Tilburg University Chaplaincy
The University Chaplaincy helps to you give space to parts of your humanity that tend to be overlooked. Learning – together with fellow students – to better understand what you really want and what moves you, enables to study, work, make friendships –live–, more confidently, and more happily. The University Chaplaincy is there for all students, regardless of their background. Come and see!
News
In August, no Chaplaincy activities take place except the Sunday Masses. See below .
Covid-19 situation
With many precautionary measures - the most important one: don't come if you have a cold or high temperature - activities at student Chaplaincy Maranatha are taking place again. Read here the entire protocol for ‘Church life at a 1.5 m distance’.
In order to give as many people as possible the opportunity to come to the Holy Mass, at Maranatha there are two Sunday celebrations: one at 11 am (in English, with a sermon in both English and Dutch) and one at 5 pm (in Dutch, also with a sermon in both languages).
You are requested to arrive well in advance, preferably 10 minutes before the start of the services; this in connection with hygiene and order measures. It is not necessary to make reservations.
The Sunday Holy Masses are also broadcast via live streaming at live.chaplain.nl.
If you need any help in this situation or know a person who does, write us via helpmij@protonmail.com
- Wanna help us help people in this situation (f.e. by doing shopping or going to the pharmacy for people who can't leave their houses)?
- First of all: take good care of yourself
- Write us at ikhelp@protonmail.com
Welcome activities for new students
- 'Beauty of Tilburg' bike tour on Saturday, 5 September
A new home town, all to discover! Tilburg University Chaplaincy organizes for new students a unique city tour by bike which focuses on the cultural aspects of this city where you will spend a significant part of your life!
We'll visit, among other things: the city center, including the characteristic St Joseph's church and 'Heikese kerk' (oldest spot of Tilburg), and Theaters Tilburg; the Trappist Abbey where they make the best beer of the Netherlands; the city port; the Spoorzone, Tilburg's latest urban development project; the Warande, a great place to relax.
We conclude the day with a BBQ and some songs in the recently renovated meeting room of 'Maranatha', built by the famous Tilburg architect Jos. Bedaux, who built also the main university building.
A great way to get to know your new home town and make new friends. Contribution: € 5 (for BA/MA students; for others: € 10) (dinner included). Register by 31 August, by filling this form.
- Vincent van Gogh excursion to National Park De Hoge Veluwe on Saturday, 26 September
At the beginning of each academic year, Tilburg University Chaplaincy proposes a very beautiful excursion to the Kröller Müller Museum - which has the second largest collection of paintings by Vincent van Gogh - in the midst of National Park De Hoge Veluwe.
We meet at 11 am at the Schaarsbergen entrance of National Park De Hoge Veluwe (address: Koningsweg 17, 6816 TC Schaarsbergen; bus stop: Koningsweg, Schaarsbergen (bus no. 9 from Arnhem railway station brings you there)). There, for each of us a bike will be ready, with which we will cycle through the beautiful nature of the National Park. After a picnic lunch, we visit the Kröller Müller Museum.
Contribution: students (BA / MA): € 15; others (< 40 years old): € 30. Discount for those who possess a Dutch Museumkaart: € 10 (BA/MA students/teenagers: € 5). Included: access to National Park De Hoge Veluwe and bike rental (we'll ride about 12 km there and 12 km back!); access to the Kröller Müller Museum; lunch (picnic).
The excursion finishes at about 5 pm at the same entrance (Koningsweg 17, 6816 TC Schaarsbergen). Register by 23 September, by filling this form.
Pilgrimage Holy Land 2021
After a very beautiful excursion in 2017, Tilburg University Chaplaincy proposes another pilgrimage "in the footsteps of Christ". It will take place from 5 until 12 April 2021. We'll visit, among other things: Nazareth (Annunciation basilica, St.Joseph's church), Mount Tabor, Cana, Lake of Galilee, Mountain of Beatitudes, Capernaum (with the synagogue and St.Peter's house), Sanctuary of the Multiplication of Loaves, Church of Peter's Primacy, the place on the Jordan where Christ was baptized, Bethlehem, Jerusalem (Olive Mountain, place of the Ascension, church of Dominus Flevit; Way of the Cross; Church of the Holy Sepulchre; Mount Sion; Church of the Dormition; Upper Room; West Wall of the Temple), and Jericho.
Price: students (Bachelor/Master, at the time of the registration): 1050 euro; non students: 1650 euro. All meals & transport (flight from Amsterdam to Tel Aviv, bus transport within the Holy Land; hotels) are included. Insurance (annulment & travel) is not included.
If you participate, you should participate in the whole trip, from the beginning to the end, including the whole program.
This pilgrimage is not adapted for children younger than 16 years old or people who have any difficulties in walking.
