TAIZÉ

Coming to Taizé with a group of young people

 

The youth meetings in Taizé take place around the community of brothers who live there. We ask participants to be ready to enter fully into the rhythm of community life for the whole week – gathering with the brothers for prayer three times a day, joining with people from other countries for meetings, meals, small group discussions and practical tasks (serving meals, washing up, etc.), simple living conditions, respecting the silence at prayer time and during the night. You will find the daily programme on the page Programme.

It’s important that those who come to Taizé do so of their own free choice and not as part of a compulsory trip.

- 18 to 35 years old: The meetings are intended primarily for them, throughout the year, every week and every weekend.

- Under 18s: see page Coming with 15-17 year-olds.

As soon as you can, pre-register your group using the registration form. You can do this even if you don’t yet know how many young people will be coming with you.
If any participants need a visa for France, indicate this on the registration form.

We cannot provide accommodation for coach drivers, nor may coaches be left parked at Taizé. We can send you information about accommodation in the surrounding area.

Bible reflections take place each day, led by a brother of the community or a sister of Saint-Andrew. Please remind each person to bring a Bible (whether printed or in a phone).

Adults accompanying groups

For each group (even those with no 15-17 year-olds), we need a few leaders who can provide supervision (including at night) to be accommodated in the same area as the young people. For groups with male and female youth, we need male and female accompaniers.
Note: Any such “supervisors” who are over the age of 35 but not contact persons for 15-17 year-olds are are to be registered as “adults” on the registration form.

Please see the page Meetings for adults over 35 for information regarding adults who come together with a youth group, but who are not needed to help as leaders.

Choosing the dates to come

First, please check the page Dates 2024. As explained there, we encourage you to decide to come for the whole week, Sunday to Sunday, in order to enter fully into the rhythm of the international meetings.

Please consult us, by making a provisional registration, before deciding on your dates, especially if your plans are for a school or chaplaincy group. If there is a change in the number of participants or the dates of your stay, or if you have to cancel the group’s visit, please let us know immediately by updating your online registration form.

During your stay

We count on group leaders to prepare their youth beforehand, but also to accompany them during their stay. Please keep these points in mind:

- Please do not arrange any “outing” (even of a few hours) away from Taizé.

- It may be useful to fix a time to gather with your group, or to let them know of a regular time during the day when you are available. Choose a time in the day which will not interfere with their participation in the general programme.

- For times when the weather is warm, please ask everyone to use appropriate clothing, adapted to the spirit of the meetings, that is, of a “pilgrimage”: shorts of a good length (i.e. which cover thighs), and not mini-shorts or hot-pants. And for the prayers together in the church, please ask them to wear something to cover their shoulders: for example a T-shirt or shawl to put on over a sleeveless top.

- In spring, autumn or winter, please bring warm clothes! It can also be cold and wet in summer, so bear that in mind when preparing to come.

- For safety reasons, please do not bring camping-gas cookers or lights, and do not use candles. If anyone does have these, hand them in at La Morada and collect them again before departure. Explain this clearly to everyone before coming, and make sure this rule are followed during your stay.

- The only place in Taizé where alcoholic drinks may be bought or consumed is Oyak. If your group members do bring any alcohol with them, ask them to hand it in at La Morada, from where they will be able to collect before departure. Again, please explain this rule to everyone before coming and make sure it is observed. Note: all use of drugs is illegal in France.

- Please also read the pages Health matters and Safeguarding.

Last updated: 12 January 2024