The Sisters at Our Lady’s Home of Compassion in Wellington are inviting
pilgrims from around the country to a weekend retreat of Taizé prayer and worship.
Brother Matthew from the Taizé community in France will lead the retreat, Taizé in Aotearoa from November 15 to 17.
The retreat’s theme is Remembering Hospitality (manaakitanga), based on Hebrews 13:2: “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing so some people have entertained angels without knowing it.”
Congregational leader Sr Margaret Anne Mills dolc says, “we extend our invite to young and old to celebrate with us 30 years of Taizé prayer at the Home of Compassion.”
Following a group wide biblical reflection on Saturday morning, workshops will explore how we all belong to God, who is the source of all hospitality
and friendship.
In forming a prayerful community, we learn to welcome ourselves wholeheartedly and have the means to respond generously to others.
Based at the village of Taizé, near the Swiss border, the Taizé community is an ecumenical monastic order that is devoted to peace and justice.
It was founded in 1940 by Roger Louis Schutz-Marsauche, known as “Brother Roger”, and tens of thousands of mostly young pilgrims continue to flock to the village.
Candle-lit prayer services with simple songs based on lines of Scripture in various languages are features of gatherings at Taizé and worldwide.
The Taizé aspects of joy, simplicity and reconciliation reflect the kaupapa
of the Home of Compassion and the life of the sisters’ founder, Suzanne Aubert, who loved “people of all creeds and none”.
As well as celebrating 30 years of Taizé prayer at the Home of Compassion at Island Bay, the community hopes the November retreat will introduce a
new generation to the beauty of Taizé prayer.
Taizé in Aotearoa is open to people of all creeds or none. To register, please email: [email protected]
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