The Episcopal New Yorker |

Pilgrimage to Taize, France

By the Rev. Deborah Dresser

On August 3, 12 adults and teenagers from St. George’s, Newburgh began their pilgrimage to Taizé, (pronounced teh-zay) France. This pilgrimage was planned by the five young people who will be confirmed on October 8. The pilgrimage included two days of sightseeing in London and a week in Taizé, and a great deal of time on planes, trains, buses and the Tube. Through the pilgrimage we learned to bear each other’s idiosyncrasies and respect each other’s needs, go with the flow and pay attention to what was happening around us.

Taizé is the name of a small village in eastern France. The community which bears its name is an ecumenical monastic community that began after World War II by Frère Roger. The community is shaped by his vision of reconciliation that is experienced in the healing love of Christ. At that time the immediate ministry was with the French and Germans, Jews and Christians and in a common search for a lasting peace. Today the theme of reconciliation resounds in the prayer and work of the community throughout the world and most especially with the poor. The village of Taizé has grown to meet expansion of the monastic community and the influx of pilgrims. In any given week in the summer pilgrims, 60% of whom are under 30, numbers around 4,000. From Germany and Poland, Lithuania and Spain, Sri Lanka and Canada, pilgrims come looking to connect with the power of Christ’s love and to be renewed in their work of reconciliation.

Every day was filled with work (our group cleaned bathrooms), study sessions with the Brothers, small group discussions, and prayer three times a day. The worship is simple in design: Scripture, prayer – both spoken
and sung - and silence. It is an amazing experience to be with 4,000 in total silence for 15 minutes, three times a day. As one of our pilgrims, Courtney, says, “The silence during the service had a lot of meaning for me especially the day my mom called to tell me about the terrorist plots. That silence was much needed; to think and pray...a chance to reflect, reconcile things from my faith and situations with friends and family.”

Of course there was lots of social time. “The experience that was important for me,” says another pilgrim, Matt, “was becoming good friends with people from other countries...It opened me up to a whole other world. If I could go back to Taizé and meet Maia, Daniel, Arid, Sara again it would be the best. If I could be with them in any place in the world it would be Taizé because you can’t get that experience anywhere else. Hanging out with people that you truly care about in a place where you have and share a deep relationship with God is the best experience a person can have."

Youth Group Trip to Tanzania for Carpenter’s Kids

By Chris Dennison

Before I went on this trip, I thought I understood quite a bit about the world. Going on a trip like this really opens your eyes. You realize that everything you thought was completely wrong. Bob Dylan said it best when he sang. “I was so much older then, I’m younger than that now.” Spending any time in a village in a Third World Country like Tanzania will completely change your outlook on life.

In all the villages we went to, we saw more poverty than any of us could imagine. It’s unreal; these people literally own nothing. But, all the children in these villages were so happy. The things that seem so small and unimportant to us make a world of difference to these kids. Not only are all the villagers happy, but they are the most welcoming people I have ever seen. Their hospitality was awe-inspiring. We were consistently greeted with songs and huge smiles, and then fed the best food they had to offer. The fact that $50 can support a child for a year puts everything into perspective. The poorest people here are better off than most people there.

It’s a complete shock to all your senses. All sights, sounds, smells and even the tastes were completely new. It’s hard to describe all of what we experienced.

Our youth group started off supporting 50 AIDS orphans in Tanzania through The Carpenter’s Kids program
with the uniforms, books, shoes, and daily meals that enable these children to get an education and have a better life. Check out The Carpenter’s Kids booth at the Convention.