You can register by filling this form, and, at the same time transferring an advance of 300 euro to bank account NL76INGB0001945054 of "Maranatha Parochie" stating "Holy Land 2021" and your name and surname. You can subscribe in this way until 30 November 2020 (as long as there are places). The rest of the amount for the trip should be paid before 31 January 2021. The trip will go on when at least 20 people will participate. No more than 40 people can participate. If the trip won't go (f.e. because there are too few registrations) or you cannot participate (f.e. because there are already to many people subscribed), you will be communicated this before 10 December 2020. Of course in that case your subscription fee will be restituted to you asap.
Are you interested in the activities of Tilburg University Chaplaincy? Follow us on social media!
- Instagram @tilburguniversitychaplaincy
- Facebook @studentenkerkmaranatha
- Twitch @chaplainnl
- Twitter @chaplainnl
You can also become a member of Facebook group Tilburg University Chaplaincy!
What is the meaning of everything? Why, in the end, do you do what you do? Understanding the other and society is possible only if your own life, in all its facets, if 'you' – who and what you are, not just the way you function and your results – are taken seriously.
Tilburg University Chaplaincy offers its contribution to university life, not so much by dealing with 'different matter', but by constantly considering the question of the meaning of everything.
Tilburg University Chaplaincy offers time and space for this by organizing regular activities, which are open to everyone, excursions, an International Student Mass and Christmas and Easter celebrations on campus.
See the chaplain
If you wish to have a personal talk about anything (grief, joy, identity or loneliness), or simply for a cup of coffee. Meet the chaplain, Fr Michael Peeters, at 'Maranatha' student church, Prof. Cobbenhagenlaan 19 (next to the Sports center; from the campus, go three hundred meters towards the city center; the church is on the left-hand side of the road), or in a video call. In order to make an appointment, please send an email to chaplain@tilburguniversity.edu, containing a number of time slots that suit you, preferably from Tuesday to Friday between 4 pm and 5 pm, and also indicate whether you want to come by yourself or if you want to talk by Skype. You will then receive a proposal for an appointment by e-mail, which you then should confirm.
In emergencies, call the chaplain at any time at 06-10405358.
Chaplaincy tours and Maranatha evenings
An easy and nice way to see if the Chaplaincy is something for you, is to participate in one of the Chaplaincy tours or Maranatha evenings, usually on Thursdays.
Chaplaincy tours are bike tours to beautiful places around to Tilburg. The tour starts at 3 p.m. from university church 'Maranatha', Professor Cobbenhagenlaan 19 in Tilburg. Bring your own bike! We conclude with a meal at the same place. At about 7:30 p.m. the program is finished.
Maranatha evenings are cultural evenings, starting with a meal at 6:30 p.m., followed by a movie, listening together to a piece of (classical) music, getting to know a great work of art or literature, or a discussion about a theme.
For both kinds of events, you should register by sending an e-mail, at least one day before, to maranathaevening@gmail.com. For the meal, a contribution of 5 euro is asked.
Come and have a look some Thursday!
The program for the next Chaplaincy tour or Maranatha evening you can find on our social media canals:
- Instagram @tilburguniversitychaplaincy
- Facebook @studentenkerkmaranatha
- Twitter @chaplainnl
School of community
What is the relationship between my study and the rest of my life? How can I grow without being alienated by sterile specialization? Can we say something about the ultimate meaning of things? Can religious faith possibly be reasonable?
These and other fundamental questions are treated critically and systematically during a weekly 'School of community', every Tuesday from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at 'Maranatha' student church (Prof. Cobbenhagenlaan 19). Come and participate freely.
Because of the Covid-19 situation, it is also possible to participate in School of community online, via zoom. Ask the zoom link at our secretariat: studentenkerkmaranatha@gmail.com.
Study days
Op dinsdag, woensdag en donderdag kun je van 's ochtends 8.45 uur tot 17.30 uur studeren in de ontmoetingsruimte of de bibliotheek van Maranatha. Koffie en thee is beschikbaar; je kunt samen je zelf meegebrachte lunch opeten. Wifi is beschikbaar. Natuurlijk neem je je eigen studieboeken en evt. laptop mee.
Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday is Study Day at Maranatha from 8:45 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. You can work in Maranatha's library or meeting room. Coffee and tea is available. You can bring and eat your own lunch. Wifi is available. Of course, bring your own textbooks and laptop.
Liturgy
The university chaplain is also parish priest of Catholic student parish 'Maranatha' (Professor Cobbenhagenlaan 19).
Holy Mass on Sundays
Every Sunday (except 4 April 2021) at 11 a.m. there is a Holy Mass in English in our ‘underground church’ at Prof. Cobbenhagenlaan 19. At 5 p.m., (also on 4 April 2021) there is a Holy Mass, too; this one is in Dutch, but the homily is in English, too. After the Masses, there is the possibility to meet each other with a cup of coffee or tea.
