In a powerful display of faith, community, and global Christian unity, six students from Bethlehem University joined over 3,000 youth from around the world in Taizé, France to celebrate Holy Week. The pilgrimage was not only a spiritual milestone for the students but also a profound expression of Bethlehem University’s mission: to form students in academic excellence, faith, and service, while nurturing their growth as future leaders of their communities.
Taizé, a globally renowned ecumenical community in the French countryside, is known for its rhythm of daily prayer, biblical reflection, and intercultural encounter. For the first time, Bethlehem University students were able to bring the rich traditions and living faith of the Holy Land to this global gathering—thanks to the generosity of the Taizé brothers and multiple benefactors who made this journey possible.
The visit was born from years of partnership between the Taizé community and the Holy Land. Brother Emile, a longtime friend of the region and Bethlehem University, proposed the trip to deepen the experience of the student-led Taizé prayer services on campus. Despite logistical hurdles—including visa delays and a 40-hour journey involving planes, trains, and buses—the students arrived to an overwhelming welcome by the Taizé community and youth from around the world.
During Holy Week, the students were active participants and leaders. They taught beloved Taizé hymns in Arabic, joined Ukrainian youth in carrying the Good Friday cross and Easter icons, and led a moving workshop titled “Being People of Hope Today in Bethlehem,” attended by over 250 participants. In their own words, the experience was “life-changing,” “peaceful,” and “the most important spiritual experience I’ve ever had.”
The impact of this pilgrimage is already taking root. The students are preparing to lead another Taizé prayer service on campus this May and are exploring the possibility of returning to Taizé as full-time summer volunteers. Their experiences have enriched the spiritual life of the University, and they now carry a stronger, broader vision of what it means to be part of the universal Church—“bigger than we thought,” as one student put it.
Bethlehem University is deeply grateful to the generous donors who made this journey possible:
– The Taizé Brothers and Operation Hope association
– A dedicated group of young adult friends of Taizé in France who initiated a fundraising campaign
– The LaSallian Brothers’ Formation for Youth Fund
– The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem – Eastern Lieutenancy, whose exceptional generosity covered half the travel expenses
These acts of kindness were not simply funding a trip; they were investing in the formation of young Christian leaders whose influence will resonate not only within the university but also across Bethlehem and beyond.
This pilgrimage represents the core of Bethlehem University’s mission: to educate students for leadership, peacebuilding, and dialogue. In a time when hope is urgently needed, these students are becoming ambassadors of faith, unity, and resilience—living witnesses to the possibility of peace born through shared prayer and encounter.
To learn more about upcoming Taizé prayers at Bethlehem University or to support future initiatives, please contact Fr. Garrett Gundlach at ggundlach@bethlehem.edu.
Photos by: Tamino Petelinsek