Tilburg University Chaplaincy

Maranatha remains open in this period with a “Living Room Tilburg University” for all students and staff members of Tilburg University. If you want to see someone or sit somewhere else than in your own room, you are very welcome in the cozy meeting room of Maranatha, Prof. Cobbenhagenlaan 19.

Opening days with timetable

Those who are present between 6 and 7:30 p.m., have dinner together (cost: 5 euro). At dinner, a maximum of 8 people may be present. It is therefore necessary to make a reservation via the app MijnRKK. You can make a reservation one week in advance.
To gain access to this app, please send an e-mail to studentenkerkmaranatha@gmail.com, stating that you are a student or staff member of Tilburg University, and that you would like full access to the app.

Stay at home when:

• You have complaints that are compatible with corona or when you have tested positive for corona.
• Your household member has complaints that are compatible with corona or if your household member tested positive for corona.
• You have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for corona.  
• You come back from a risk area indicated by the Dutch government and there is a compulsory home quarantine.

Take good care! See you!

For the time being, many of our activities takes place on-line.

The International Student Mass on Sundays at 5 p.m. takes place not at 'Maranatha', but in the 'Heikese kerk' (Stadhuisstraat 6).

Stay at home when:

• You have complaints that are compatible with corona or when you have tested positive for corona.
• Your household member has complaints that are compatible with corona or if your household member tested positive for corona.
• You have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for corona.  
• You come back from a risk area indicated by the Dutch government and there is a compulsory home quarantine.

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

Since 2013, at the end of the academic year, Tilburg University Chaplaincy proposes an annual nocturnal pilgrimage on foot from Maranatha to St. John's Cathedral in 's-Hertogenbosch.

A pilgrimage is a journey to a place that has to do with our destiny. The journey itself - in our case, all night long - is an opportunity to reflect on your own life: on what happened to you, on what you really want; and to 'pray', that is, to ask the Mystery for the things we want but cannot realize with our own effort. The typical and beautiful thing about a pilgrimage is that the journey itself is already a form of prayer.

When you make a pilgrimage together, you support each other with each other's presence. Thus the pilgrimage becomes a model and image of life itself.

At the end of this eventful year we also want to make such a pilgrimage. After a Holy Mass, on Saturday 26 June at 10.30 pm in university church Maranatha (Prof. Cobbenhagenlaan 19, Tilburg) (Maranatha is open from 10 pm), we leave at midnight. We'll walk via Tilburg, Udenhout, Biezenmortel, Helvoirt, Vught and the Bossche Broek to the St. John's Cathedral in 's-Hertogenbosch, where we'll conclude our journey on Sunday morning around 7.30 am with the liturgical morning prayer and a personal silent moment at the statue of Mary the "Sweet Mother" of 's-Hertogenbosch.

The pilgrimage is about 27 km. Put on good walking shoes and clothing suitable for walking and adapted to the forecast weather and nighttime temperature. You should also bring enough sweet and salty food and enough drinks with you for the journey. A reflective vest and a flashlight (e.g. the one on your smartphone) increase safety on some dark road sections.

After the morning prayer and a moment at the statue of the Sweet Mother, we are served breakfast in the garden of the St.Janscentrum (Papenhulst 4, 's-Hertogenbosch). After that, everyone returns to Tilburg on their own (for example by public transport).

The easiest way to register is via our app MijnRKK (see lower on this page) or otherwise by sending an email to our secretariat (studentenkerkmaranatha@gmail.com), no later than June 23.

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 on Monday, Thursday or Friday in the afternoon, 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.

An easy and nice way to see if the Chaplaincy is something for you, is to participate in one of the Maranatha evenings, usually on Thursdays.

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.

To participate, you should register by 3 p.m., either in our app MijnRKK (see below), or by sending an e-mail to maranathaevening@gmail.com. For the meal, a contribution of 5 euro is asked.

Due to the Covid-19 measures, for the time being, the Maranatha evenings take place on-line. Register in the same way and you'll receive instructions on how to participate!

Come and have a look some Thursday!

The programma of the Maranatha evenings in 2020-2021:

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 Friday from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (from 15 January) at 'Maranatha' student church (Prof. Cobbenhagenlaan 19). Come and participate freely.

Because of the Covid-19 situation, for the time being School of community takes place on-line, via zoom. Ask the zoom link at our secretariat: studentenkerkmaranatha@gmail.com.

On Monday from 1 pm to 5:15 p.m., and from Tuesday to Friday from 8:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., you can study in Maranatha's library or meeting room.

Coffee, tea, and Wifi, are available. You can bring and eat your own lunch. Of course, bring your own textbooks and laptop.

