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Op maandag 4 mei was er Willibrorddag in het seminarie met het programma van de voortgezette vorming van de jonge priesters, het gesprek van mij met de jonge priesters, de willibrordlezing (over paus Leo XIV) en tijdens de H. Mis admissio en aanstelling tot lector.

On Friday morning 17 april, I opened the 106^th General Assembly of the European Council of Catholic Education convend in The Hague with a prayer and a short address on the Dutch catholic school system and the need for educating young people to be peace-makers.

In Nieuw Vennep we celebrated the feast of Divine Mercy with many catholics from the Filippino community, and many others as well. During H. Mass Marcel van Lochem was instituted an acolyte in preparation for his ordination as a permanent deacon. Mons Jan Th. Limchua, chargé d'affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature joined us in this special celebration.

Here you find the English text of the speech I delivered in the Saint Nicholas Co-Cathedral Basilica in Amsterdam at the New Years reception of this year 2026. Several themas are dealt with, regarding church-life and society in the Netherlands.

The first sunday of Advent Fr. Edmund Owusu svd took possession of his office as a parish priest of Blessed Trinity parish in Amsterdam. The church was packed for the ceremony.

On the fifth sunday of Easter I visited All Saints parish in Amsterdam South-East (Bijlmer), an English speaking parish with parishioners mainly of Ghanese and Nigerian origin. During Mass I spent holy confirmation to thirteen parishioners, young or a bit older, and to three man I comissioned the task of being extraordinary ministers of the holy communion. But there was more...

Every year the charismatic catholic El Shaddai community of Amsterdam celebrates its anniversary with a beautiful celebration in Vredeskerk, where they have their normal sunday-celebrations as well. I was there to celebrate Holy Mass with them and share in the joy that our catholic faith brings to our hearts.