29 November 2025 — BELOVED FAITHFUL — The month of November brought us the great blessing of many confirmands, who were able to receive the sacrament of Holy Confirmation from the hands of our diocesan bishop. The liturgy was impressive, and the homily of His Most Reverend Excellency deeply inspiring for the confirmands, who, now strengthened by the gifts of the Holy Ghost, are able to take up more earnestly the struggle for their holiness.
On the last Sunday before Advent we bade farewell to Fr. Hagenbeek, who, after seven years in Amsterdam, will begin a new apostolate in Lobith. I am deeply grateful to Fr. Hagenbeek for his dedication to our parish—in the confessional and in catechesis; for the great work he undertook in organising the family retreats in Bant each summer; and, naturally, for the shared life in the FSSP house. We were four priests living together, which also lent greater strength and solemnity to the sung choral prayer of the community. All this is now—reduced by half. We hope that in both places—Amsterdam and Lobith—there will soon be much growth.
The departure of Fr. Hagenbeek means one priest fewer for confession and for religious instruction. I hope that you will remain grateful for what still remains. I ask you with particular urgency for your prayers for our mission in the Netherlands during these days of Advent: everything that we do, and everything that you are, must be directed toward the coming Lord.
The Advent into which we now enter has for us a threefold meaning. First, that God became man in time and was born into this world. Second, that at the end of time He will return in glory to judge the world. And third, that within the Church we may live in His coming in grace, which we receive through the sacraments.
Through faith God gives us the strength to live in hope. That hope is directed toward His coming in glory. Then we shall be united with Him: our soul will be wholly filled with His grace, and our body, reunited with the soul, will be glorified, to be with Him forever.
I wish you a blessed Advent.
✠ With my priestly blessing,
Fr. M. Kromann Knudsen, Pastor