Netherlands
Directly to the right article:
In the past it was possible to know the brothers because of their activities they did together, such as schools and boarding houses. Nowadays these projects have been taken over by others or don’t exist anymore. Beside the work done for internal purposes such as administration, house keeping, liturgy, taking care of the elderly and management, brothers are personally involved now in several kinds of organisations and activities.
Huijbergen, the members of the new Dutch Provincial Council
Top ↑In the Pastoral sector
In every community (Breda and Huijbergen) there are brothers active as volunteers in several parishes. Some are trusted, already for years, by those who mourn about the loss of their loved ones. By their nearness they offer pastoral care and pay special attention by visiting, listening, liturgical mourning services and special care for the cemetery. Others take part in workgroups for liturgy, take responsibility for Word, and Communion services, serve as Lector and/or take part in organizing and coordinating all kind of activities in the parish community. There are also brothers who use their musical talents in directing and accompanying choirs at mourning and marriage services in the parish of God's Providence in Bergen op Zoom, or assist the choir in learning new songs. Others spend their time and talents on painting icons and there are also those who take part as active members in workgroups for ecumenical movement and spiritual encounters to deepen faith and life together with our protestant brothers and sisters. The Franciscan movement in the region too gets regular attention, one of the brothers has been appointed as Custos of the region. Some other brothers are active in preparing visits to places of pilgrimage of the holy Mary as Beauraing and/or Banneux.
Much attention is given to Liturgy and community prayer
Top ↑In the Social sector
A lot of brothers are still involved in social activities. We mention the following organisations:
-
The HEIFER foundation aims to decrease poverty and famine by providing people and societies with animals. According to local possibilities cows, goats or chickens are provided. These Heifer projects are prepared and guided thoroughly. The firstborn female animal must be given to the local community. In this way thousands of families are supported to provide for their basic needs.
Heifer a living present
- The MEE foundation, where the former Service for Social Education is merged into, assists people with mental and / or physical handicaps in the western part of the province of Brabant.
- Walk-in houses as ‘De Boei’ in Rotterdam, ‘Het Getij’ in Ossendrecht, and the national federation for walk-in houses for people suffering from cancer. (FINK)
- The ‘KLIËNTEN PLATFORM’ helps people with a minimum income and a lot of problems with juridical assistance and advice for their expenditure in Bergen op Zoom.
- The ‘Organisation for parents of mentally handicapped children’ (VOGG) offers possibilities to attend once a week recreation evenings in Bergen op Zoom. Transport for those evenings and for the dancing every two weeks is provided for, so they are collected and brought home again.
- The foundation ‘VRAAG EN AANBOD HUIJBERGEN’ in the village of Woensdrecht supports solidarity among the local inhabitants and surrounding villages with the poor in third world countries. The foundation tries to reach their aim by founding and managing repair shops for production and repair of tools and instruments. The products are sent to developing countries in the third world.
'Vraag en Aanbod' is present at the market place
-
The ‘STOOF’ has been a walk-in house for more than 33 years. People from Oudenbosch and surrounding villages can meet and encounter each other in a ‘warm’ place. Inspired by Saint Francis an atmosphere of kindness, simplicity and attention is maintained. A core group takes care of sense giving reflections, meditation and days of silence in the weekends. Almost every Saturday there is a market of recycled products. The revenues of these markets are used to pay some of the other activities.
Stoof, a place for sisterhood and brotherhood
- The HOS foundation was founded at the 16th of March in 1981 with the aim: to provide for financial and social support for ex-lepers and their families in Indonesia. By doing so better conditions are made and life becomes more bearable. If possible they are enabled to function again in the local society. So HOS takes care of cured patients while other organisations take care of those still suffering from the disease.
HOS pays a visit to Blora (Indonesia)
- About four brothers are involved in ‘EL PROGRESSO’. This organisation is promoting fair trade according to international norms. El Progresso sells among other products ‘Maya Honey’ from cooperating farmers in Mexico and Guatemala. In this way about 500 farmers and their families can enjoy the profits. El Progresso is first of all active in Belgium but in the Netherlands there are some selling points to. One of them is Brotherhouse Ste Mary, Boomstraat 7, 4635CX Huijbergen.
A kiosk selling Maya-honey during the open day in 2006
Top ↑Special Education:
- Generating support for a Special Education project in Cáceres MT Brasil for people with a mental and / or physical handicap (APAE).
Care for the development and growth of children with mental and / or physical handicap has been a special aim from the beginning of the Congregation of the Brothers of Huijbergen. Also in Brasil in Cáceres they started a special project named the ‘APAE School’ for these children in 1976. The construction of the buildings, inventary and all kind of aids necessary for the education of about 125 children with very different kinds of handicaps, had to be paid from private funds. That is why a movement for financial support started in the Netherlands. Some school for special education together with organisations as Prisma in Oosterhout / Waalwijk, supported the continuation of the school by their activities. Help is made possible by the activities of the schools ‘De Wissel’ and ‘De Zwaaikom’ in Oosterhout and the aid fund from Prisma. So at regular times special aids, tools and materials can be sent to Cáceres. The products made by the children are sold in a school-shop. In this way the handicapped children are enabled to take their respected part in the society of Cáceres. A brother who was active himself for a very long time in special education in the Netherlands, takes care of this support. He communicates directly with the teachers to keep in touch with their needs and experiences.
- Another brother, also with a long experience in special education dedicates himself in library organisation for special schools, especially the library for pupils in the age of 8/9 until 12/13 at the special primary school at the Ruusbroecstraat in Breda. Thanks to the donations of some sponsors he was able to expend the collection that is now about 3.500 books for children. The purpose of the library is assisting children to find out that reading is not just useful, but most of all funny and interesting. That means to make them to love reading and enjoying books. By reading good and interesting books, the children can become more sensitive for beautiful language and develop their emotions and social-intellectual horizon. The children learn to know what is going on in our society.
Special education, books are not boring
- Since 1278 until 1847 (569 year) the Order of the Wilhelmites had a monastery in the village of Huijbergen. They were eremites from origin but took pastoral care for the region, cultivated the forests and hay fields, and supported education. To show our respect for them the gate house of the last monastery of their order was renovated and is now in use as Wilhelmite museum. Some brothers take care of the collection and receive about 2000 guests a year.
