let them experience the universality of the Church.
“It’s a pilgrimage of reconciliation,” Bro. Alois said. “We try to bring people together from different backgrounds to listen to each other and to share,” he added.
Attracted by the witness of unity and life of prayer, young people from all over the world come to Taize, and stay with the community for few months.
“In Taize we welcome young people from all over the world every day. And each year, there are also young people from the Philippines coming and staying with us [for] two or three months,” said Bro. Alois.
Increased preparations
Since last year, the Taize brothers in coordination with the Episcopal Commission on Youth of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) have started laying the groundwork by organizing retreats for youth leaders and volunteers to prepare them spiritually for the pilgrimage.
Volunteers and representatives of parish welcome centers have also been given orientations to make them ready for any eventuality when pilgrims arrive.
The youth pilgrims will be housed by host families in the parish. According to Bro. Andreas, 100 parishes in the Manila area have agreed to become welcome centers. As welcome centers these parishes took charge of looking for host families to take in pilgrims.
Like a pilgrim in the true sense of the word, the youth can expect to sleep on the floor since many of the host families are poor and may not have an extra room for guests.
“Simplicity is the key word,” Bro. Andreas said. The host family will only provide the pilgrim with breakfast and a space to lay down his/her head in the evening.
“The pilgrims will go to the venue by public transport. When they come on February 3, by public bus or by plane, they will have contact with the host parish already, and should know how to go there from the airport and bus terminals,” said the Taize brother.
The five-day pilgrimage will conclude on February 7 with a Eucharistic celebration to be led by the Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales.
“After the five-day meeting, the pilgrims go home, but the pilgrimage continues because it is something that is for life. Our life is a journey,” Bro. Andreas said.
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