A pilgrimage of trust on earth - Clongowes Wood College

Posted: 1st May 2014

The annual Easter pilgrimage to Taizé in France took place over Holy Week, and once again it proved to be a time and place wherein the students from Poetry took the opportunity to deepen their faith and live a life of simplicity, prayer and community along with about 5,000 other young people from all over Europe.

This year is the 25th anniversary of the Clongowes pilgrimage, which was led by Mr. Tom Carroll and Mr. Stephen O’Hara along with eight students from Poetry and GAP student Tom Mencinsky. It was a week of simple living, prayer and sharing. The prayer services in Taize are beautifully simple, meaningful, and captivating as the entire church sings and prays three times each day. The spirit of Taizé is a place of trust – a pilgrimage of trust on earth, enabling young people to live and express their faith in common. Not an easy task, but one that everyone who travelled tried to live as best they can.

pilgrimage

Our time there is always marked by our meeting with Br Jean Marie of the Taizé community who welcomes us warmly and with humility to the small village in Burgundy. Br Jean Marie meets with, and listens to the group and explains something of his own life at Taizé.

Quite often on the pilgrimage the boys commented on the peace and serenity of the place, the simple living and the openness of other pilgrims. We hope and pray that this spirit of openness continues to enrich our lives at Clongowes.

Our thanks go to the Brothers of Taizé who continue to live the spirit of Br Roger and live out the gospel in prayer, music and simple living. It’s a wonderful week – full of fun, chat and relaxation and long may it stay so.

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