The Caecilia church in Berkel-Enschot must be closed. But a group The parishioners don’t leave it at that. Because their church in Kerkstraat has a future, they think. The masses are still well visited and even young people come to their church: “It has to do with the times. With all that artificial intelligence. People are looking for a connection again. And young people too.” The summer series De Kerkstraat is today from Berkel-Enschot.
The church board announced in 2022 that the Caecilia Church must close. Only when, that is not yet known. A group of enthusiastic parishioners has united and started an action group. Earlier they raised 300 declarations of support to change the parish board.
“With boys of fifteen I was praying the orphan.”
Because according to them, their parish is very successful. Koert Rasenberg: “We have a lot of volunteers and activities. On Sunday, the church with eighty to a hundred visitors for the Eucharistic celebration is pretty full.”
Rob Elingens, born in Kerkstraat, sees that young people are being attracted to the church: “I sat here last week praying with two boys of fifteen. They couldn’t pray the orphan Maria. So I prayed it and they bathe it. And they were very happy. So they come back.”
Rasenberg: “It is of course an empty life, only behind your tablet. They often have a burnout and all kinds of disorders at a young age. So they seek support somewhere. And they are not biased by all the negativity about the Catholic Church.”
Churches in Brabant
Many churches have been closed in Brabant in recent decades. Or, to say exactly: withdrawn from worship. Figures from 2023 show that there were 71 in the diocese of Breda between 2000 and 2021, in the diocese of Den Bosch there were 133 between 2001 and 2023.
Anton van Dorp grew up in the parish from the age of ninth and immersed himself in history, he even wrote a book about it: “As early as 1164 there was a church in Enschot. But because Catholics of the Protestant government were not allowed to confess their faith, it closed. There was a church that is now disguised in the church square. that built. ”
“Here you can consider something other than the offers of the Action.”
But more than the building, the building is about the soul of the Caeciliakerk: “It is a point of encounter, of peace and reflection. To reflect on something other than the offers at the Action.” That certainly applies to Elingen: “In my childhood I went to church every day. Every day I was here. And then I was always happy. I was left on the left on a folding chair and then I was considering. I had a father in heaven and it was very important to me.” So Elings did not have lost his father at a young age: “Real Catholics will immediately recognize this. We all have a father in heaven.”
There is hope for the parishioners in Berkel-Enschot. Because in Oisterwijk it recently managed to keep the Joanneskerk open. The bishop wanted to close the church, but was called back by Rome. But they actually hope in Berkel-Enschot that it doesn’t have to get that far. Elingen: “The parish board has sent a letter to the bishop, with the request to withdraw the church from worship, as it is called. But the bishop has not signed anything yet, so we still have hope.”
Jurist Noor Heemskerk recently had consultations with the diocese on behalf of the group: “There is already a postponement of closure. A period of several years is being considered, to breathe new life into the parish board together with the parish board.” Rasenberg: “We want to motivate people again to come to church. Young and old.” Elings: “A young girl of 14 comes here and says:” My mother didn’t let me be baptized, but I want to be baptized. “He comes to church, with her friends. But then of course there must be a modified mass.” Heemskerk: “My daughter is in a student choir in Utrecht and came here to sing. The pastor was in the front row.”
The diocese is unable to respond to the story due to vacation.
More information about Caeciliakerk preservation Do you find here.
Kerkstraat
There is a Kerkstraat in every municipality in Brabant. Brabanders live in that street with beautiful stories.
Together with the regional broadcasters DTV Nieuws, Zuidwest TV, Studio040 and Omroep Tilburg we tell a story of a special Brabander from Kerkstraat for nine days.
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