ABBOT'S BLESSING AFTER 36 YEARS

The RPS Benelux Chapter PHOTOBOOK

Abbot’ s Blessing

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there were no invitees in the church during the Abbot’s blessing. The ceremony was broadcast live

© Armando Jongejan “Only a few permanent employees of the abbey sat in the pews at a good distance from each other”

When I visited the Sint Adelbert abbey in

Egmond-Binnen, The Netherlands for the first time in 1995, Brother Gerard Mathijsen was the 43rd Abbot of the Abbey of Egmond. During his Abbacy, a lot has changed. A major renovation of the abbey took place, the abbey shop and the candle factory building were expanded and a conference room with a reception and exhibition space was realised in the backyard to receive visitors.

Brother Gerard, who has now passed the age of 80, did not want to make himself available for another term after having been Abbot for 36 years. With his resignation, an Abbot election was required to be held.

44th Abbot was chosen

On Monday, June 22, 2020, Brother Thijs Ketelaars was chosen by the capitulants, the monks who are attached to the abbey by perpetual vows, as the 44th Abbot of the Abbey of Egmond. Subsequently, the Abbot’s blessing by Abbot President Maksymilian Robert Nawara took place on Wednesday 24th June 2020.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there were no invitees in the church during the Abbot’s blessing. Only a few permanent employees of the abbey sat in the pews at a good distance from each other. It felt unreal to be able to make this photo shoot in an almost empty church, but it also made it special. The ceremony was broadcast live. On one of the choir stalls a laptop was placed, connected to a webcam. In this way, interested parties could still participate in this special service. It was strange to see the laptop on the choir stalls. You can also say that it was a contemporary solution.

A Book is published by the abbey

The abbey has published a book of this special event in an edition of just 100 copies. It is a book with 27 photos and 64 pages, size 30x30x1cm hard back. Text in Dutch and English. If you have questions about the book, contact Armando.

© Armando Jongejan - Sint Adelbert abbey - church

© Armando Jongejan - left Abbot President Maksymilian Robert Nawara and right Brother Thijs Ketelaars, the new abbot

© Armando Jongejan - the Abbot’s blessing of Brother Thijs Ketelaars by Abbot President Maksymilian Robert Nawara

© Armando Jongejan - Abbot Thijs becomes the shepherd's staff

© Armando Jongejan - church

© Armando Jongejan “It was strange to see the laptop on the choir stalls. You can also say that it was a contemporary solution”