Franciscan on Sister Water

While traveling through Iceland and parts of Netherlands, I have visited many RK churches (Roman Catholic), and others looking for Sunday Mass.   One would think that this would be an easy thing to do, but not so.  Apparently, Northern Holland does not have many priests to celebrate Mass.  There are Catholics, but few to serve them.

There are very many beautiful churches to see.  While looking for Mass in Reykjevik, Iceland, I came across a most beautiful old church named Christ the King Cathedral.  Mass is celebrated there on Saturday evening (in the Icelandic language) and Sunday morning ( in English).   A Scottish priest was there to say Mass on Saturday in Icelandic, with the readings and homily in both Icelandic and English.  I was very surprised to see this, for I was under the impression that there were few Catholics in Iceland (3% I think).  This is to get even more interesting as I traveled to the Netherlands.

Christ the King Cathedral, Reykjevic, Iceland

Christ the King Cathedral, Reykjavic, Iceland

When we arrived in Stavoren, I found that there weren’t any RK churches there, however, I knew of a church in Workum, which I could reach by train.  I went their for two weeks and they did not have Mass on Sunday, however, they had a communion service.   Some times one has to adjust and accept.  I went back for two more weeks, but all seemed to have dried up and no one was there on Sunday.  Maybe, church services rotated from church to church, but I wasn’t privy to this.   So, it all became a great mystery.   How to find a Mass in Netherlands.  The church I attended in Workum is named St. Werenfrid Church and it had communion service at 9:30am, but this is “iffy”.  Some Sundays there is no one there.

St. Werenfrid Church, Workum, NL

St. Werenfrid Church, Workum, NL

St. Werenfrid Church, Workum, NL

While visiting Heeg, I found that there is a St. Joseph Church that says it is open at 10am Sunday.  I was there one Sunday but was late for the Mass and I returned another day of the week, but it was not open and there was no one to talk to about it.

St. Joseph Church, Heeg, NL

Traveling further north, we visited the larger town of Sneek.  Here there is a St. Martin Church, which is open in the afternoons and says it holds Mass on Sunday at 10:45am.  I visited the church and took some pictures of the inside.  I was very grateful to be able to visit the church and pray.  I was the only one there.

St. Martin Church (RK), Sneek, NL

St. Martin Church (RK), Sneek, NL

St. Francis, St. Martin Church (RK), Sneek, NL

St. Martin Church (RK), Sneek, NL

Eventually we left, Frysland and ventured south.  Our next port was Enkhuizen.  There is a Catholic church named St. Francis Xavier there and the sign on the church says Mass is at 10am Sunday, however, this may be another case of rotating services, for I went there Sunday and no one was there.

St. Francis Xavier, Enkuizen, NL

Further south, we came to Weesp.  Here there is a St. Lawrence Church, were I was able to attend a communion service Sunday at 10:30am.

St. Lawrence Church, Weesp, NL

St. Lawrence Church, Weesp, NL

We decided to go down the Vecht River, through Utrecht and I came across St. Catherine’s Church.  I went Saturday evening and at 5:00pm there is benediction and at 6:30pm there was a Mass.  I read that there even is a Mass in English, at Sint Augustinuskerk at 12:30pm Sunday, it is on the old canal.  This opportunity for benediction and Mass brought tears to my eyes.  I was so happy to be able to attend a Mass again.

St. Catherine Church, Utrecht, NL

St. Catherine Church, Utrecht, NL

St. Catherine Church, Utrecht, NL

Since this time, it has been a little easier to attend Mass.  In Dordrecht, St. Anthony of Padua Church has a Mass at 10am Sunday and on the first Sunday of the month they serve coffee and cookies in a small meeting area.  I felt very much at home.  I’ve come to realize how important community is and how it lifts the spirit.

I heard the other day that Pope Benedict said that we as a church need to be more missionary with outreach to others.  I can see how there is a need for missionary service in the Netherlands.  There are many devout Catholics here, but not enough shepherds to provide for these good people.  May the Good Lord provide vocations to serve His People.