Chapel for Europe

Our Father who art in heaven - Retreat in daily life Lent 2026
2026-03-05 19:30 - 21:00, 2026-03-12 19:30 - 21:00, 2026-03-19 19:30 - 21:00, 2026-03-26 19:30 - 21:00 (Europe/Brussels) | Chapel for Europe, Rue Van Maerlantstraat 22-24, Brussels, Belgium
Our Father who art in heaven
Retreat in daily life
Lent 2026
Lent is a special time to realign oneself and strengthen one’s relationship with God. We invite you to a retreat in everyday life to deepen your spirituality and grow in the experience of God’s closeness.
The retreat includes a daily biblical prayer, for which instructions are provided, a prayerful review of the day, and a weekly sharing about it.
The retreat follows the OUR FATHER, the basic Christian prayer. Bible passages are offered for daily meditation, which can deepen and illuminate the respective prayer requests of the Lord’s Prayer.
Start: Thursday, 19 February at 19:30
Weekly meetings on Thursdays at 19:30 until 26 March
Information and registration with Fr Bernd Günther SJ (bernd.guenther@chapelforeurope.eu)

Children's mass with parents
2026-03-15 11:00 - 13:00
The Mass will be held mainly in French; some parts may be in English, depending on the participants.

A celebration with children aged 0 to 6 and their families.
Celebrant: Fr. Bernd Günther SJ.
The following dates for the first half of 2026 are: 19 April, 17 May and 21 June.
The Mass is especially for children aged 0 to 6, who remain on the large carpet in front of the altar, surrounded by their parents.
The service is adapted for children, including the hymns, homily and liturgy, to involve them as much as possible, and lasts 45 minutes (60 minutes including arrival and return of the rugs).
Afterwards, families gather for a light snack.
Breastfeeding is welcome, nappy changing is possible, and there are toilets and a lift for pushchairs in the chapel.
Families of other Christian denominations are welcome, in keeping with the Chapel’s ecumenical spirit (the celebration follows the Catholic liturgy).
Parents are invited to join the team of organizing parents, either regularly or occasionally, with:
– music during Mass (guitar, piano, singing or other)
– activities/entertainment based on the Sunday Gospel (colouring, collage, other)
– fruit/healthy snacks after Mass
For more information and if you are interested, please send an email to Fr. Bernd Günther SJ (bernd.guenther@chapelforeurope.eu).

21st Israeli-Palestinian joint Memorial Day Ceremony
2026-03-20 19:00 - 20:30
Every year, Israel observes Memorial Day, a day on which victims of terror and violence are commemorated. The organisations Parents’ Circle Families Forum and Combatants for Peace use this commemoration to highlight the suffering caused by terror, war, retaliation and other violence on both sides of the conflict. They bring together victims from different backgrounds, both Israeli and Palestinian. Family members bear witness to the deaths of their loved ones, but also to their desire to work towards peace and justice, towards security for everyone, and towards a shared future.
On 20 April 2026, the 21st Joint Ceremony will be organised. First, due to COVID and then due to the war in Gaza, Palestinians and Israelis could no longer attend this ceremony together in person.
But that has not stopped the organisers from putting together a strong programme featuring powerful testimonies, music, poetry and speeches. It is always a deeply moving event, thanks to the authentic stories and the powerful message of peace, justice and reconciliation.
How can you follow this ceremony?
1. Would you like to follow this ceremony together with others? Then join us on Monday evening, 20 April at 19:00. We will gather at the Chapel for Europe in Rue Van Maerlant, 22-24, 1040 Etterbeek. Registration is required.
REGISTER HERE
2. Would you prefer to follow from home? Then register on the American Friends of the Parents’ Circle Families Forum website HERE to receive the screening link.
The ceremony will be in English, Arab, and Hebrew. Unfortunately, we cannot translate everything throughout the evening; that would disrupt the serenity of the ceremony.
In collaboration
Thanks to the enormous efforts of Parents’ Circle Families Forum and Combatants for Peace, the 21st Joint Ceremony is taking place this year. This requires not only organisational and technical skills, but also psycho-social and emotional strength. It is an exceptional event that deals with one of the worst forms of pain: the loss of a child, of a parent, of a brother or sister. To bear witness to this is no easy task, certainly not when you do so alongside people who are labelled as the enemy by propaganda.
Pax Christi Flanders has been promoting this Joint Ceremony in Flanders since 2018. This year, we are pleased to announce that we will be collaborating with Pax Christi International, the Platform of Israeli NGOs for Human Rights, the German Friends of Parents Circle Families Forum and Women Wage Peace/Women of the Sun Belgium.

