Bon vent à Eric Ghysselinckx #2

Le Comité central a déjà dit son "au revoir et bonne chance" à M. Eric Ghysselinckx, ancien chef du service des cultes et des convictions au SPF Justice, à l'occasion de son départ à la retraite (voir notre blog du 26 octobre 2023). Le 9 juillet, le chapelain-président a eu le plaisir d'assister à la célébration parallèle organisée par le Consistoire Israélite de Belgique à la Grande-Synagogue de Bruxelles, présidée par maître Philippe Markiewicz et le baron Julien Klener. M. Ghysselinckx a été honoré de la médaille du Consistoire Israélite en signe de son soutien constant et de son amitié depuis 40 ans. La célébration a été suivie d'un high tea.

Meeting on Migration at CofE General Synod Fringe

On 6 June, the Chaplain-President, acting as Bishop Robert's advisor for EU affairs, contributed to a meeting at the Fringe of the General Synod of the Church of England (which meets at the University of York for its July sessions) on "United beyond Borders: Migration and Movement", organised by our friends and partners in the USPG, who help the Diocese in Europe with cutting-edge refugee projects in Athens, Kiev, Calais and Brussels. Jack's presentation was entitled "Sahel-exit: Migration to Europe from West Africa", in which he explained how political tensions in French-speaking West Africa are fuelling both increased migration across the Mediterranean and the appalling treatment of migrant workers in the chocolate industry in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana. Jack and the General Secretary of USPG, the Revd Dr Duncan Dormor (who used to be colleagues as Cambridge University deans of chapel), look forward to continuing this conversation with a view to practical action to help migrant workers in the Gulf of Guinea.

Anglican prison chaplain training

On 3 July, the entire Anglican prison chaplaincy team met at Holy Trinity Brussels for a training-day organised by the new Anglicaans Instituut België/Institut Anglican de Belgique, which now has the obligation to organise training for our prison chaplains. Our team of Egbert van Groesen, Grace West, Charles Kabera and coordinator Eric Sibomana were joined for the first time by two new volunteer recruits, Charles and Balthazar. Morning Prayer and Bible study was followed by sessions on the legal aspects of prison chaplaincy and reflections from the experienced chaplains on the rationale of prison ministry and how Anglican prison chaplains may be of service to the entire prison community. The day ended with Holy Communion in church and lunch provided by Holy Trinity's Community Kitchen.

Discussions with the Filipino Anglican community in Belgium

On 2 July, further to our blog of 19 June below, the Chaplain-President, Secretary-General and Second Secretary were delighted to invite the Revd June Mark Yanez of St Boniface Antwerp, along with several members of the Filipino community in Belgium, for coffee at Holy Trinity Brussels, in order to discuss the possibilities and opportunities for securing a permanent pastoral ministry to Filipino Anglicans in Belgium, alongside our existing parishes.

Thanks, Blessings & Bon Voyage

The Revd. Sunny Hallanan became the Rector of All Saints, Waterloo in 2011. Since then, she has been actively involved in the life and ministry of that parish, the Anglican Church in Belgium, and as part of the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe (The Episcopal Church USA). Sunny has represented the Anglicans at the Belgian national ecumenical committee (OCKB/CECB) as well as many other official roles. At the same time, Sunny has worked hands-on to help refugees and the marginalised in our society. On Sunday 30 June 2024, the Secretary-General was honoured to receive a blessing from Sunny before she retires this summer and returns to the USA. The Central Committee wants to thank Sunny for all her faithful service and we wish her many blessings in her retirement.

Conference of the Wilfried Martens Centre, Brussels

On 26 June, the Chaplain-President, acting in his capacity as Bishop Robert's adviser for EU affairs, attended a conference of the Wilfried Martens Centre (a research centre linked to the mainstream centre-right EPP (European People's Party) group in the European Parliament) entitled Did secularisation kill God? Changes in religiosity and values among "natives" and "migrants" in Europe, which analysed the differences in religious observance across "native" and "migrant" populations in the EU, with migrant populations typically exhibiting a stronger attachment to religious observance as well as to "traditional values". A lively discussion took place. Our friend Dr Torsten Moritz, secretary-general of the Churches' Commission on Migrants in Europe, made a very perceptive speech on the Churches' role in making migrant communities feel that they belong in Europe.

Discussion on prisons with the British Embassy

On 24 June, the Chaplain-President was delighted to have lunch at the British Embassy in Brussels with diplomats specialising in prison policy, to share knowledge and to map out ways in which British citizens who find themselves incarcerated in Belgium can obtain the best level of consular, pastoral and other support. Jack was grateful for the discussion as well as for the excellent gourmet lunch.

King Charles' birthday party at the British Embassy

On 20 June, the Chaplain-President attended the celebrations of the official birthday of King Charles of Great Britain at the British Embassy. This annual event is an excellent opportunity for various Belgian personalities with links to Britain to catch up and meet informally. Jack was able to say farewell on behalf of the Anglicans of Belgium to Martin Shearman, British ambassador to Belgium since 2019 - credit is due to him for doing his best to soften the difficulties in Belgian-British relations caused by Brexit - who is leaving Brussels this summer to take up a post in the FCDO in London.

Conference on hate speech organised by the Conseil Musulman de Belgique

On 20 June, the Chaplain-President was honoured to attend the conference "The contribution of Muslim leaders to combatting hate speech", organised by the Conseil Musulman at the Ministry of Justice buildings. Two panels of distinguished guest-speakers discussed salient issues such as: how to define hate speech, the relation between hate speech and violence, the tension between free speech and hate speech, how religious leaders can contribute towards lessening the evil effects of hate speech. We thank the Ministry of Justice for hosting this event, and our friends Esma Uçan and Michaël Privot at the Conseil Musulman for organising such an interesting and important conference.

