A couple of hundred children and young people gathered in ‘s-Hertogenbosch yesterday for the annual Catholic Youth Day. The photo below is an impression of the information market that was open all day and filled with stands of anything from religious orders to dioceses, universities and schools, movements and individual faithful who had something to share with young Catholics from all over the country.
I attended with a small group from my own diocese, and for me it was very much a chance to meet people, clergy and laity alike, I don’t get a chance to see regularly. Some of those encounters were high points of the day. I mention a short chat with Father Harm Schilder, comparing notes with media entrepreneur Eric van den Berg of Catholic Internet portal Isidorusweb, Archbishop Wim Eijk responding positively to me and my girlfriend’s request to bless our relationship, a chance to catch up with my own bishop, Msgr. Gerard de Korte, and a quick hello to Father Roderick, who was recording a radio show.
The day ended with a Mass offered by ten bishops and few dozen priests in concelebration. ‘s-Hertogenbosch ordinary Bishop Hurkmans was the main celebrant, and his auxiliary Bishop Rob Mutsaerts was the homilist. The latter proved to be an eloquent speaker, able to engage his audience and keep their attention. His natural emphasis on the importance of the Eucharist as opposed to ‘weak alternatives’ was also not unwelcome. Of course, as is sadly still normal for the big public Masses in this country, there were abuses (and some things that simply weren’t to my taste). Popularity and accessibility still prevail over sanctity, it seems, while sanctity can be accessible without being played down.
Anyway, not to put a damper on what was indeed a very goo day, here are some photographic impressions:
Photo credit: 1, 3, 4 and 5 by me; 2,6 and 7 by Ramon Mangold for Jongkatholiek.nl
In Caelo et in Terra 
Hehe, nice timing of the last photo 😛
Just a small comment regarding bishop Mutsaerts. I don’t believe he formally is the auxillary to bishop Hurkmans. He is (the) auxillary bishop to the diocese of ‘s-Hertogenbosch.
I also wonder if the Mass was offered or celebrated by dozens of priests.
Nice blog BTW!
You’re right about Msgr. Mutsaerts being the auxiliary of the diocese, and not of Bishop Hurkmans.
As for the priests: I didn’t count them, but there were a fair number of them.
Ok. I meant, isn’t the Mass celebrated instead of Offered? Wouldn’t that only be a proper word to speak of the Sacrifice in a different sense (grammatically)
Did you notice the Benedictine altar arrangement?
Hehe, nice you mention it..we were talking about that 😛