Taizé Retreat Weekend
February 1-3, 2008
St. Paul's Basilica, 83 Power St.
Metropolitan United Church, 56 Queen Street East
St. James Anglican Cathedral

Click here for a detailed map of all of the locations

This weekend we are bringing a little of Taizé to Toronto. Taizé, located in the south of Burgundy, France, is the home of an international, ecumenical community, founded there by Brother Roger in 1940. Since the late 1950s, many thousands of young adults from many countries have found their way to Taizé to take part in weekly meetings of prayer and reflection while living in simplicity and community.

During these meetings, all those present gather for prayer, worshipping God in song and silence. Each day, brothers of the community give Bible instructions that are followed by times of reflection and discussion. Time spent in Taizé is a way of realizing the intimate relationship between an experience of communion with God in prayer and personal reflection on the one hand, and an experience of communion and solidarity among peoples on the other.

Click here TO REGISTER FOR THE WEEKEND.

Click here for the Taizé brochure.
Click here to download a PDF of the poster.
Click here for photos from our previous Taizé event.

Provisional Program

Friday, February 1
5:00 p.m. Registration at St. Paul’s Basilica
7:30 p.m. Introduction to the week-end; Evening Prayer (including prayer around the cross) at St. Paul’s Basilica

Saturday, February 2
8:00 a.m. Late Registration at St. Paul’s
9:00 a.m. Morning Prayer at St. Paul’s
10:00 a.m. Reflection by Br. Emile of Taizé; Faith sharing in small groups at St. Paul’s
11:45 a.m. Midday Prayer at St. Paul’s
12:30 p.m. Lunch at Metropolitan United
1:30 p.m. Song practice/Free time for silence and personal prayer/Video from Taizé (various locations)
3:00 p.m. Reflection by Br. Emile of Taizé; Faith sharing in small groups at Metropolitan United
4:30 p.m. Workshops (various locations)
6:00 p.m. Dinner at St. James
7:30 p.m. Evening Prayer (candlelight service) at St. Paul’s

Sunday, February 3
Morning: Participation in local Parishes
12:30 p.m. Video from Taizé at St. Paul's
1:00 p.m. Fellowship; Question and answer period with Bro. Emile of Taizé; Closing Prayer and discussion at St. Paul's

Confirmed Workshops

Windows to Heaven: Praying with Icons - Fr. Theodore Koufos, Greek Orthodox iconographer in the Byzantine tradition
The Eucharist and the Early Church - Br. Emile of Taizé

Participants

The prayers are open to all generations and will be held in St. Paul’s Basilica. It is not necessary to register in order to attend.

Other activities are geared to young people between 17 and 35 years old. Adults over 35 will be allowed to register for the full program provided that there are at least 6 younger people for each person over 35.
For liability reasons, out of town participants that are 17 years old must register as part of a group in which an adult accepts to take legal responsibility for them.

Cost

Registration for the meeting is $15 for students and $20 for young adults who are working . This includes simple accommodation (staying with families), if needed, lunch and supper on Saturday, handouts, etc. but not transportation within and to Toronto.

Simple Accommodation

There will be limited simple accommodation (staying with local families) available. It will be assigned on a first come, first served basis. If you are coming from out of town and are bringing a group, please contact us at taize@ocytoronto.org ASAP. All participants staying with families are asked to bring with them sleeping bags and a mattress pad.

For more information about the weekend: taize@ocytoronto.org