Mangalore Diocese News

By Fr Ivan Dsouza

Mangaluru, April 4 : An hour of Taize Prayer service was conducted by the Choir, Spiritual Commission and ICYM Bajjodi Unit at Infant Mary Church, Bajjodi on April 2, 2023.

Taizé is a monastic community located in Taizé, France, founded in the 1940s by a Swiss named Roger Louis Schütz-Marsauche, familiarly called Brother Roger. A Taizé worship service involves sung and chanted prayers, meditation, a period of silence, liturgical readings, and bhajans. There is no preaching. The style of prayer practiced at Taizé has attracted many worshipers from around the globe and from many different denominations. The prayers consist of “short chants, repeated again and again,” according to an introduction in a Taizé songbook. “The words are sung over many times.”

The Altar of Infant Mary Church was arranged beautifully with lit diyas and the Holy Crucifix was placed in the centre. Taizé Prayer Service began at 7pm with Konkani and Hindi Bhajans.  The Alleluia was sung in Konkani followed by a reading of the Holy Scripture.  This was followed by hymns. The Holy Cross was then laid down by Fr. Ivan Dsouza for personal adoration. Fr. Ivan Dsouza   honoured the Holy Cross by kneeling and kissing it. The youth offered their intentions before the Cross and honoured it. As the choir sang hymns, the faithful took turns to honour and kiss the Holy Cross. The Prayer Service was conducted by Fr. Ivan Dsouza.  The Service concluded at 8.15 pm.

More than 200 parishioners that consisted of children, youth and elderly participated and experienced the spiritual closeness with Jesus through this Taize Prayer Service that was organized by the combined effort of the active Parish Youth Unit, the Choir Team and Spiritual Commission under the guidance of Fr. Ivan D'souza.