One year anniversary of the Filipino Community in Antwerp

On Sunday 16th, the Filipino Community in Antwerp celebrated its one year anniversary. Congratulations!

This community meets one Sunday a month in St. Boniface, Antwerp, for a eucharist service in Tagalog, celebrated by Reverend June Mark Yañez. After the afternoon service, there is always a social moment to share refreshments and fellowship.

Thank you Father June for your ongoing commitment to growing this community and to welcoming Filipinos from across the province of Antwerp! All our good wishes and prayers for their continued flourishing!

Afscheidsfeest voorzitter Collin PARCUM

Het was een feestelijke sfeer bij PARCUM in Leuven op 13 juni 2024 ten ere van de voormalige voorzitter, EH kanunnik Ludo Collin die zijn rol na veel jaren heeft neergelegd. Meer dan twintig jaar geleden is voorzitter Collin begonnen met het oprichten van CRKC vzw om een organisatie te hebben die zorgt voor religieuze kunst, cultuur, erfgoed en patrimonium. Ondertussen is CRKC vzw PARCUM geworden. Naast het expertise centrum in Vlaanderen voor roerend, onroerend en immaterieel erfgoed, heeft PARCUM ook een depot van materiaal voor geloofsgemeenschappen en een museum in het Abdij van Park die schittert met tentoonstellingen vanuit de diverse collectie. De kapelaan-voorzitter en secretaris-generaal hebben de receptie bij gewoond en feliciteren kanunnik Collin voor al zijn jaren in deze sector. Zij wensen hem veel zegeningen en wel verdiende rust in de toekomst.

Remise des diplômes au cours Emouna Belgique

Le 12 juin, le chapelain-président, membre-fondateur d'Emouna Belgique, a eu le plaisir d'assister à la cérémonie de remise des diplômes aux émouniens de la promotion 2023-2024, dont trois anglicans : Philip de Holy Trinity Bruxelles et Marie-Rose et Balthazar de Saint-Esprit Mons. Deux anciens émouniens anglicans, Eric Sibomana et Grace West, sont également présents pour soutenir la nouvelle génération. Toute la journée s'est déroulée dans une atmosphère de joie et de célébration, équilibrée par la détermination de maintenir le dialogue interreligieux dans un monde déchiré par des conflits à Gaza, en Ukraine, au Congo et ailleurs.

Meeting of the Chefs de culte to discuss Brussels Region business

On 6 June, the Chaplain-President met with the other chefs de culte at the headquarters of the Catholic Church in the Brussels Region, as the guest of Mgr Tony Frison, Episcopal Vicar for the Brussels Region. A full agenda discussed various practical aspects of the new Brussels Region law for religious buildings and communities, together with a selection of new ideas for how the recognised religions could further help the inhabitants of Brussels, especially those in most need. We were all delighted to receive a parting gift of chocolates from Mgr Tony!

Round Table with Herman Van Rompuy and Prince Lorenz

On 5 June, the Chaplain-President, in his capacity as Bishop Robert's adviser for EU affairs, attended and participated in a round table organised by Comece at the Chapelle de l'Europe with the title "Governmental responsibility and personal ethos". This apparently heavy title did not prevent a lively and fascinating debate, with the main speakers being Herman Van Rompuy (former president of the European Council) and Prince Lorenz (King Philippe's brother-in-law). Count Van Rompuy spoke about the constitutional crisis in Belgium in 1990 concerning King Baudouin's opposition to the parliamentary decision to legalise abortion. Prince Lorenz spoke about his grandfather's (Charles I of Austria, beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2004) personal ethical and faith journey in the wake of the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire after World War I. There was loud applause at the end for an evening full of insight.

Meeting at the European Commission about Nigeria

On 5 June, the Chaplain-President, acting in his capacity as Bishop Robert's adviser for EU affairs, participated in a meeting at the European Commission with Baron Frans van Daele, the EU's special envoy for Freedom of Religion and Belief, on his forthcoming visit to Nigeria.  A full and interesting exchange of views occurred about the current situation in Nigeria with respect to tensions between common law and Sharia law, the persecution of Christians and terrorist violence, and concerning possible ways in which the EU could be of real and non-interfering assistance to Nigeria.

European, Federal and Regional Elections in Belgium: Sunday 9 June

Please find below a statement by the heads of the recognised religions and of Buddhism in Belgium concerning the importance of the European, Federal and Regional elections to be held in Belgium this Sunday.

Voici une déclaration des chefs des cultes reconnus et du bouddhisme en Belgique concernant l'importance des élections européenne, fédérale et régionale qui se tiennent ce dimanche.

Hieronder volgt een verklaring van de hoofden van de erkende erediensten en het boeddhisme in België over het belang van de Europese, federale en regionale verkiezingen die deze zondag plaatsvinden.

Episcopal Church USA Summer School on Anglicanism in Utrecht

The Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe is organising a second edition of last year's very successful summer school in the University of Utrecht: "Anglicanism in European Perspective." This will occur from 21 to 26 July and further details are here: Anglicanism in European Perspective | Utrecht Summer School. The Chaplain-President will be delighted to lecture again this year, accompanied by several old friends in university Anglican studies circles. The summer school provides an excellent introduction to the Anglican tradition for the interested outsider or newcomer, and its sponsorship by a non-British Anglican province underlines Anglicanism's worldwide scope.