Edmund in NOLA: Taize Prayer at Constance Street

Forty or so people came to Taize prayer at our home last Wednesday, October 19th. Taize is the name of a town in France and an ecumenical community that has developed a prayer form using quiet reflective music that is repeated like a mantra and is accompanied by periods of silence, Scripture reading and prayer. It is a contrast to the noisy and busy world we live in and an opportunity to gather with others for silence and contemplation. The setting is candle lit and focuses on an icon of Our Lord like the one that accompanies this message.

Sr. Jackie Schmitz, CSJ prepares the music and Sr. Monica Gundler, SC prepares the readings and prayers. Our community prepares a large, unused meeting room on the first floor of our building with an altar, candles and chairs. The community here also invites those who particpate in the prayer for refreshments afterward upstairs in the residence. Our location provides room for prayer and fellowship afterwards. The by-products are several. We have the opportunity to share our wonderful facility here. We are not invisible--our guests can't say they never met a Brother. Then there is also the benefit that comes from inviting people to bring something for the refreshments. We supply iced tea, [the house wine of the South], some cookies, plates and napkins, ice and glasses. We are left with really good homemade cookies and lots of chocolate cake which we conscientiously eat so nothing will be wasted.

Our guests included Fr. Doug Brougher, who is a great friend and supporter of our mission here, religious women from a number of communities including, [but not limited to], Notre Dames, Dominicans, Charities, St. Joseph and others. We also had long-term volunteers who are with the Dominicans here in New Orleans this year, and a dozen or so young persons from Creighton University who were with the Charities and were down for a week of service.

Jennifer McKeown who coordinates Americorps efforts in New Orleans and has office space at OHH was here, and Molly Sherry and Allison Maraldo came and had dinner with us beforehand, which was a real treat. We will continue with Taize each month and have them scheduled through January.