On Sunday the 14th of April, the Second Secretary and Secretary General were pleased to attend a celebration for Sant’Egidio Belgium’s 54th anniversary in Antwerp.

The day began with a gathering at Sant’Egidio’s Laudato Si’ center, which serves one of Antwerp’s outlying neighborhoods. Everyone who had come to Belgium through the Humanitarian Corridors scheme was invited to come, so it was a joyful morning of reconnecting and sharing experiences. Many beneficiaries of the programme took the opportunity to express their gratitude for the difference Humanitarian Corridors made in their journey to safely and legally come to Europe. Representatives from Sant’Egidio also highlighted the value that migrants bring to Belgian society - today and in the future.

After lunch and a ferry ride across to Antwerp’s Right Bank, more guests gathered for a thanksgiving mass in the Cathedral of Our Lady, at which Kardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, Archbishop of Luxembourg, preached and Bishop Bonny of Antwerp presided. Sant’Egidio volunteers and representatives from partner organisations and the Belgian government were all welcomed. The service was followed by a reception at Sant’Egidio’s central hub.