More and more young people from Brabant join the Catholic Church. In the diocese of Den Bosch it was eighteen young people last year, a striking increase after years in which there were no or no new entrants. Jules Basemans (23) from Den Bosch is one of them. He grew up without faith, but found Catholicism through social media. “It felt like everything fell into place.”
On Sunday morning Jules Basemans takes a seat in one of the pews in the Sint-Jan. He was baptized in December last year and since then the mass has become an important moment in his week. “The church is an important place in faith. And especially the mass, the celebration of Jesus, gives me peace and peace. “
Jules grew up without faith. His parents did have some Mary statues in the house, but he had never read the Bible and did not have to go to church. “I never lacked anything at home, but I always had the feeling that something was missing, although I didn’t know what that was,” he says.
That feeling of an inexplicable void reinforced during his studies. “At that time I always tried to improve myself, but I never managed it.” Until he saw films about Christianity on social media and read Bible texts. “I was not consciously looking for it, but it came my way. They were mostly wisdoms from the Bible. Those lyrics make me think and helped me deal with things in my own life, “explains the 23-year-old Bosschenaar.
“I am not alone, because I have God.”
During his studies, Jules decided to delve further into faith and bought his first Bible. In December last year he was baptized. Baptism is an important moment in Christianity, because someone is included in the Christian community and a new life begins. During a special mass in the Sint-Jan, which was illuminated by countless candles, he was baptized with six other young people. “From that moment on it felt like I really belonged. The emptiness that I felt was immediately filled. As a result, I knew that this is a good choice, “he says with a smile.
His environment also enthusiastically responded to his choice to become a Christian. “I didn’t often choose myself. They are happy that I have done that now. ”
He finds it difficult to put into words what faith has brought him since his baptism. “That is a certain feeling. Every time I have stress or worries in my life, I do a prayer. I feel that I am not alone for it, because I have God, ”says the Christian.
“We are not only believers, we are also friends.”
Jules is not the only one who is attracted to the church. Last year, eighteen young people in the diocese of Den Bosch opted for Catholicism. That is special, because few young people have become members of the Catholic Church in recent decades.
“I notice that more young people come to church because they are looking for stability in their lives. In a world that is very restless on all kinds of fronts, “says Vincent Blom, Plebaan of Sint-Jan. “They often need contact with like -minded people. And in the church they find that. ”
Jules joined young people from De Zoete Mother (JZM), the youth group of Sint-Jan. He thinks it is fantastic that more and more young people are finding their way to the church. “We are not only a group of believers, they have also become friends with whom I can share everything.”