The beautiful countryside surrounding Taizé does make the community feel protected, if not isolated from the world's problems. Given the recent riots in France, I asked whether Taizé would consider moving to a housing project in a city suburb.
Brother Jean-Marie explained that since the 1950s at least a third of the Brothers have lived in the poorest regions of the world, and Brothers are currently serving in Bangladesh, Senegal, and Brazil. "Brother Roger liked to say you couldn't continue welcoming young people if there weren't a part of the community living among the poorest."
As to Europe, the Brothers have focused on the weekly programs at Taizé itself and organizing annual youth meetings, such as the upcoming "pilgrimage of confidence on earth," set to take place in Milan at the end of December, 2005.
Set on such a path of both reconciliation and truth, Taizé continues to offer a "parable of community" to France and the rest of the world.
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