From Tuesday to Friday, you should arrive before 8:45 am. If you come later, you can only be allowed in when others are already studying.

Maximum number of people: 14. Don't leave things behind. Clean up food scraps and the like very well.

Access can be refused without giving reasons.

Not in the week after Easter, the months of July and August, and the weeks 52, 53, 1, 2, and 3.

The university chaplain is also parish priest of Catholic student parish 'Maranatha' (Professor Cobbenhagenlaan 19).

Holy Mass on Sundays (at the 'Heikese kerk')

The Sunday Holy Mass of Tilburg University Chaplaincy  is at 5:00 p.m.  Attention, not at Maranatha, but in the so-called "Heikese kerk" in the city center. Address: Stadhuisstraat 6, Tilburg.

The Mass is alternately in English (odd week numbers) and Dutch (even week numbers). However, he booklet, the homily, and the announcements, are always in both languages; therefore, English-speaking people can always follow the entire service.

For the time being, only 30 people can participate in the services. To be sure to have a place at the Sunday International Student Mass, you should make a free reservation via the app MijnRKK. To gain access to this app, please send an e-mail to our secretariat (studentenkerkmaranatha@gmail.com), stating that you are a student or staff member of Tilburg University, and/or a regular visitor of Maranatha, and that you would like to obtain full access to the app.

For those who have a reservation, their places will be kept until 4:50 p.m. After that time, all remaining free seats will be given to those who arrive without a reservation.

Holy Mass on Christian holy days (at 'Maranatha')

On the following holy days in 2021, there are extra celebrations (they will all take place at 'Maranatha', Professor Cobbenhagenlaan 19)

• 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.
• Sunday, 4 April, Easter Vigil in Dutch at 5:15 a.m. (before dawn)
• Thursday, 13 May, Ascension: Holy Mass in English at 5:00 p.m.
• Monday, 1 November, All Saints: International Student Mass in English at 5:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, 2 November, All Souls: International Student Mass in English at 5:30 p.m.
• Friday, 24 December, Christmas Midnight Mass in English at 11:00 p.m.
• Saturday, 1 January 2022, New Year: Holy Mass in English at 5:00 p.m.

Holy Mass on weekdays (at 'Maranatha')

(From 25 Jan. until 30 March, from 12 April until 2 July, and from 1 Sept. until 23 Dec.)

On Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, at 5:30 p.m., and on 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 Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, it’s in Dutch.

Ecumenical morning prayer (at 'Maranatha')

(From 25 Jan. until 30 March, from 12 April until 2 July, and from 1 Sept. until 23 Dec.)

On Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, at 8:15 a.m., there is an ecumenical morning prayer in English, at Maranatha.

Install our app!

Install the app MijnRKK to receive access to Tilburg University Chaplaincy's and University parish Maranatha's updated Agenda. After installation, choose as "Mijn parochie" (= "My parish"): "Studentenkerk Maranatha". Then you can enter the app as a guest. To get access to the entire app, including the Agenda, then choose at the bottom of the menu the option "Lid worden" (= "Become an app member"). After a few days University parish Maranatha will invite you to become an app member. Then you can use the entire app, including the updated Agenda.

Sacrament of Reconciliation

The Sacrament of Reconciliation can be received at 'Maranatha' on appointment with the student chaplain, and also, without appointment, every Sunday from 4:30 p.m. in the 'Heikese kerk', Stadhuisstraat 6.

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.

The church is open

Daily, except on Saturdays, university church 'Maranatha' is open from 8:00am until 6:00pm for visits and prayers.

A small polyphonic choir with a beautiful, international repertoire, accompanies the International Student Mass. From 4 October 2020 onwards, it rehearses every Sunday at 4 p.m. in the Heikese kerk, Stadhuisstraat 6. If you like to sing, just come and join!

Because of the Covid-19 situation, for the time being the choir is not rehearsing or performing.

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 (September), and to the Holy Land (10-17 April 2023)
• a nocturnal pilgrimage in June (26-27 June 2021)
• study weekends in the exams periods
• 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.

Install the app MijnRKK to receive access to Tilburg University Chaplaincy's and University parish Maranatha's updated Agenda. After installation, choose as "Mijn parochie" (= "My parish"): "Studentenkerk Maranatha". Then you can enter the app as a guest. To get access to the entire app, including the Agenda, then choose at the bottom of the menu the option "Lid worden" (= "Become an app member"). After a few days University parish Maranatha will invite you to become an app member. Then you can use the entire app, including the updated Agenda.

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.

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: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 am until 12:00 p.m.

Bank account: IBAN NL76RABO0354297589; Subject: 'R.K. Par. Wederkomst van Chr."

• Route description
• Campus Map

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!