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On the 12th of january we celebrated an Evensong in the basilica of Saint Nicholas in Amsterdam and we were together for our New Years's reception in the adjacent hotel. It was again a beautiful event, in which many people took part. A nice start of the new year. Our world however is not so nice and calm. How can we build a "civilisation of love"?

Zaterdag 6 november vierde El Shaddai chapter Amsterdam de 26e verjaardag. De Mis was op het feest van de eerste geloofsverkondigers van onze streken. Dat kwam mooi uit, want op de Filippijnen is dit jaar 500 jaar evangelisatie herdacht. Dat wordt op de Filippijnen herdacht met een heilig jaar. De ambassadeur in Nederland stond daarbij stil in een toespraak na afloop van de viering.

On the Solemnity of the most holy Trinity I celebrated an English Mass for El Shaddai community. It was their last celebration in the cathedral church, where they moved to so that they could have live streamed Masses. Now they are moving back to Amsterdam. At the beginning of the homily I expressed my gratitude for the many good wishes conveyed at the occasion of my start as a bishop of the diocese of Haarlem-Amsterdam.

El Shaddai is an international catholic charismatic community, widespread in the world and present in our diocese in Amsterdam and Amstelveen. The annual celebration in Amsterdam is every year a beautiful day of prayer, reflection, meeting each other and of course the Eucharistic celebration. This year the 24th anniversary was celebrated and we prepare for the silver jubilee next year on the 22d of november.