The meetings at Taizé are centered around the community of brothers. All participants gather morning, noon, and evening for community prayer. All members of the group must be well prepared and ready to participate in all the activities offered, in order to fully enter into the rhythm of the meeting: community prayers, biblical reflections, discussion groups with other young people, simple life together, respect for silence during prayer and at night, in Taizé and the surrounding area.

It is important that everyone who comes to Taizé has decided this freely and that the stay is not simply an obligatory part of a longer trip.

• 18-35 years old: The meetings are meant especially for them, throughout the year, every week and weekend.

• 25-35 years old: During some weeks there is a special bible reflection for them (Easter weeks and July/August)

General information

As soon as you can, preregister your group by using the online registration. You can do this even if you do not yet know the exact number of the participants.

The leaders of groups whose members need a visa to enter France should contact the welcome team.

A bible reflection is led each morning by a brother of the community or by a sister of Saint Andrew; each person should bring a bible.

Adult group leaders

For each group (even if there are no 15-17 year olds), a few leaders are needed who will stay in the same area as the young people so that they can supervise them properly (including at night). For groups comprising boys and girls, male and female leaders are required.

If adults over the age of 35 who are not contact persons for the 15-17 year olds are going to stay near the young people in order to supervise them, please register them under the heading “adults” and include the following comment: “will stay with the young people.”

Choice of dates

The meetings last an entire week, from Sunday afternoon to the following Sunday after th Eucharist. If you are unable to stay the whole week, you can also come from Thursday afternoon or Friday until Sunday.

We do not recommend coming for stays that are too short—less than three full days—and encourage you to stay for a full week, from Sunday to Sunday, in order to truly enter into the rhythm of the international meetings.

Please consult us before finalizing plans for a week-long or weekend trip, especially if it is a school trip or a church group. If there is a change in the number of people or the dates of your stay, or if you need to cancel the group's visit, please notify us immediately by updating your online registration form.

During your stay

We count on the group leaders to prepare well the young people for their time at Taizé and also to accompany them during their stay. We ask you particularly to respect the following aspects:

• Please do not plan a “side trip” (even for a few hours) outside of Taizé.

• You may find it to be a good idea to set aside some time to meet with your group. Choose a time of day that will not interfere with participation in the program. It is important that everyone take part in the entire program!

• On sunny days, please ask everyone to bring appropriate clothing, in keeping with the spirit of the meetings, which is that of a pilgrimage: shorts of a good length (i.e., covering the thighs) and not mini-shorts or boxer shorts. And for community prayers in church, bring something to cover your shoulders, such as a T-shirt or shawl to wear over a sleeveless top.

• In spring, autumn and winter, bring warm clothing! It can even be chilly and damp in the summer. Please remember this when you prepare.

• For safety reasons, please do not bring camping gas or candles. If anyone does bring them, they must be left at La Morada and can only be given back when you leave. Please explain this to everyone and ensure that these instructions are followed during the stay.

• It is important to note that the only place in Taizé where alcoholic beverages can be purchased and consumed is at Oyak. If young people bring alcohol, they must leave it at La Morada upon arrival and collect it at the end of their stay. Please explain this clearly before arriving and ensure that it is respected. Please note that all drug use is prohibited in France.

• Please also read the pages “Health Matters” and “Safeguarding”.

Coming with minors

Young people under 18 can also come to Taizé.

• 15 to 17 year olds can take part, if they are authorized and accompanied (see below).
• If they are under 15, they can only take part in the family program with their parents.

Autorisation parentale

Minors must bring with them a written authorization from their parents allowing them to take part in the youth meetings. This authorization must name a legal guardian and give him or her the ability to make medical decisions if necessary. This guardian must be able to be reached by a mobile phone You will find [here] the form that you can use. Please also check if the authorities of your country ask for an authorization to leave the country with minors.

Adult leaders and contact persons

For groups with young people 15 to 17 years old, there must be one contact person for every 7 youths (if possible people 20 to 29 years old or older) to help organize the activities. These contact persons take charge of a sharing group made up of about ten young people who have come with different groups. They should be registered with the 15-17 year olds in the program for that age. They can give the same financial contribution as the young people.

The group leader must ensure the presence of all these contact persons during the explanatory meeting Sunday evening at 7:45pm. You will be told where it will take place when you arrive. During this meeting important information will be given concerning safeguarding during the small-group animation.

The group leaders must be particularly vigilant about the security of young minors for whom they are responsible. They should make sure that the young people do not leave Taizé and that they take part fully in the program that is proposed.

Accommodation

In accordance with French regulations, we accommodate minors separately from adults. To ensure that young people behave appropriately and get a good night's sleep, adults stay nearby, either in the dormitories for young adults or in the dormitories for accompanying adults.

Each group requires a few supervisors who stay in the same area as the young people so that they can supervise them properly (including at night). For groups comprising both boys and girls, male and female supervisors are required. Often, the contact persons will also supervise the accommodation of the group.

(If a contact person really needs separate accommodations, please register him or her in the list of “adults” and note in the comments that he or she is a contact person.)

Contribution to the costs

The hospitality at Taizé is financed by contributions from participants in the meetings, and everyone is invited to contribute according to their means. The suggested contribution covers meals, accommodation, and other expenses. It is not the same for everyone, but takes into account each person's means and country of origin. A minimum and maximum amount are suggested, and everyone is free to choose what they wish to give. You can read the page […...] to find out more about how costs are calculated and the different ways of paying.

Police record

A group leader who comes to Taizé with minors must ensure that all those who accompany the minors in the group can do this work properly. Check the requirements in your country for those who are responsible for minors, follow them and bring the necessary documents with you to Taizé to show them at the welcome.

Safeguarding

How should we react if a male or female minor tells me they have been victims of an assault (at Taizé, at school, or elsewhere)?

It is important to be aware of the procedures explained on the page devoted to this and to apply them. In particular:

• Listen with kindness

• Remain calm

• Do not ask questions that are too intrusive or investigative

• Be clear that you cannot keep this to yourself

• Speak about it only with the proper people

• Know that you will have to inform those who are legally responsible for the young person as well as those in charge of the structure with which you have come to Taizé (parish, school…)

What is the protocol in place at Taizé in case of a criminal offense concerning a young minor?

For any criminal offense, the community has close ties to governmental authorities.

Please also read the pages “Health Matters” and “Safeguarding”.

REGISTER