THE EPISCOPAL NEW YORKER
Pilgrimages	September/October 2006
Youth Discover Self and God In Pilgrimage and Mission Projects Our youth of the diocese have been on the move this past summer. To be in Juarez, Texas or Tanzania, Africa or Taize, France or City Island, NY, our young people left their comfort zone to explore their faith through prayer and practical service. Some took part in a mission project in which the goal was to partner with a hhost group to accomplish a particular project such as building new benches for a worship space. Others went on a pilgrimage in which the whole journey, including study and prayer was the means to dscover self and God. A pilgriamge could best be described as a retreat in motion. Both types of adventures--pilgrimages and mission projects-- took months of planning, fundraising and commitment frrom the youth and their parents, clergy and adult youth leaders. Here are some of these stories to depict the spirit of our young people and the gifts that they bring to the church now and for the future. Byline

Pilgrimage to Taize, France By the Rev. Deborah Dresser On August 3, 12 adults and teenagers from St. George’s, Newburgh began their pilgrimage to Taizé, (pronounced teh-zay) France. This pilgrimage was planned by the five young people who will be confirmed on October 8. The pilgrimage included two days of sightseeing in London and a week in Taizé, and a great deal of time on planes, trains, buses and the Tube. Through the pilgrimage we learned to bear each other’s idiosyncrasies and respect each other’s needs, go with the flow and pay attention to what was happening around us. Taizé is the name of a small village in eastern France. The community which bears its name is an ecumenical monastic community that began after World War II by Frère Roger. The community is shaped by his vision of reconciliation that is experienced in the healing love of Christ. At that time the immediate ministry was with the French and Germans, Jews and Christians and in a common search for a lasting peace. Today the theme of reconciliation resounds in the prayer and work of the community throughout the world and most especially with the poor. The village of Taizé has grown to meet expansion of the monastic community and the influx of pilgrims. In any given week in the summer pilgrims, 60% of whom are under 30, numbers around 4,000. From Germany and Poland, Lithuania and Spain, Sri Lanka and Canada, pilgrims come looking to connect with the power of Christ’s love and to be renewed in their work of reconciliation. Every day was filled with work (our group cleaned bathrooms), study sessions with the Brothers, small group discussions, and prayer three times a day. The worship is simple in design: Scripture, prayer – both spoken and sung - and silence. It is an amazing experience to be with 4,000 in total silence for 15 minutes, three times a day. As one of our pilgrims, Courtney, says, “The silence during the service had a lot of meaning for me especially the day my mom called to tell me about the terrorist plots. That silence was much needed; to think and pray...a chance to reflect, reconcile things from my faith and situations with friends and family.” Of course there was lots of social time. “The experience that was important for me,” says another pilgrim, Matt, “was becoming good friends with people from other countries...It opened me up to a whole other world. If I could go back to Taizé and meet Maia, Daniel, Arid, Sara again it would be the best. If I could be with them in any place in the world it would be Taizé because you can’t get that experience anywhere else. Hanging out with people that you truly care about in a place where you have and share a deep relationship with God is the best experience a person can have." Youth Group Trip to Tanzania for Carpenter’s Kids By Chris Dennison Before I went on this trip, I thought I understood quite a bit about the world. Going on a trip like this really opens your eyes. You realize that everything you thought was completely wrong. Bob Dylan said it best when he sang. “I was so much older then, I’m younger than that now.” Spending any time in a village in a Third World Country like Tanzania will completely change your outlook on life. In all the villages we went to, we saw more poverty than any of us could imagine. It’s unreal; these people literally own nothing. But, all the children in these villages were so happy. The things that seem so small and unimportant to us make a world of difference to these kids. Not only are all the villagers happy, but they are the most welcoming people I have ever seen. Their hospitality was awe-inspiring. We were consistently greeted with songs and huge smiles, and then fed the best food they had to offer. The fact that $50 can support a child for a year puts everything into perspective. The poorest people here are better off than most people there. It’s a complete shock to all your senses. All sights, sounds, smells and even the tastes were completely new. It’s hard to describe all of what we experienced. Our youth group started off supporting 50 AIDS orphans in Tanzania through The Carpenter’s Kids program with the uniforms, books, shoes, and daily meals that enable these children to get an education and have a better life. Check out The Carpenter’s Kids booth at the Convention. Next

Youth Discover Self and God In Pilgrimage and Mission Projects