The Archbishop of Dublin, Diamruid Martin, will today join a group of young pilgrims taking part in a Diocesan pilgrimage to Taizé in France.

Two thousand people from around the world travel to the ecumenical monastery in Burgundy every week during the summer to experience the prayer and fellowship of the community.

The pilgrimage is the first from the Diocese in over 15 years and has 50 representatives from several different Dublin parishes taking part as well as a number of Dublin priests.

The Taizé Community is made up of over a hundred brothers, Catholics and from various Protestant backgrounds, coming from around thirty nations.

Over the years, young adults have been going to Taizé in ever greater numbers; they come from every continent to take part in weekly meetings.

Several Church leaders have visited Taizé, including Pope John Paul II, the community has also welcomed four Archbishops of Canterbury, Orthodox metropolitans, the fourteen Lutheran bishops of Sweden, and countless pastors from all over the world.

Brother Roger died on 16 August 2005, at the age of 90, killed during the evening prayer. Since then, Brother Alois, whom Brother Roger chose as his successor, has been the prior of the Community. Brother Alois visited Dublin’s Pro Cathedral just over two years ago and led hundreds in evening prayer in the city centre cathedral.  ENDS

Brother Alois  and Archbishop Martin in Taize