News from Taize: "Sharing Hope"

In Nairobi: "Sharing hope"--------------------------------------------"Sharing hope" is the theme of the stage of the Pilgrimage of Trust that is taking place at this very moment in Nairobi, Kenya. Lasting till Sunday 30 November, the meeting has brought together 7000 young adults between 18 and 30 years of age from the different provinces of Kenya and from other African countries. (Plus Frank!!) The meeting has been prepared over the past year by brothers of the Taizé Community with a team of volunteers from different continents, in collaboration with youth chaplains from the Nairobi Churches. Over 120 young people have come from Europe, Asia and North America. The first arrivals began on 15 November, to take part in immersion programs in different towns and villages in the Nairobi Region.The program of this international meeting consists mainly of times of celebration, prayer and sharing. The main venue is in the grounds of Queen of Apostles Minor Seminary (Thika Road, Ruaraka). The morning program takes place in the 80 parishes and church congregations and religious institutions where the participants are receiving hospitality. Young people from the host parishes enable their guests to discover "places of suffering and hope" as well as the commitment and the initiatives of the "people of hope" in their neighbourhood.Brother Alois along with several Taizé brothers is taking part in the Nairobi event. The Archbishop of Nairobi, Cardinal John Njue, was present during the evening prayer on 28 November. Other church leaders from various denominations were also expected to take part in some of the prayers. http://www.taize.fr/en_article7659.html



Catherine is part of the welcome team: "Wednesday 26: This has been a day of welcome, which continues after the sun has set. Tomorrow, in the light of day, we will discover how many have joined us. For now, we know that we have been blessed with visitors from Uganda and Rwanda, from Mozambique and Sudan, and from many other countries in Africa and beyond. Of course, many groups are also travelling from provinces across Kenya - Kisii and Nyahururu, Machakos and Mombasa - and from the suburbs of Nairobi itself.The Kenyan tradition of offering hot sweet chai (tea) to visitors seemed unaltered by the sheer quantities involved. And it was gratefully received by many weary travellers - one young man I spoke to had been on the road from Burundi since Monday. Others were returning from fruitful times with families in rural parishes during their 'pre-meeting' stay.In one of our prayers this week, we heard the story of the widow who gave two copper coins - "She, out of her poverty, gave everything". In many ways the welcome that the young people receive here, in parishes and in families, echoes this gospel. In fact, it goes further – Catholic parishes welcoming members of the Pentecostal Church; Anglicans welcoming those from the Presbyterian Church of East Africa. Once again the barriers that exist are called into question..." http://www.taize.fr/en_article7677.htmlPhotos of the Nairobi meeting: http://www.taize.fr/en_article6975.html