Holy Mass on Christian holy days
On the following holy days in 2020-2021, there are extra celebrations:
- Monday, 2 November, All Souls: Holy Mass in English at 5:30 p.m.
- Thursday, 24 December, Christmas Midnight Mass in English at 11:00 p.m.
- Friday, 1 January 2021, New Year: Holy Mass in English at 5:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, 17 February, Ash Wednesday: Holy Mass in English at 5:30 p.m.
- Thursday, 1 April, Maundy Thursday: Mass of the Lord's Supper in English at 8 p.m.
- Friday, 2 April, Good Friday: Way of the Cross at 2 p.m.; Good Friday Liturgy in English at 5 p.m.
- Saturday, 3 April, Easter Vigil in English at 9:30 p.m.
- Thursday, 13 May, Ascension: Holy Mass in English at 5:00 p.m.
Holy Mass on weekdays
On Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m., and on Thursdays and Fridays at 8:15 a.m., there is a short weekday Holy Mass at Maranatha. On Tuesdays and Thursdays the Mass is in English, on Wednesdays and Fridays it’s in Dutch.
There are no weekday Masses in the week after Easter (6-9 April 2021), the months of July and August, and the weeks 52, 53, 1, 2, and 3.
Ecumenical morning prayer
On Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, at 8:15 a.m., there is an ecumenical morning prayer in English.
There is no morning prayer in the week after Easter (6-9 April 2021), the months of July and August, and the weeks 52, 53, 1, 2, and 3.
Sacrament of Reconciliation
The Sacrament of Reconciliation can be received on appointment with the student chaplain, and also without appointment, every Sunday between 4:30 and 4:50 pm in Maranatha's guest room (via the door towards the offices).
The church is open
Daily, except on Saturdays, the university church is open from 8:00am until 6:00pm for visits and prayers.
Other Sacraments
The chaplain is also available for preparation for and administration of the other Sacraments (Baptism, Marriage, Sacrament of the Sick) for members of the university community.
Choir
A small polyphonic choir with a beautiful, international repertoire, accompanies the International Student Mass. It rehearses every Sunday at 3:30pm [not in corona times] in Maranatha’s meeting room. If you like to sing, just come and join!
Dutch grammar course
The Chaplaincy offers a cheap course of Dutch grammar for those foreign students, and others, who would like to enter into the reality in which they find themselves, through one of its main instrument: the language.
This course explores Dutch Grammar, it suits beginners but also those who want to deepen their knowledge of Dutch language.
The course takes place once every two weeks, on Wednesday evenings, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.
The starting date is Wednesday 16th September 2020.
It is possible to come to Maranatha or to follow the course in Zoom.
The book of reference (which you should bring), is: Carol Fehringer: A Reference Grammar of Dutch. With Exercises and Key, Cambridge University Press.
The contribution for the course (for 1 year) is 25 euro for (BA/MA) students and 50 euro for others (to be paid prior to the beginning of the courses - details to be communicated).
If you are interested in enrolling in one of these courses please fill the registration form: dutch.chaplain.nl by 6 September 2020 (after this deadline demands will be considered only in exceptional cases).
After collecting the demands we will get back to you with all the necessary practical details.
Other Chaplaincy activities
Tilburg University Chaplaincy organizes
- annual excursion to the most beautiful church of the Netherlands, St. John's Cathedral in 's-Hertogenbosch (6 February 2021), to the Kröller Müller Van Gogh Museum (26 September 2020), and to the Holy Land (5-12 April 2021)
- a nocturnal pilgrimage in June (26-27 July 2021)
- study weekends in the exams periods (f.e. 27-29 November 2020 [Covid-19 permitting])
- charity activities
- many other things
Feel free to come by to see what's happening!
A hospitable inn
The meeting room of student church 'Maranatha' regularly opens its doors for activities by students and student associations. Do not hesitate to ask about the possibilities.
University chaplain
University chaplain Fr Michael Peeters (1976) studied Slavonic languages and Law at Leiden University. After a year of working at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he went to Rome in 2001 to study philosophy and theology.
Since 2007 he is a Catholic priest and from 2006 until 2011 he worked in Russia: first in Siberia and then in Moscow.
In 2011 he came back to the Netherlands, and he is the chaplain of Tilburg University since September 2012.
Contact
University church 'Maranatha'
Prof. Cobbenhagenlaan 19
5037 DB Tilburg
Telephone: 013-4675302
E-mail: studentenkerkmaranatha@gmail.com
Opening hours church: Sunday-Friday from 8 am until 6 pm
Opening hours secretariat: Tuesday from 1:30 pm until 5 pm and Thursday from 9:30 am until 1 pm
Bank account: IBAN NL76INGB0001945054 ; Subject: 'Maranatha Parochie'