HolytideCatholic life in Amsterdam

Word

Homilies and reflections from the churches themselves, in full and in three languages, with each parish’s permission. Every paragraph is the original, word for word.

Archive

51 texts
2025 · 12 texts

  • Report · De Drie Stromen (De Graankorrel) · Sint-Urbanuskerk Duivendrecht · 5 October 2025

    ANNUAL ACCOUNTS 2024: stepping stone to the next challenge

    In June 2025, our treasurer Jan Mentink once again submitted the 2024 Annual Accounts of the Martelaren to the Diocese. Do you remember? Jan Mentink is the treasurer of all the parishes in our Cooperative Partnership,…

    Tim Stok (budgethouder)

  • Reflection · De Drie Stromen (De Graankorrel) · Sint-Urbanuskerk Duivendrecht · 5 October 2025

    Pastoraal woord

    Beste parochianen, Zoals u al weet, hebben wij op 14 september onze Startzondag gevierd. Het was een mooi begin van een nieuw seizoen. In de afgelopen zomerperiode ben ik vooral bezig geweest met de voorbereiding van…

    Pater Yan Asa, SVD · Only in dutch

  • Reflection · De Drie Stromen (De Graankorrel) · Sint-Urbanuskerk Duivendrecht · 5 October 2025

    Central church

    Let me begin by expressly stating that this is a personal reflection on my part. That gives me the freedom for the following considerations. First of all, it has been clear for many years that "something" must happen. I…

    Tim Stok

  • Reflection · De Drie Stromen (De Graankorrel) · Sint-Urbanuskerk Duivendrecht · 5 October 2025

    News from the location board

    This is the first piece I write in Hofnieuws on behalf of the location board (LB). As you have already been able to read in the newsletter, Arthur Anderegg has stepped down as chairman and member of the Location Board.…

    Caspar van der Leeuw

  • Reflection · De Drie Stromen (De Graankorrel) · Sint-Urbanuskerk Duivendrecht · 4 August 2025

    Zomerbericht uit de parochie – Tijd voor rust, warmte en hoop.

    De zomer is volop aanwezig. De zon schijnt gul, soms vergezeld van een korte bui die de aarde verfrist. Het is een mooie, warme tijd — letterlijk én figuurlijk — waarin velen van ons even ademhalen, op reis gaan, thuis…

    Pater Yan Asa, SVD · Only in dutch

  • Reflection · De Drie Stromen (De Graankorrel) · Sint-Urbanuskerk Duivendrecht · 4 August 2025

    From fratelli tutti

    On Sunday, 13 July, I had the privilege of leading a Liturgy of the Word and Communion service in our church. My reflection was on the well-known text of the Good Samaritan. A few days later I attended the well-attended…

    Frans Woortmeijer

  • Reflection · De Drie Stromen (De Graankorrel) · Sint-Urbanuskerk Duivendrecht · 4 August 2025

    From the chairman

    We are still in the middle of summer as I write this piece from our holiday address in France. We spent the first week in the Italian Alps and, as always in France, it is a special experience to visit centuries-old…

    Arthur Anderegg

  • Report · Gerardus Majellakerk · 29 June 2025

    In memoriam Jun Tidula

    Last week we received the sad news that Mr Jun Tidula has passed away. A few months ago he had left with his wife Gloria for his native country, the Philippines, to be with his family. Whenever possible, they travelled…

    Ben Dieker

  • Reflection · Begijnhofkapel · March 2025

    All Christians celebrate Easter together this year

    This year all Christian communities everywhere in the world celebrate Easter on the same day, on 20 April. This happens only once every so many years. Yet it is the wish of many Christians, as a further sign of our…

    Johan Smit

  • Reflection · Begijnhofkapel · March 2025

    Easter and Hope

    Pope Francis begins his book Hope with the description of migrants departing by steamship from Italy to Argentina. His own parents did the same on 1 February 1929. The ship, which departed a good while before them and…

    Pieter van Wijlick sss

  • Reflection · Begijnhofkapel · March 2025

    The Catholic Church and slavery: the Bible

    When slavery is spoken of today, it is usually about that of the sixteenth century and later, when Europeans travelled all over the world and kept and traded in slaves on a large scale. Terrible amounts of money were…

    José Huijberts

  • Reflection · Begijnhofkapel · March 2025

    Through the Year with the Saints: John Augustus Tolton

    This time my attention was drawn to Augustus Tolton. A Black American who, born enslaved, became the first Black priest in America. And thereby played a pioneering role. And who knows, may one day become a saint in the…

    Erica Eitjes

2024 · 10 texts

  • Report · Begijnhofkapel · December 2024

    Through the Year with the Saints: Teresa Benedicta of the Cross / Edith Stein

    This time, the life of a holy woman of the 20th century, Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. And I think you say, 'Who?' I think her secular name is better known: Edith Stein. Born in Breslau on 12 October 1891, died in…

    Erica Eitjes

  • Report · Begijnhofkapel · December 2024

    Jubilee of Msgr. Van Burgsteden

    On Friday 15 March 2024 it was exactly 60 years ago that Msgr. Van Burgsteden was ordained a priest. Bishop of Haarlem-Amsterdam, Msgr. Jan Hendriks, and the bishop emeritus, Msgr. Jozef Punt, also have a jubilee to…

  • Report · Begijnhofkapel · December 2024

    International meeting for peace

    In Paris, from 22 to 24 September, the 36th meeting for peace was held, at which the representatives of the world religions, religious movements, cultural life and science, and of course also the numerous participants,…

    Ben van Oortmerssen, deelnemer

  • Reflection · Begijnhofkapel · December 2024

    When Does the Day Begin?

    An old rabbi once asked his disciples: ‘How can you determine the moment when the night comes to an end and the day begins?’ ‘Is it the moment when you can distinguish a dog from a sheep from a distance?’, one asked.…

  • Reflection · Begijnhofkapel · December 2024

    Advent / Christmas 2024

    Writing an article about something that has already been written about a great deal is not such a simple matter. This time I had to think of a text that is used at Christmas (Luke 2:14-15): 'Glory to God in the highest…

    Pieter van Wijlick sss

  • Reflection · Begijnhofkapel · December 2024

    Catholic Church and Slavery: Suriname

    In the previous Kapelkrant I wrote that I wanted to explore the Catholic Church and slavery in more depth. That is of course a very large subject, so from time to time I will do a piece on it. This time about the…

    José Huijberts

  • Report · Begijnhofkapel · December 2024

    Pilgrimage to Heiloo

    It was a sun-drenched Sunday morning when we arrived at the presbytery of St. Joseph's Church to set out together for the shrine of Our Lady in Need in Heiloo. The way there was already special, as if we were being…

    Glenda Williams

  • Reflection · Begijnhofkapel · December 2024

    News from Rome

    At the beginning of September, Pope Francis undertook his most distant and longest journey to date: to Indonesia, Timor-Leste and Singapore. A special fact within it was the opening, carried out together with Grand Imam…

    Johan Smit

  • Reflection · Begijnhofkapel · December 2024

    Book: Medieval monasteries of Amsterdam

    In September a beautiful book appeared about the medieval monasteries of Amsterdam. In the late Middle Ages Amsterdam counted 21 monasteries. During the Reformation, in the second half of the sixteenth century, all the…

  • Reflection · Begijnhofkapel · December 2024

    Vows

    On Saturday 12 October last I made my solemn profession in Nijmegen, and was thus incorporated into the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament. In a full church I was permitted to pronounce the evangelical vows of…

    Jim Schilder sss

2023 · 1 text

  • Homily · Krijtberg · 1 October 2023

    Conversion and life

    There was a time when everything seemed to be going in the right direction. But it appears that this faith in progress has since given way to doom-mongering. All kinds of facts seem to prove the doom-mongers right:…

    Peter van Dael SJ · Zesentwintigste zondag door het jaar

2022 · 4 texts

  • Homily · Krijtberg · 11 December 2022

    Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect another?

    The doubt of John about Jesus From of old this day is called Gaudete Sunday, because the introitus or opening text of the liturgy begins with Gaudete, rejoice. We are halfway; the third candle of the Advent wreath has…

    Peter van Dael SJ · Derde zondag van de advent

  • Homily · Krijtberg · 12 June 2022

    Drie godsnamen

    God heeft vele namen. Binnen de islam worden er zelfs 99 gebruikt: Meest Barmhartige, Meest Genadevolle, enzovoort. Ook in de Bijbel heeft God vele namen, want één naam is niet genoeg om Hem aan te duiden. In de…

    Peter van Dael SJ · Feest van de Heilige Drie-eenheid C · Only in dutch

  • Homily · Krijtberg · 13 March 2022

    Second Sunday of Lent, Year C

    Brothers and sisters, sometimes it can happen that for a brief moment we obtain certainty about something important. I had that, for example, some twenty-four years ago, when I was considering whether I should become a…

    Ward Biemans SJ · 2e zondag Veertigdagentijd, jr. C

  • Homily · Krijtberg · 13 February 2022

    Sunday, 13 February 2022

    The prophet Jeremiah, dearest friends, lived about 600 years before the evangelist Luke. During the reign of the last kings of Judah, Jeremiah set before them, in unmistakable words, the truth that the wellbeing of…

    Gregory Brenninkmeijer SJ · Zondag, 13 februari 2022

2021 · 3 texts

  • Homily · Krijtberg · 10 October 2021

    on Mark 10:17–27

    Do you have a good friend, dear people? And then I am not talking about someone with whom you have a pleasant beer and exchange the latest news. There is nothing wrong with that, of course, but now I am speaking of a…

    Gregory Brenninkmeijer SJ

  • Homily · Krijtberg · 13 May 2021

    Ascension - Ben Frie SJ - Basilica of St. Nicholas Amsterdam

    One verse from our readings is dear to me: 'After His death He showed them with many proofs that He was alive.' It is the intense experience of the sorely tested disciples that Jesus was still with them. What those many…

    Ben Frie SJ · Hemelvaart

  • Homily · Krijtberg · 11 April 2021

    The new fire of easter

    Today is the second Sunday of Easter, also called Low Sunday. The gospel describes two appearances of the risen Christ to his disciples. The first appearance took place on the evening of the first day of the week, that…

    tweede zondag van Pasen

2020 · 2 texts

  • Reflection · Kapel van de Vrouwe van alle Volkeren · 30 December 2020

    Explanation and pastoral word on the Declaration concerning the Lady of All Nations

    Devotion to Mary as the Lady and Mother of All Nations is good and valuable, but must remain separated from the messages and apparitions. These have not been recognised by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.…

  • Homily · Krijtberg · 12 August 2020

    Walking on water

    The roaring of the waves The Bible is a book about God and people. It is not a theological manual, but to a great extent a book of stories. That also applies to today's gospel. It is a story in images, a narrative in…

    Peter van Dael SJ · 19de zondag door het jaar

2019 · 15 texts

  • Report · Begijnhofkapel · September 2019

    Organ Recital by Mark de Vries

    On Sunday afternoon, 26 May, Mark de Vries played the organ in our chapel. This performance was given on the occasion of his 40th anniversary as a church organist. Among the visitors was a sizeable group of people who…

  • Report · Begijnhofkapel · March 2019

    In memoriam Vera Koenis Bijman

    I can remember Vera Koenis well from the presbytery duty. She helped out at the presbytery with cooking and answering the telephone and opening the front door. She did mending and ironing. She could formulate her…

    Pieter van Wijlick sss, met dank aan Hennie Mester

  • Reflection · Begijnhofkapel · March 2019

    Relieken

    Tweede Kerstdag was er weer een mooie uitzending 'Kerst in Rome' met Leo Fijen en Antoine Bodar. Het gesprek was een afwisseling van een gesprek van Leo met Antoine en het bekijken van het interieur van de prachtige aan…

    Nico Koomen · Only in dutch

  • Report · Begijnhofkapel · June 2019

    Sunday 17 March Silent Procession with KBO members

    On Sunday 17 March last, the annual edition of the Silent Procession for the KBO members (Catholic Association of the Elderly) took place once again. The weather forecast was not very good, but nevertheless about forty…

    Wil Groen

  • Report · Begijnhofkapel · June 2019

    Gregory of Narek (Grigor Narekatsi)

    Tuesday evening, 16 April, was a special evening in the Begijnhof Chapel. The Dutch translation of the Book of Lamentations was presented. A book with fifteen prayer texts by the tenth-century Armenian monk and…

  • Report · Begijnhofkapel · September 2019

    New associates

    The family of Father Eymard has expanded once again. Among the Sacramentines in Amsterdam there are five new associates: Diana Janssen, Marianne Kalsbeek, José Thoomes and Rudolf and Lucia Westerlink. A warm welcome!

  • Reflection · Begijnhofkapel · September 2019

    What is Focolare?

    That question came to my mind while reading the book Jan van Burgsteden, bishop for the people, which was published this spring. The book is a 'life interview' with the ever-sympathetic monsignor, skilfully conducted by…

    Nico Koomen

  • Reflection · Begijnhofkapel · June 2019

    Ontreddering en hoe verder?

    Ik schrijf dit stuk op Eerste Paasdag. Afgelopen week, maandag 15 april, was voor de Parijzenaars en vele, vele anderen een verschrikking vanwege de hevige brand in de Notre Dame. Ontzetting was op de gezichten te lezen…

    Nico Koomen · Eerste Paasdag · Only in dutch

  • Reflection · Begijnhofkapel · March 2019

    Veertigdagentijd

    Als deze kapelkrant uitkomt is het bijna Aswoensdag. Het begin van de Vasten, de Veertigdagentijd. Een tijd voor soberheid en inkeer. Intussen begint om ons heen de lente. De natuur komt weer tot leven, eerst…

    José Huijberts · Only in dutch

  • Report · Begijnhofkapel · June 2019

    Stations of the Cross by Albert Servaes

    Also this year, on Good Friday, the Stations of the Cross were projected onto a screen in the chapel. This year it was the Stations of the Cross by Albert Servaes from 1919. Albert Servaes (1883 – 1966) was a painter…

    Goede Vrijdag

  • Reflection · Begijnhofkapel · June 2019

    Search for Mary

    Mary, the mother of Jesus, has a tremendous attraction for countless people, through the years, at home and abroad. Where does that come from? While writing this contribution for the Kapelkrant, my thoughts go back to…

    Nico Koomen

  • Reflection · Begijnhofkapel · June 2019

    Whit Monday: Mary, Mother of the Church

    In 2018 the Vatican announced that Whit Monday is henceforth dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church. It is an obligatory memorial. In places where Whit Monday has always been celebrated, such as in…

    José Huijberts · Tweede Pinksterdag

  • Report · Begijnhofkapel · June 2019

    Commemoration of Father Frans van der Lugt

    It is five years ago that in Homs, on 7 April, Father Frans van der Lugt was murdered. He was killed by two bullets. At that moment he was still living, as one of the few, in this besieged city in Syria. He was buried…

    Erica Eitjes

  • Reflection · Begijnhofkapel · June 2019

    Little Cottas and Little Surplices

    On Ascension Day, 19 May 1955, I made my First Holy Communion. From my Protestant grandfather and grandmother (Dutch Reformed) on my father's side I received, as they called it, a little prayer book and a rosary.…

    Fons Kaan, misdienaar

  • Report · Begijnhofkapel · March 2019

    Book: Jan van Burgsteden

    On Friday 18 January the book Jan van Burgsteden – Bishop for the people was presented in the presbytery of the Begijnhof Chapel. Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Mgr. Van Burgsteden has been a Sacramentine father for sixty…

2018 · 3 texts

  • Reflection · Blessed Trinity · February 2018

    from Fr. Murray

    I feel that I ought to reiterate my thanks to all those who contributed and participated in the Christmas and New Year celebrations. We are so blessed to have the many who responded to the call for help to clean,…

    Fr. Murray

  • Reflection · Blessed Trinity · February 2018

    February 2018

    T he beginning of February in the season of the Church is the end of the Christmas period. The Presentation of the Lord in the Temple, with the symbolism of light, both scripturally in the words of Simeon and physically…

    Fr. Thomas Murray · The Presentation of the Lord in the Temple

  • Reflection · Blessed Trinity · February 2018

    February 2018

    T he beginning of February in the season of the Church is the end of the Christmas period. The Presentation of the Lord in the Temple, with the symbolism of light, both scripturally in the words of Simeon and physically…

    Fr. Thomas Murray

2011 · 1 text

  • Reflection · Gerardus Majellakerk · March 2011

    The almost square cloth with mountains in the distance

    The almost square cloth with mountains in the distance and emptiness in the foreground seeks to evoke rest and silence, fitting the 40 days season and recalling Jesus’ time in the desert. The liveliness comes from the…

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