Taize: A Prayerful Eve was held at Udyavar

The whole world is under the clutches of ‘Covid-19’ and when all of us are facing the economic and political atrocities and in these trying times ‘a time aside with the crucified Lord’ was really enriching and helped us to boost our morale and spirits.

The ICYM Golden Jubilee Committee does not only organize social and public programmes but it also helps us in our spiritual growth and one such example was the “Taize Prayer Eve’. Primarily it was organized for the youth of udyavar parish but at this Lenten times it saw vast range of participants from children to the elderly all with prayerful mood.

The Cross in the background of a decorated lighted candles and the dark and calm atmosphere really made everyone to feel the ‘Tabore Experience’ or the ‘Sinai Mountain Experience’ which Jesus and Moses had in their life. The Spiritual eve was really alleviating the spirits. 

Initially at 6.30 p.m. there was a short and meaningful inaugural cum welcome programme. Speaking on the occasion Mr Norbert Misquith said he had been to many Taize events as a leader but nowhere he found this kind of welcome and inauguration. he was introduced to this prayer in the year 1994. He had attended the Prayer at its Origin, Taize a small town in France as a part of trainees team from India consisting of 15 members. He shared his experience there for two months. 

Fr Stany Lobo, the Parish Priest speaking gave an input about the Taize Prayer and the person responsible for this prayer. He invited everyone to have a fruitful and prayerful experience of Jesus at this Lenten times. Later he thanked Mr Norbert Misquith, the resource person giving him the memento, He also thanked Mr Dolphy Machado for assisting us to have this programme by his kind assistance. 

The order of the Taize Prayer was as follows: The Prayer was entirely covered with chanting of various bhajans and hymns taken from English, Kannada, Konkani and Hindi languages. Initially after some time of singing there was reading of the Word of God and a pause for silent reflection followed by invocation of the prayers of the faithful. Then after some time the cross was laid down and all were given chance to pray silently adoring the cross kneeling on the floor. Overall it gave a heavenly experience as the chants and silence was aiding to experience God and to relieve our stress and pain thus surrendering everything to God.

Mr Micheal D’Souza, the president of Golden Jubilee Committee, Mr Melwyn Noronha, vice president of PPC, Mr Steven Colaco, convener of 50 Programmes for Golden Year of ICYM, Mr Royce Fernandes and Mrs Julia D’Souza, the animators of ICYM unit, Mr Royal Castelino and Ms Jane D’Souza, the president and secretary of ICYM, Udyavar unit were present at the inauguaral session. The entire prayerful session was witnessed by many people from pther neighbouring parishes, sisters from different places as well as faithful of our Parish, St Francis Xavier Churh, Udyavar.