SIW Internationale Vrijwilligersprojecten (SIW International Volunteer Projects) is a Dutch non-governmental, non-profit voluntary service organisation that was founded in 1953. The mission of SIW is to stimulate people to broaden their horizon. This is achieved by bringing volunteers into contact with different cultures. This way, SIW wants to facilitate international contact and understanding, contribute to the personal growth and development of young people and encourage them to carry out social, cultural and environmental work. That work is offered in our projects in the Netherlands and in the projects organised by partners from our network abroad.

Every year, SIW sends approximately 175 volunteers to foreign sister-organisations in Europe, North America, Asia, Latin America and Africa, to work in voluntary workcamp projects in international groups. In 2019 SIW also organises 6 international work camps in the Netherlands. These take place in summer and last for two weeks. We organise these work camps in cooperation with Dutch social organisations such as the Dutch State Forestry, Emmaus (international charitable movement to combat poverty and homelessness) and the Central Agency for Refugees and Asylum Seekers. In the past years SIW has welcomed up to 100 volunteers from all over the world.

Each project is guided by two camp leaders. Being a camp leader is a voluntary job. There is no payment. However, all costs are covered by SIW. Each project lasts two weeks. Camp leaders must be available for the whole period of two weeks. Their job is to make the group function well and have a good time. Instruction about the work that has to be done, is done by the host organization. The language in the camps is English. The camp leaders receive a training by SIW. The training will take place on 22 and 23 June.

The booklet describes the 6 projects. We are still looking for camp leaders for the projects Zonnehoeve Zeewolde and Emmaus Haarzuilens. These projects take place from 3 through 17 August and from 18 August through 1 September respectively.

For further information, please contact Hans van Dommele, Coordinator Dutch projects, 06-23263134 or email bestuur.ontvangst@siw.nl.

https://www.siw.nl/wp-content/uploads/siw-program-dutch-projects-2019.pdf

The Assel day is back after an hiatus of 3 years!

Assel Day again is the English Mass annual community day.
It will take place on Saturday, the 15th of June when we will have a day full of fun activities, potluck food brought by our parishioners, nice nature surroundings and prayers.
And Fr. Herman will join us!

As usual it will be in the Salesian Center in Assel near Apeldoorn.

If you are interested please fill in the form, so that we can better plan food and transport:

http://bit.ly/assel2019

We are looking forward to see the community again in Assel!

On last Wednesday, the 15th of May, there was a meeting of the parish board where it was decided that the renovation of the St. Augustine church will carry on to its completion, at which point it will be opened and continue to function as a city church for Utrecht.

The board concluded that the St. Augustine church is more oriented to serve as church for the city of Utrecht and the direct surroundings, and that the St. Catherine Cathedral has a special position, as the seat of the archbishop of Utrecht.

Although this means that the parish balance will have a significant hit on its financial assets, the board is convinced that this will give an important impulse to the development of the future of the whole catholic Utrecht. The policy regarding the other churches in the parish will not change due to this decision.

There is however a challenge and responsibility that is put to all of us parishioners: do not look back to what was before: something new is about to start, can you see it already?

It’s time for a spring cleaning in the St. Augustine church!

Due to renovation this hasn’t happened for a long time. The church is closed, but the chapel, the coffee and tea room and the pastoral centre can use a wipe and brush.

Thursday, May 23, from 19:00-21:00 we will grab the bucket, sponge and broom. More hands make the work lighter for everyone.

If you’d like to help, please mail info@augustinusutrecht.nl.
If you are unavailable at this date but would like to help some other time, please also send an email, so we might contact you at another time.
Thanks in advance!

After the Holy Mass in English on Sunday, the 26th of May, all parishioners are invited to the Catharijneconvent museum.

The museum will offer us coffee/tea and a lecture on the treasure of Münster.

After the lecture, everyone is invited to visit the treasure of Münster.

The same program is offered – in Dutch – to parishioners after the Holy mass of 10:30h.

Sunday, the 12th of May, there is a running event – the Utrecht Marathon.

The event starts around 09:30 in the Uithof and the runners will come in the direction of the city center.

Due to this, the St. Catherine Cathedral may be difficult to reach between 10:30 and 15:00.
More info here: https://www.utrechtmarathon.com/

If you plan to come to the mass please plan with extra time to avoid any delays.