Reconciled Heart
Bringing the fire of Taizé to the woods of Virginia.
Born in the hills of Burgundy & rooted in the rhythm of song & silence, the Taizé tradition is a 'parable of communion.' We welcome seekers of all backgrounds into a kaleidoscopic fellowship—where reconciliation is a lifelong friendship.
The Pilgrimage of Trust
Bringing the fire of Taizé to the woods of Virginia
I. The Beauty of Repetition
In Taizé, we don’t sing many songs; we sing one prayer many times. These simple, repetitive chants allow the words to move from the head to the heart. As the mind settles, the song becomes a bridge to the silence where God speaks.
II. The Power of Silence
Silence is not the absence of sound, but the presence of peace. In the middle of our prayer, we sit in ten minutes of total stillness. In a world of constant noise, this shared silence is a radical act of trust.
III. A Parable of Reconciliation
Founded as a refuge during World War II, Taizé was built on the idea that people from divided nations and different churches could live under one roof. We carry that same ecumenical fire here—a commitment to being a sanctuary for all, where no one is ever rejected.
What to Expect (The Elements of Prayer)
The Chant: Simple melodies in many languages (French, Latin, English, Spanish).
The Scripture: A short reading to ground our thoughts.
The Silence: A long period of shared stillness.
The Light: We pray by candlelight to remind us of the light within every soul.
A Life in Search of the Song
The Community was born from the journey of Br. Stefan—a graduate of the New England Conservatory who moved from conducting orchestras to building a 'sacred container' here in the woods.
The Bridge Between Worlds: A lineage of peace.
The Benedictine Heart: As an Oblate member of Shantivanam in India, he brings the ancient depth of the Benedictine tradition and the call-and-response of Indian Kirtan to our daily rhythm.
The Celtic Soul: After six years in Ireland and a PhD study on the Irish Lament, his music carries the ancient, healing melodies of the North Atlantic into our sanctuary.
The Global Witness: From teaching English chant at Thich Nhat Hanh’s Plum Village to sharing a message of peace in Israel and Palestine, his work has always been about a unity that transcends borders.
Let the music guide your reflection. Experience the sounds of this journey: