On March 20, a brother from the Taizé community will be visiting Toronto to host an evening of prayer conducted in the style of Taizé.  

As a non-traditional form of spirituality, Taizé ecumenical worship is particularly popular with youth. Moore expects young people in her congregation to be quite receptive, but insists the event is open for all who wish to attend.

Moore, who has been attending Taizé sessions across Canada for nearly a decade, was initially drawn in by the beauty and simplicity of the music.

“Music is its foundation,” she said. “At the heart you have silence and Gospel readings, but you are surrounded by such beautiful music, it really helps you engage in meditative prayer.”

Brother Emile, who hails from Timmins, Ont., will be travelling through Montreal (March 7), Ottawa (March 13-15) and London, Ont., (March 19) before stopping in Toronto to lead the worship.

Brother Emile, who became the first Canadian Taizé Brother in 1976, said the meditative songs were created to help the community pray with people from around the world.

“Since there is no common language, not many words are used,” he said, adding that tolerance is an important feature of the Taizé teachings.   

The community was founded in 1940 by the late Brother Roger in the town of Taizé in central France. During the Second World War it harboured refugees, Jews and orphans who had been displaced by the fighting. Today, the monastic community is the site of an annual pilgrimage that brings thousands of young adults together from all across the world.

The Ryerson Catholic Chaplaincy Centre used to run a weekly Taizé worship on Thursday evenings, but was forced to discontinue the services due to poor attendance.

Kim Gottfried, a staff worker at the centre, said the centre is still trying to incorporate Taizé prayer through a bi-weekly lunchtime reflection service. She said it has a very positive impact on students and gives them a chance to briefly retreat from their hectic lives.  

“Ryerson is right downtown. There’s a lot happening and students are always on the go,” she said. “I think the moments of silence, song and prayer work very well.”

Brother Emile agrees that Taizé is popular with students and hopes it can help them learn to trust themselves and others.

“Prayer leads us to renew our trust in God,” he said. “Brother Roger used to say that when we live with hearts that trust, life becomes beautiful for those around us.”

The Taizé prayer service will be held at Holy Rosary Church at 354 St. Clair Ave. W.

It begins at 8 p.m., with rehearsals starting at 7 p.m. E-mail Moore at Lindsaymoore@holyrosary.ca.