Skip to content
The Catholic Leader
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
The Catholic Leader
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Finding peace of mind through the spirit of Taize

byStaff writers
21 September 2003
Reading Time: 3 mins read
AA
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

THE spirit of Taize, the meditative style of prayer which has touched the hearts of Christians around the world, is set to be revived in Brisbane.

Br Ghislain, who inspired many with Taize prayer when he visited Brisbane three years ago, is returning this week.

He will lead an evening of Taize prayer in St Stephen’s Cathedral on September 25.

Co-ordinator of Brisbane archdiocese’s Office for Spiritual Renewal, Mike Humphrys, said the evening would be an opportunity for those unfamiliar with this style of meditation to experience the gentle rhythms of the chants leading them into quietness and reflection.

‘It is a form of prayer based upon the Scriptures that seeks to promote reconciliation, healing and peace and is open to all,’ he said.

‘Youth, in particular, value its simplicity and stillness. This is an ecumenical activity where together Christians can pray and intercede for the needs of the world.’

During Br Ghislain’s last Brisbane visit, more than 300 people attended an ecumenical evening of prayer with him at St John’s Anglican Cathedral, singing the meditative chants, reflecting on the Scriptures and praying for the needs of the world.

Br Ghislain, a member of the ecumenical community based in Taize in south-eastern France, is responsible for spreading the Taize message in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Taize community has more than 100 brothers, both Catholic and Protestant, from more than 25 countries, who live vows of celibacy, poverty and obedience. They live with the poor, and have spread to Asia, Africa and South America.

Taize draws young pilgrims from around the world.

Related Stories

Plans for indigenous elements, memorials to trauma, to complement Catholic liturgy

Called to share the message of Jesus at mission school

Cathedral green packed with families for festival day

Its Web site says people aged from 17 to 30 started visiting the community from the end of the 1950s.

Some months, more than 5000 people arrive from 75 different countries.

‘They are searching for meaning in their lives, in communion with many others,’ the Web site says. ‘By going to the wellsprings of trust in God, they set out on an inner pilgrimage that encourages them to build relationships of trust among human beings.’

They continue their spiritual adventure when they return home ‘in their concern to deepen an inner life and by their readiness to take on responsibilities in order to make the world a better place to live in’.

Taize has also become important to thousands of people who have never even been there. They are drawn spiritually through its style of prayer, including its simple chants.

And what is it about Taize prayer that attracts young people in particular?

Co-ordinator of the archdiocese’s Parish Youth Ministry Services, Michael Hart said: ‘It’s a contemplative style of prayer, and many young people find the simplicity of it is the thing that appeals to them.

‘And it’s getting them in touch with the tradition in terms of the richness of the chants.

‘It provides an opportunity to step out of the hectic pace of life.’

Oblate Father Bill Ousley of Burpengary parish, who leads Taize prayer in his parish, says it is a great prayer of peace.

‘Taize is very gentle. It helps people to quieten down and unplug from everything else they’re tied up in.

‘You just unplug your mind from all types of preoccupations and you just focus on Christ. You open your heart to Christ.

‘It gives people a chance to pray from the heart.’

Fr Ousley, with parish priest Oblate Father Lewy Keelty, introduced Taize prayer to Burpengary last year and they incorporate adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

‘We follow a simple format, with chant at the start when I am exposing the Blessed Sacrament. And we have long periods of silent prayer, then intercessions.’

Taize is not just for the young, as 75 year-old Andy Thomson testifies.

He was hooked on Taize prayer after hearing the beauty of the chants on tape, and after attending an ecumenical Taize prayer evening with Br Ghislain in Toowoomba.

For the past 14 months, Andy and his wife Patricia have been hosting a Taize prayer group in their home at Margate on the Redcliffe Peninsula.

Among the 12 people who regularly attend, most are aged over 60, but the Thomsons are keen to introduce young people to Taize, so they have started a lunchtime group at Southern Cross College.

Andy said Taize prayer offered a quiet, contemplative way of bringing people closer to God.

Gathered in a candlelit room, they follow the format of having Scripture readings interspersed with chants, a period of silence, then prayers of petition.

The evening of Taize prayer with Br Ghislain is being sponsored by the Christian Meditation Community, the Office for Spiritual Renewal and the Vocation Office of Brisbane archdiocese.

He will also conduct a similar evening at New Farm Uniting Church on September 24 from 7pm-8.30pm.

For more details about the Taize evening at the cathedral, phone Mike Humphrys on (07) 3224 3340 or Luke Plant on (0405) 820 023.

ShareTweet
Previous Post

AMERICAN SPLENDOR

Next Post

Racial harmony in schoolyard

Staff writers

Related Posts

Plans for indigenous elements, memorials to trauma, to complement Catholic liturgy
News

Plans for indigenous elements, memorials to trauma, to complement Catholic liturgy

5 July 2022
Spirit of Mission: A group of young people including university students, seminarians and ministry workers present at the Xavier School of Mission held June 20 to 24. The mission school hosted guest speakers and workshops to encourage people to go out and proclaim the Word. Photo: Joe Higgins
QLD

Called to share the message of Jesus at mission school

4 July 2022
Cathedral green packed with families for festival day
QLD

Cathedral green packed with families for festival day

4 July 2022
Next Post

Racial harmony in schoolyard

Shared blame

Losing the way

Popular News

  • Plans for indigenous elements, memorials to trauma, to complement Catholic liturgy

    Plans for indigenous elements, memorials to trauma, to complement Catholic liturgy

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Mass with signs of indigenous respect launch historic Plenary Council assembly

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Called to share the message of Jesus at mission school

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Cathedral green packed with families for festival day

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Fr Mike Schmitz’s next podcast Catechism in a Year starts New Year’s Day

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Search our job finder
No Result
View All Result

Latest News

Plans for indigenous elements, memorials to trauma, to complement Catholic liturgy
News

Plans for indigenous elements, memorials to trauma, to complement Catholic liturgy

by Mark Bowling
5 July 2022
0

Part of the Australian Catholic Church’s reconciliation and healing will be to introduce indigenous culture into the...

Spirit of Mission: A group of young people including university students, seminarians and ministry workers present at the Xavier School of Mission held June 20 to 24. The mission school hosted guest speakers and workshops to encourage people to go out and proclaim the Word. Photo: Joe Higgins

Called to share the message of Jesus at mission school

4 July 2022
Cathedral green packed with families for festival day

Cathedral green packed with families for festival day

4 July 2022
Fr Mike Schmitz’s next podcast Catechism in a Year starts New Year’s Day

Fr Mike Schmitz’s next podcast Catechism in a Year starts New Year’s Day

4 July 2022
Mass with signs of indigenous respect launch historic Plenary Council assembly

Mass with signs of indigenous respect launch historic Plenary Council assembly

3 July 2022 - Updated on 4 July 2022

Never miss a story. Sign up to the Weekly Round-Up
eNewsletter now to receive headlines directly in your email.

Sign up to eNews
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Jobs
  • Subscribe

The Catholic Leader is an Australian award-winning Catholic newspaper that has been published by the Archdiocese of Brisbane since 1929. Our journalism seeks to provide a full, accurate and balanced Catholic perspective of local, national and international news while upholding the dignity of the human person.

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader
Accessibility Information | Privacy Policy | Archdiocese of Brisbane

The Catholic Leader acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First Peoples of this country and especially acknowledge the traditional owners on whose lands we live and work throughout the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader

0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyChoose another Subscription
    Continue Shopping