The Church has been celebrating the World Day of Migrants and Refugees since 1914. It is always an occasion to express concern for many different vulnerable people on the move; to pray for the challenges and increase awareness about the opportunities that migration offers.

In 2019, the World Day will be celebrated on September 29th. Pope Francis has chosen the theme “It is not just about migrants” to show up our blind-spots and make sure no one remains excluded from society, whether a long-time resident or someone newly-arrived.

The full letter can be found here, translated in many languages:
http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/migration/documents/papa-francesco_20190527_world-migrants-day-2019.html

 

Dear brothers and sisters,

From the month of October we’ll start a monthly Christian Family Sundays activity every 2nd Sunday of the month in Saint Aloysius church in Utrecht – Address: Adriaen van Ostadelaan 2.

The program will be in English for the parents and in Dutch for the kids.

• 11.00: Holy Mass in English with father Koos Smits;
• 12.00: Potluck lunch;
• 13.00-15.00: Parents program on Christian Family and simultaneously Kids programme;
• 15.00: Closing with prayer

Please inform of your participation via email to: k.smits@katholiekutrecht.nl

Many blessings,

English Mass coordination team

Upcoming Thursday, September 19, the doors will be open for our monthly Taizé youth prayer in Utrecht! You are welcome from 20:00 on. There will be the possibility for silence, before the prayer starts at 20:15. For more information, you can also visit the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1730641023706757/?event_time_id=1730641047040088

The organization is also looking for new musicians (preferably piano) and people to strengthen the team! Though the team is always present with much enthusiasm, they need to expand as no one is going to stay in the team till eternity. It would be a pity when the Taizé prayers in Utrecht would have to end. Would you like to join the enthusiastic team and support once a month with the Taizé prayer preparations, to sing during the prayer or to support with the website/promotions? Please let them know via e-mail (info@taizeinutrecht.nl) or reach out to them before or after the prayer!

On behalf of Reinier van den Assum, from the organization

 

On the 15th of September and the 13th of October after mass, during the coffee and tea, there will be information sessions concerning the plans to increase the vitality of the church in the inner city.
Please join us to learn what the plans are and to see where you can help! We are all members of the Body of Christ.

Location: Nieuwegracht 61
Time: 13:45

From September on wards there will be a daily mass (in Dutch) at 19:00 in the Peace chapel in the St. Catherine Cathedral.

On Mondays there is also adoration afterwards.

On Wednesday there is also opportunity to pray the rosary afterwards.

Before each mass there is opportunity for confession at 18.30.

You are welcome for a moment of inspiration and to celebrate the Eucharist.

We are sorry to inform you that permission was not given for the start of rosary (14:30), adoration (16:00) and an Extra Mass in Latin (17:00) on Sunday, that would make the St. Catherine Cathedral stay open all Sunday.
The diocese overturned the priest’s decision, so all these initiatives are cancelled.

From this September on we have the following new Mass Schedule in the St. Catherine Cathedral:

• Saturday 18:30 H. Mass with organ in the chapel;
• Sunday 10:30 Dutch H. Mass with choir;
• Sunday 12:30 English H. Mass with choir, afterwards confession possibility;

 

• Monday 18:30 rosary, 19:00 H. Mass, 19.30 adoration. All in the chapel (Dutch) with priest students;
• Tuesday 19:00 H.Mass in the chapel (Dutch);
• Wednesday 18:30 rosary 19:00 H. Mass: both in the chapel (Dutch);
• Thursday 19:00 H. Mass in the chapel (Dutch);
• Friday 19:00 H. Mass in the chapel (Dutch).

This Sunday, the 8th September, after Mass there will be an additional collection at the door for KCU. KCU is an organisation that supports charity projects that the church has in the city of Utrecht.

For more information, please check their website (unfortunately only in Dutch):
http://kcutrecht.nl/

Please help us collect funds for this cause.

On Saturday, the 7th of September we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the St. Augustine feast.

We start at 12:00 with the mass celebration in the chapel of the Augustinian sisters (Waterstraat 2) together with Fr. Schrama. There will be children catechism during the celebration.

After the celebration, at 13:15, we organize a festive lunch with activities in the coffee and tea room of the St. Augustine church.

Fr. Boogers will talk about the ongoing fusion process of the catholic parishes of Utrecht. Cor van Breukelen from the construction group will talk about the preparations for the restauration of the St. Augustine church. After that some volunteers will be congratulated for their work so far. Last but not least, the a small concert will be given by the Cantemus Domino choir and the English Mass choir.

Also we want to restore an old tradition: the St. Augustine feast potluck! We ask the parishioners to cook or bake something from their own country and share with the community. It is always a great way to get to know and taste some exquisite delicacies from far away lands! If you are interested in participating please let us know in advance, so we can make sure there is food for everyone.

We hope to see you on Saturday the 7th September.