Almost 300 people participated in the Pilgrimage of Trust held in Belfast on Saturday April 26th. Leaders from the main churches joined Brother Alois, the new Prior of the Taize Community, along with brothers from the community in this powerful witness to the friendship between the churches and their commitment to working for peace and reconciliation in a divided community. Pilgrims from places as diverse as County Tipperary; England and Portugal joined with local members of the various churches in this service.

Prior to the Prayer Service, almost 150 people walked in pilgrimage walked from St Peter's Cathedral, through Belfast city centre, and on to St Anne's Cathedral, in a concrete expression of the partnership between Belfast's two cathedrals. Bishop Anthony Farquhar welcomed the young adults from the city, towns across Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic by recalling his own visit to Taizé as part of an ecumenical pilgrimage at the beginning of the 1990s. A young woman read out these words from "A call for the reconciliation of Christians", the text written by Brother Alois and included in the Letter from Cochabamba:

"In Christ we belong to one another. When Christians are separated, the message of the Gospel becomes inaudible.

How can we respond to the new challenges of our societies, notably that of secularization and of mutual understanding between cultures, unless we bring together the gifts of the Holy Spirit placed in all the Christian families? How can we communicate Christ's peace to all if we remain separated"

Candles were lit from the Paschal candle and two young people lifted up the icon of the cross and Bishop Anthony, in the company of the Church of Ireland Bishop Harold Miller, Brother Alois and two other Taizé brothers from Ireland and England, together with young people from the Catholic, Church of Ireland, Presbyterian and Methodist churches set off down the Falls Road towards the city centre on their way to St Anne's Cathedral.

Dean Shearer of St Anne's Cathedral warmly welcomed the pilgrims as they reached the steps of the cathedral.

The cathedral was decorated in a simple way, but which helped create a meditative atmosphere.

Speaking about the icon of friendship, Brother Alois said: "Friendship with Christ brings us together with people who are so different. At first sight, we might find it difficult to choose them as friends. And yet, through Christ, a friendship more profound than spontaneous affinity can be created.

Therefore, when you gather to pray together, dare to invite young adults who usually don't meet each other and especially those who are seeking faith. In our secularised society, it is you young people who can convey to others the hope of the Gospel. So many people are thirsting for that hope, though they are not always able to express it."

And that hope was expressed through the light of the Resurrection, as candles were lit after a prayer around the icon of the cross. Yes, "Bless the Lord, my soul and bless God's holy name, bless the Lord my soul, who leads me into life". In what way can we continue to be pilgrims in this city?

The Pilgrimage of Trust was organised by Youthcom and the Church of Ireland Youth Department, working in partnership with other church departments and local friends of the Taize Community.

For further information on the Taize Communtiy, see their website - http://www.taize.fr

Click here for photographs of the Pilgrimage Walk.

Click here for photographs of the Taize prayer service

Brother Alois' address

Belfast, St Anne's Cathedral, Saturday 26 April 2008

It really is a great joy for us brothers to pray with you here in St Anne's Cathedral. Despite the distance that separates us, young people from Northern Ireland come regularly all the way to Taizé. That makes us even more grateful for the chance to visit you. Before coming to Belfast, yesterday evening we were in Dublin. I wanted very much to come to these two cities as part of the same pilgrimage.

I would like to thank everyone who has helped prepare this meeting so well and especially Dean Houston McKelvey for his kind hospitality.

This evening, we would like to give thanks especially for all those women and men, from different churches, who have sustained hope throughout the difficult years. It was they who often stopped violence from having the last word.

We are faced today with a great challenge. Modernity is accelerating the rhythm of everyday life and is profoundly changing society and our ways of acting. The new possibilities that it opens for us are marvellous and we certainly don't want to reject them. But a deeper rooting of our being is essential so that technical and economic progress can go hand in hand with a greater humanity. Where do we sink our roots? From which source do we live?

This evening, we are gathered together so that we can journey towards that source. It is to be found in a personal fellowship with Christ Jesus and in a trust in his love.

In a time when many people are tempted by discouragement or scepticism, we would like the dynamic of the Resurrection to propel us forward! The Resurrection of Christ is like a beacon which sheds light on the meaning of our life and kindles hope for the world.

It just so happens that this weekend, we can share the joy of Christians from the Orthodox Church, who follow a different liturgical calender, as they celebrate at this very moment the death and resurrection of Christ. This occasion reminds us of the treasures of faith that the Eastern Christians can share with us. Yes, we can go further in an exchange of gifts among all the baptised. In Christ, we belong to one another.

As the Risen One, Christ walks with every human being. He never imposes himself, but remains humbly at our side. He never ceases in seeking our friendship. It is granted to all of us to experience such a friendship with Christ. Not for nothing in the Gospel does he say to us "I no longer call you servants. I call you friends."

In the church this evening, there is an icon which expresses this. It is called the Icon of Friendship and comes from Egypt. It dates from the sixth century. When we look at this icon, we are already praying and that prayer unites us to God. We can see Christ placing his hand on the shoulder of his friend in order to walk with him.

We experience this friendship with each other as well. The Risen Christ passes through our own locked doors, taking away our fear of others. He brings us together in a single fellowship, the fellowship of the Church. Let us therefore broaden this friendship and go beyond the divisions which still remain! Let us do everything possible to make it clearer that the Church is a place of friendship for all, especially for the vulnerable, the lonely or foreigners!

Friendship with Christ brings us together with people who are so different. At first sight, we might find it difficult to choose them as friends. And yet, through Christ, a friendship more profound than spontaneous affinity can be created.

Therefore, when you gather to pray together, dare to invite young adults who usually don't meet each other and especially those who are seeking faith. In our secularised society, it is you young people who can convey to others the hope of the Gospel. So many people are thirsting for that hope, though they are not always able to express it.

Living from the friendship of Christ! This can become the yeast of peace and reconciliation within the whole human family. To illustrate this, I'd like to share something more personal with you. In our Community in Taizé, we're filled with wonder, because we come from so many different cultures and yet are able to persevere in a common life together, in which we seek to share everything.

A few months ago, one of our brothers set off for Africa. He comes from Togo and went to visit the Christians of his homeland and the neighbouring countries. When I said goodbye to him in my room, I was filled with a deep gratitude and admiration for this brother. As someone so rooted in his own country, he has made an enormous step in coming to share in the life of our community in Europe.

Through his presence among us, this African brother shows us that it is Christ who gathers us together.

In this way, our little community is able to pursue this "Pilgrimage of Trust", which began over thirty years ago. Many young adults spread out across the world take part in it everyday by seeking to create ties of friendship which go beyond the existing divisions.

Stage after stage, this pilgrimage unites young adults in Taizé or elsewhere: this week in Ireland, next month in Romania. At the end of November, we will be in Nairobi, in Kenya, and then at the end of this year in Brussels for our European Meeting.

Yes, sometimes we have to go towards new horizons, close at hand or further afield, in order to discover, or rediscover the hope of the Gospel. Our world, ravaged by so much suffering, needs women and men who radiate God's peace through their lives. Let us therefore make those bold decisions which will enable us to advance on the path of love and trusting.