The Belgian Community Opens its doors

Published by Fr. Frans FABRY SMM and Mrs. Godelief GINNEBERGE in Belgium · Wednesday 01 Jul 2026 · 5:00
Tags: NU, BEL, 1359

KESSEL-LO, Belgium - On 20 June 2026, the Kessel-Lo community hosted its first ever ‘Open Day’ for the neighbourhood. For us, the residents, it was a real challenge: what did we mean by this, how should we organise it, how many people would turn up, and what were we going to offer? Ourselves, our house and our chapel?

We had already had some contact with our neighbours. There is a desire in the local area to bring more social life to the Jozef Pierrestraat. That atmosphere breathed new life into an earlier idea.

When two ideas come together

The idea of an Open House was not new. For the late Brother Karlos, the former responsible for the house, a sense of connection with the neighbourhood had always been important. He welcomed the fact that the monastery provided space for ‘external initiatives’, and when the secretary Godelief, asked in 2024 if the Gospelrats choir could hold a weekend event at the monastery, Brother Karlos – and with him the other residents – agreed. As a token of gratitude for the hospitality, the choir members promised to perform at an Open Day to be organised by Brother Karlos and the secretary, who is a member of the Gospelrats. The idea was born, but the plans were severely thwarted by Brother Karlos’s illness and death.

After the second choir weekend in February this year, the Open Day really had to go ahead now.

What to offer?

It took just one meeting to give the initiative shape: it would be an Open Day on 20 June from 2 pm to 5 pm. It was decided in advance that the Gospelrats would perform. There was no doubt that there would be drinks and snacks, and above all, that the initiative needed to be publicised. Tasks were divided up, posters were made and put up, including in various churches. Flyers were designed, printed and distributed in the surrounding streets, and social media was used… no one could say they hadn’t been told. But what the final turnout would be remained a nail-biting question…

20 June

The day before the gathering, there was still a lot of hard work going on in the garden, mainly to ensure there was shade for the choir and the guests beneath the branches of the silver birch tree; after all, the temperatures were set to soar. On the day itself, an abundance of biscuits, watermelon, coffee, tea and soft drinks was provided in the living room, and the path to the chapel was decorated with bunting. A ‘Welcome’ sign was hung around the Montfort statue in the garden. Books by and about Montfort were placed in the meeting room, whilst the consultation room was stocked with leaflets, recent issues of our magazines and information on pilgrimages. Those interested would be offered a free copy of the translation of Montfort’s biography by Théodule Rey-Mermet.

From 2.00 pm, the first visitors began to trickle in. But it was the performance by the Gospelrats at 2.30 pm that attracted the most attention. After all, the choir had a number of strengths: they mainly sing gospel songs, often well-known sing-alongs – songs with a religious theme. The programme also included African songs, which was a treat for the African confreres and visitors. The lyrics were provided so that anyone who wished to could sing along.

But the choir’s distant origins also played a part. These lie in the St Anthony’s parish in Heverlee. It began as a children’s choir and a spin-off from the church choir, more than 40 years ago. The Gospelrats have long since ceased to be a children’s or youth choir, but they have lost none of their quality and, above all, their enthusiasm. And that was certainly noticeable on the Open Day. The fact that four members of the Gospelrats still sing in the St Anthony’s church choir – and that Father Ghislain is active there – meant that quite a lot of parishioners made their way to Jozef Pierrestraat on Saturday.

The singing made an impression even far beyond the convent. Several local residents had been aware of the sisters’ convent but had never been inside, and the singing drew them here. One family, for instance, apologised as they entered: “Sorry, we’ve never been here before, but we were sitting in the garden at home and the children heard the singing and insisted on coming here!” They were, of course, given a warm welcome. After the singing, a lively and engaging discussion took place in the living room; the refreshments and drinks were also greatly appreciated. People looked around with curiosity in the chapel and the rooms where further information was available.

What is the result?

During the Eucharistic celebration that same evening and the following day, we received, as it were, an answer from Jesus in the Gospel. “Do not be afraid,” he said twice. This can be understood to mean: “Do not doubt… You are called to be witnesses, not only through words, but also through the way you live your lives. The temptation is great to hide one’s faith, to avoid criticism or ridicule. We must be Christians, God’s Christians, His representatives in the world; people must hear and see that.”

Fr. Frans FABRY SMM and Mrs. Godelief GINNEBERGE

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