Taizé: A Pilgrimage of Trust
Taizé: A Pilgrimage of Trust, explores the unique historical, spiritual, musical and cultural significance of the Taizé ecumenical monastic community in Burgundy, France. Founded in 1940 by Brother Roger Schutz, Taizé emerged during a time of great social upheaval in Europe—amidst the devastation of World War II. A small group of men dreamed of a place where they could work, pray and live as a community of reconciliation. In this context, the community was born out of the desire for reconciliation and unity, especially between Christians at a time when divisions among people, nations, and faith traditions were magnified by the conflict. Taizé became a symbol of hope and peace in a war-torn world, a hope that continues today. A primary theme the documentary addresses is the growing international pilgrimage movement that has made Taizé a global hub for young people seeking spiritual renewal. Every year, tens of thousands of pilgrims, many in their teens and twenties journey to the small village to partake in the unique experience of Taizé’s daily rhythms of work, prayer, song, group discussions and communal living. The influx of youth from various religious and cultural backgrounds is a defining feature of Taizé’s outreach, especially when most churches today are starving for youth. The film probes why Taizé resonates so strongly with young people in today’s world and with what personal or spiritual challenges they are grappling.
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Kathy Ann KuczkaDirectorArchdiocese of Los Angeles/CNN
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Kathy Ann KuczkaWriter"As Mama Used to Say" /Archdiocese of Los Angeles/CNN/Many magazines
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Kathy Ann KuczkaProducerArchdiocese of Los Angeles/CNN
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TBD TBDKey Cast
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Project Type:Documentary
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Runtime:1 hour 15 minutes
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Completion Date:February 1, 2025
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Production Budget:180,000 USD
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Country of Origin:United States
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Country of Filming:France
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:Digital
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:Yes
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Student Project:No
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TBD
Distribution Information
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TBD
Kathy has woven a career of communicating the deepest recesses of the human heart. She is currently working with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles Office for Divine Worship to produce a series of videos in English and Spanish on the pars of the Mass, as well as a series of videos in English and Spanish for lectors.
An award-winning journalist, Kathy spent years covering news for CNN. She was a writer/producer for CNN TravelGuide, a weekly travel show at the network.
Her background in journalism and religion prompted her to write and produce several stories for the mainstream media. While she was at CNN, she did several religion stories including a piece on the growth of Islam with Charles Bierbauer and a series on Religion and the Olympics, voiced by Judy Woodruff. She worked on the network’s coverage of the papal visit in 1995 and has pitched and produced several stories for CharlesOsgood’sThe Osgood File on CBS Radio. Kathy has also written several articles which have been printed in church-related publications, including Catechumenate, Church, Pastoral Music, St. Anthony Messenger, Today’s Parish and Ministry and Liturgy. In 2010, she had a small book published by 23rd Publications entitled A Prayerbook for Catechumens and Candidates. In April of 2015, her book, As Mama Used to Say: Life Lessons Learned from a Mother's Mottoes" was published by St. Pauls/Alba House.
An actress and singer, Kathy is passionate about the arts. She has performed in various venues across Atlanta. She most recently appeared in Aurora Theatre’s production of Sister Act in the summer of 2024. She is currently working on a documentary on Taizé’, an ecumenical community in the heart of Burgundy, France.
On my voice teacher’s piano sits a large red button that in capital letters spells EASY. It is a reminder to her students that singing is not complicated and that unless we return to the basics—being present, being aware of our bodies, being attentive to what is easeful and natural--we will never experience the joy and freedom of singing. This is the lens with which I view Taizé. From the beginning, Taizé has charted a path to living the Gospel in true freedom through simple ways of being and acting.
I love Taizé. I have witnessed for myself that the community understands what it means to live humbly in a power-hungry culture. They have experienced what it’s like to forgive readily and radically, and they have discovered how to be an instrument of reconciliation in a world where anger and revenge seem to win the day. Thousands of youth show up at Taizé each year because the community recognizes that true hospitality awakens kindness. They demonstrate kindness without ulterior motives, showing others how to accept people where they are, not where society thinks they should be.
If I can help even one person understand the vision of Brother Roger when he founded Taizé, or come to a new insight through the voice of the youth who visit Taizé, this film will have been worth making.
The film is titled Taizé: A Pilgrimage of Trust, with good reason. I believe that peace and reconciliation, as expressed by Taizé, is born of trust. We will never have peace unless we trust in goodness---the goodness of God, the goodness of the other and the goodness within ourselves.