Taize 2

My first full day at Taize was a Sunday and it was pretty neat to see all the buses full of people arriving.  Unfortunately, it was still raining and I wouldn't get my new room assignment for a few hours yet.  We first had Mass (in French!) and then I spent some time in the church and later chatting with the friends I had made so far.  After getting a room, I followed the normal schedule to start my week.

The church's design is unlike anything I have seen before. There are all these rooms with essentially garage doors so that the church can expand as necessary. There are no chairs and the floor is built on an incline, like stadium seating, so that people in the back can still see.  You see some people with prayer stools to alleviate the sitting on concrete thing.  I started bringing my travel pillow for the times I couldn't snag a prayer stool. I only took a picture of the altar because in all honesty, I really did not care for the church.  The colors were a little garish and overall it was too modern and ugly for my taste.

At least the candles are pretty.

I then explored the rest of the "compound."  Taize has a church, the dining pavilions, workshop/meeting rooms, a building for the brothers, a building for the sisters, dorms, and the welcome casa.

Lining up for meals at the dining pavilion.  Even though we were in France, this place ran with German efficiency.

Workshop room. Brother Paulo in the white shirt.

Oyak at night. Sorry for the crappy picture.

Oyak prices - yeah, you are reading that correctly.

As my Czech friend kept joking, "These are not Christian prices!"

Here was the daily schedule:
Monday - Saturday
8.15 am Morning prayer, then breakfast
10 am Introduction to the day with a brother of the community followed by quiet reflection or small group discussion
12.20 pm Midday prayer, then lunch
5.15 pm Tea
5.45 pm Theme workshops given by different brothers
7 pm Supper
8.30 pm Evening prayer, then vigil with songs in the church, followed by night silence
Friday - evening prayer is followed by prayer around the Cross.
Saturday - evening prayer with candles to celebrate the paschal mystery

Sunday
8.45 am Breakfast
10 am Morning Eucharist
1 pm Lunch
7 pm Supper
8.30 pm Evening prayer

 You can read more here.

Taize 1

The journey was long and included a panic attack, going far too long without food, a very comforting sandwich fromage, and two 3€ Diet Cokes. The panic attack was caused by almost missing my train to Macon from Lyon because none of the machines were working.  I got on the train sans ticket per the barely English-speaking helper and proceeded to spend the next 30 minutes freaking out about how I would explain in a language I don't speak. Luckily, they never asked.

After a flight, tram ride, and train ride, I still had a short bus ride to get to Taizé. This was the highlight of the journey for its amazingly picturesque views.

Upon arrival, I was "welcomed" before dropping off my stuff in the room I would staying in for Saturday night only. We then proceeded to the special Saturday evening prayer.  [Thursday through Sunday of every week are meant to represent the Triduum.] It included a candle light ritual that was extremely touching. I forgot to mention that it started pouring and hailing as soon as I left my room for church. HAIL! I'm 97% sure my trip is cursed.

After the service, I went back to the book I shared with 2 Slovenians, 1 Hungarian, 2 Germans, and a Russian. The Slovenians were only 16 & 17 years old and thought my life was the coolest. HA!


Stay tuned for the next installment!

Gypsy Daughter

My mom calls me her gypsy daughter, never in one place for too long and always planning the next adventure. Granted after My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding came out the nickname became slightly less capricious and whimsical and more...well gaudier. Nonetheless, I still have a wandering soul.

I am embarking on the beginning of my gypsy adventure in just a few short days and thought I would start sharing a little about each of the stops along the way so that you have an idea of why I’m going to such a strange mix of locations.

This week I will be headed to St. Pete (only 3 hours away) to take a group of 20 students to the Salvador Dalí Museum and to lunch.  The museum holds the largest collection of the artist’s work outside of Europe and I have been dying to go!

Friday I’ll be flying to the Bahamas to set up and help chaperone a local Youth on Mission trip. We will be working with an organization called Every Child Counts. I started doing various mission trips as a freshman in high school and just never stopped :) 

The third stop is Notre Dame.  I received a grant to go back to my alma mater for a unit planning conference. I received my M.Ed. there through an amazing program called ACE. Check it out if you're curious. You'll probably hear me refer to at at least a dozen more times. This month.

Then I get to come back to Florida for a whole week before driving 8 different high schoolers to a youth conference. Ever heard of Steubenville? 

Three days later and it's off to Spain!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And France!!!!!!!!!!

Since this post is getting quite wordy, I'll save those two for another day. 

a

Fun Fact - In the past 4 years, I have lived in 4 states, moved 6 times, and STILL have a Missouri license. Oops.