The Archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussels, the primatial see in Belgium, has reduced its most reformist parish to the status of an independent religious community because lay people – including women – preside at priest-less sacraments.
The community of Don Bosco in Buizingen, a village just southwest of Brussels, can still use the church but must now discuss the “practical effect of this decision” with the vicariate for Flemish Brabant.
“We realised the gap was too big,” the Brussels episcopal council said, stressing the need for a male priest at the Eucharist. “It is a sign of something that goes beyond us. If we remove that, we are no longer in the great Catholic tradition.”
The decision, after between a year and 18 months of talks, is unique in Belgium and shows both sides have been searching for a compromise. But the archdiocese felt it had to draw a line.
Until 2009, Don Bosco was the parish of the activist Fr Rik Devillé, a leading critic of sexual abuse cases in the Belgian Church that have come to the fore again in recent months.
When Fr Devillé retired, the lack of priests led the congregation to take over their role. The church building is also used for other activities, such as yoga and dance classes.
“We hope this will give a future” to the Don Bosco community, the vicariate said in its announcement of the parish’s delisting, “and that new opportunities for collaboration may arise.” It said the following talks with the community would remain confidential.
Although disappointed, the community of 117 believers stuck to their view of the future. “I honestly hope that it will not be completely outside the Catholic Church,” Don Bosco coordinator Els Paridaens said.
“We think this is a missed opportunity, especially in light of the ongoing synodal process,” she said. “We are good at innovative thinking about what the Church can mean in our society. We would like to be a ‘lab church’, an experimental project in which people can also find their place. And that is difficult.”
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