✝ Ecumenical Easter Vigil
2026-04-04 22:00
The Chapel for Europe warmly invites you to celebrate together the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
All celebrations will be held in English.
✝✝ Ecumenical Easter Vigil
Saturday, 4 April – 20:00
Together with the Benelux Finnish Seamen’s Mission, the German Protestant Emmaus community, the Church of Sweden in Brussels and the All Lutheran Church of Brussels
Let us journey together through these holy days and rejoice in the light and hope of Easter.
Please note:There will be no Easter Sunday mass, 5 April at 19:00.The Chapel will be closed on Easter Monday, 6 April.

25th Anniversary Resurrection Vespers
2026-04-12 18:00 - 20:00
This year, the Chapel for Europe is celebrating a joyful milestone, our 25th Anniversary! To mark this special moment, we invite you to join us for the Resurrection Vespers, as we give thanks and celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We warmly invite friends, partners, benefactors, and all who have walked with us to a spirit-filled prayer of gratitude, followed by a time of sharing and fellowship.
Whether you’re a Christian or an interfaith partner, a long-time or recent friend of the Chapel, this is a celebration for everyone touched by this cherished space in the heart of Europe.
Come, be part of this moment of light, hope, and community on Sunday, 12 April at 18:00.
To help us prepare, we appreciate it if you could RSVP by April 7 to welcome@chapelforeurope.eu.
We very much look forward to celebrating with you!

Ecumenical Thursday Prayer
2026-04-16 13:00, 2026-04-23 13:00, 2026-04-30 13:00, 2026-05-07 13:00, 2026-05-14 13:00, 2026-05-21 13:00, 2026-05-28 13:00, 2026-06-04 13:00 and 3 more dates
In English / En anglais.
Welcome back to our Food for Soul: Ecumenical Thursday Prayer, followed by a simple lunch in the upper room of the Chapel.
This moment of prayer and sharing a meal amid a busy week is held on Thursdays from 13:00 to 14:00.
Join us if you work in or around the EU Institutions or other organisations in Brussels!
You are welcome to participate if you would like some time to pray, reflect, and share with others during your busy workweek, also if you are interested in spirituality from different Christian traditions.
This could be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for to invite a colleague to (re)discover Jesus.
Representatives of the different Christian churches lead the Prayer:

In English / En anglais.
Join our Food for Soul: Ecumenical Thursday Prayer, followed by a simple lunch in the upper room of the Chapel.
This moment of prayer and sharing a meal amid a busy week is held on Thursdays from 13:00 to 14:00.
Join us if you work in or around the EU Institutions or other organisations in Brussels!
You are welcome to participate if you would like some time to pray, reflect, and share with others during your busy workweek, and if you are interested in spirituality from different Christian traditions.
This could be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for to invite a colleague to (re)discover Jesus.
Representatives of the different Christian churches lead the Prayer:

02.04. NO Ecumenical Prayer Lunch, Maundy Thursday
09.04. NO Ecumenical Prayer Lunch
16.04. by Johannes Reitze-Landau, Pastor, All Lutheran Church and/or Arani Sen, Senior Chaplain, Holy Trinity Anglican Church
23.04. by Katja Baumann, Pastor, German Protestant Church

Children's mass with parents
2026-04-19 11:00 - 13:00, 2026-05-17 11:00 - 13:00, 2026-06-21 11:00 - 13:00
The Mass will be held mainly in French; some parts may be in English, depending on the participants.

A celebration with children aged 0 to 6 and their families.
Celebrant: Fr. Bernd Günther SJ.
The following dates for the first half of 2026 are: 17 May and 21 June.
The Mass is especially for children aged 0 to 6, who remain on the large carpet in front of the altar, surrounded by their parents.
The service is adapted for children, including the hymns, homily and liturgy, to involve them as much as possible, and lasts 45 minutes (60 minutes including arrival and return of the rugs).
Afterwards, families gather for a light snack.
Breastfeeding is welcome, nappy changing is possible, and there are toilets and a lift for pushchairs in the chapel.
Families of other Christian denominations are welcome, in keeping with the Chapel’s ecumenical spirit (the celebration follows the Catholic liturgy).
Parents are invited to join the team of organizing parents, either regularly or occasionally, with:
– music during Mass (guitar, piano, singing or other)
– activities/entertainment based on the Sunday Gospel (colouring, collage, other)
– fruit/healthy snacks after Mass
For more information and if you are interested, please send an email to Fr. Bernd Günther SJ (bernd.guenther@chapelforeurope.eu).
