The Second Vatican Council was headed by Pope John XXlll which started in 1962. It was also called the Ecumenical Council meaning that Christian churches were uniting in their common love of God and the teachings of the Bible.There was a group of ecumenical monks in Taizé, France who were invited to all the sessions of the Council. Pope John XXIII called their community a "springtime of the church "since they already had the experience of trying to find a common thread in the Christian religions and uniting them as a family. Their voice then was  valuable during the sessions of the Council.

The Taizé Community had a very iinteresting beginning back in the 1940's. It was started by Brother Roger who was spiritually enlightened and interested in uniting Christian religions in their common worship of Christ. He was brought up as a Protestant but had a gandmother who would secretly attend the Catholic Eucharist.during the dark days of World War 11.This family connection of Catholics and Protestants made Brother Roger want to move toward unity.

Brother Roger had a tough beginning, always thinking about helping others, he found a  deserted place in Taizé, France to start his work. There he took in World War II victims who needed physical and psychological care and with the help of his sister, managed to give his dream a foundation. Gradually, he became interested in reaching out to young people and giving them a reason for hope. Men of all Christian faith traditions from many countries began to join him in his ecumenical efforts. In Taizé, these monks developed a campground for young people to come to , learn to pray and build up their leadership skills to bring back to thier countiies a spirit of faith and understanding of the truths they were taught.

Today, thousands of young people come to Taizé every summer. They return to their countries ready to spead their faith and be of service to others.

During one of the gatherings in Taizé in 2006, with about a thousand young people present during a beautiful Taizé Prayer service, Brother Roger was stabbed and died a martyr's death. He was killed by a disturbed woman iwho was in attendace at the service. Certinally, God was most pleased with Brother Roger and received him with open arms into the special place prepared for him from the beginning of time.

In our local area, Taizé Prayer is scheduled in four places that I know of:

    Ascension Church
    815 S. East Avenue
    Oak Park, IL 60304
Phone:708-524-1540
www.ascensionchurch.com/contact.html
First Friday of the month- 7:30 p.m.

    St. Barnabas Episcopal Church
    22W415 Butterfield Road    
    Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
www.stbarnabas-episcopal,com/
Third Friday of the month- 7:30 p.m.

    First Presbyterian Church
    715 N. Carlton Avenue
    Wheaton, IL 60187
www.firstpreswheaton.org/news/taizeprayerservice.shtml
Second Friday of the month- 7:30 p.m.

    Life on the Vine Christian Community
    5105 RFD Arlington Heights Road
    Long Grove, IL 60047
email:matt@lifeonthevine.org
www.lifeonthevine.org

    Oak Park IL60304
    phone:708-524-1540
    http:// www.ascensionchurch.com/contact.htlm

On the second Friday of the month @ 7:30 p.m.
    First Prsbyterian Church
    715 N. Carlton Avenue
    Wheaton, IL 60187
    Phone: 630-668-5147
    http: // www.firstpreswheaton.org/news/taizeprayerservice.shtml

On the third Friday of the month @ 7:30 p.m.
    St. Barnabas Episcopal Church
    22W415 Butterfield Road
    Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
    hrrp://www.stbarnabas-episcopal.com/

All of these places are welcoming communities for people of all ages and faith traditions..