H. Catherine of Alexandria church - Sterksel
H. St. Catherine of Alexandria church
Beukenlaan 1, Sterksel
Chapel Friary Providentia
Late neo-Gothic chapel with tower.
Chapel of the friars' house Providentia
In 1920, the Friars of St. Joseph settled in Sterksel and founded Providentia House. These were followed in 1926 by the White Fathers, a missionary order. These came from St. Charles in Boxtel. They bought the hotel from the bankrupt reclamation company to start St. Paul's College, a boarding school, in it. In 1965 they stopped their activities. The chapel of Providentia was consecrated in 1932. It was dedicated to St. Cornelius, the patron of epileptics. Its architect was Anton J. Bartels. The building is neo-Gothic, but the interior has features of Art Nouveau. Finally, in 1950, the White Sisters (Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa) settled, so there were then three congregations present in Sterksel. These sisters remained until 1998. In 1991, Providentia became completely secular.
Inspiration Point The Groote Heide
The brand new inspiration point at De Achelse Kluis is the place to find out everything about De Groote Heide. You will experience a warm place of experience that stimulates all your senses in an interactive way. Using imagination as an instrument, natural reflexes are awakened and you can feel what makes De Groote Heide so special. The inspiration point is open to everyone free of charge.
Interactive discovery
What was it like to live as a monk in the Achelse Kluis? Which beastly inhabitants live in the cross-border nature park De Groote Heide? And what do the abbey and chip machine manufacturer ASML in Eindhoven have in common? The Inspiratiepunt De Groote Heide immerses you interactively in the history and future of the area.
Wereldwinkel Heeze
Wereldwinkel Heeze sells the most beautiful global gifts, surprising to give away or to keep for yourself and use. Gifts from the Wereldwinkel are authentic, crafted by hand, and sometimes made according to ancient traditions, but of course with a contemporary touch. The gifts come from countries like India, Ghana, Madagascar, and Tibet. From wood carvings and ceramics to jewelry and food products.
The World Shop is a charming gift store located in the center of Heeze. We offer a wide range of unique fair trade and local products. The shop is run by a wonderful team of volunteers who are passionate about the fair trade movement.
"I didn't know you had that!"
This is something we often hear in the shop. Our creative buyers go out monthly to expand our assortment. From children's toys to wellness products, food, clothing accessories, and delightful home decor items, we have it all.
But what is fair trade exactly?
Fair trade stands for ethical commerce. This means that producers of fair trade products receive a fair price for their goods and fair wages are paid. Fair trade is a sustainable form of trade because fair wages provide local communities with a real chance for a better life.
With the onset of winter time, we close an hour earlier. Our opening hours during the winter months are:
- Monday Closed
- Tuesday 10.00 to 17.00
- Wednesday 10.00 to 17.00
- Thursday 10.00 to 17.00
- Friday 10.00 to 17.00
- Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Sunday Closed
Of course, you can still come to us for great gifts or just something nice for yourself. We can also help you put together original fair trade Christmas hampers. We look forward to seeing you in the shop.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Huisje op ' t Ven
Enjoy the tranquility of Brabant at Huisje op 't Ven. The cottage is located in the countryside of Heeze-Leende, from where you can explore various nature reserves. Nature reserves such as the Groote Heide, Strabrechtse Heide, and the Herbertus Forests with Heeze Castle are within walking and cycling distance.
Camperplaats Heeze
Located in the beautiful Heeze, Camperplaats Heeze offers the perfect base for your adventures in North Brabant. Enjoy the peace and space our location has to offer while exploring the rich nature and culture of the surroundings.
Reformed Congregation
History of the Reformed Congregation of Heeze
The history of the Reformed Congregation of Heeze is closely linked to the Castle in Heeze. From 1659, the castle was inhabited by Protestant lords who were actively involved with the church and brought many laborers and tenants from other (Protestant) regions to Heeze. These "immigrants" and their descendants form the original core of the congregation. In the late 1950s, the villages increasingly became commuter towns, leading to the growth of the church congregation.
History of the Heeze Chapel
The Protestant Church on Kapelstraat in Heeze is a distinctive and recognizable building. Located across from the well-known café "De Zwaan" and with a straight road leading to the castle, this church occupies a prominent position in the village. Anyone who visits Heeze sees the building standing there. This church has been there for over a hundred years, but previously, there was also a church on the same site. The history of this church is strongly connected with the castle, as well as with the village of Heeze. The church is a characteristic building that stands out and has a rich history.
Sint-Jans Chapel
History of the Sint-Jans Chapel
Since 1962, an annual outdoor Eucharist celebration has been held at the foot of the chapel hill on June 24th. On this day, the church celebrates the birth of Saint John the Baptist, also known as John the Baptizer. (His death, by beheading, is commemorated on August 29th.) Saint John the Baptist is a biblical figure, the forerunner of Jesus Christ, and a particularly great prophet.
Saint John the Baptist is the patron saint of the Saint John the Baptist Guild of Leenderstrijp. The guild members celebrate their patron saint on this feast day with great ceremony. It is an impressive sight to both see and hear. They make the most significant contribution to this celebration in front of the Sint-Jans Chapel, which attracts hundreds of visitors in good weather.
However, historically and religiously, there is much more to the story of the Sint-Jans Chapel. Each Saint John's celebration reminds participants of events that occurred here centuries ago. In 1610, Gramaye wrote about the chapel in Leende, noting its fame for the miracles that occurred there thanks to John the Baptist and John the Evangelist. In other words, devout people went on pilgrimages seeking healing in the sacred.
The first mentions of a Saint John's Chapel in Leende date back to shortly after 1400. Located on a hill, it was a large chapel, comparable to most churches. The Sint-Jans Chapel was likely founded by the lord of Heeze and Leende. In 1440, it was first mentioned by Philips van Horne, though it probably existed for some time before that. Originally dedicated to both John the Baptist and John the Evangelist, the chapel had its own chaplain and was a pilgrimage site.
The veneration of Saint John the Baptist came to an end in 1648, after the Peace of Münster, when the chapel and its benefice came into Protestant hands. The chapel fell into disrepair. The Catholic faith was banned, and all Catholic churches and chapels were closed. The faithful sought refuge in so-called "border chapels" or "hidden churches" across the national border. However, the people of Strijp repaired their chapel several times, but over the years it eventually fell into decay, partly because the chapel's income was diverted to the baron of Heeze.
Around 1840, when freedom of religion became a reality for everyone, the ruins were cleared, and a new chapel was built in 1843. From then on, pilgrimages to the Sint-Jans Chapel flourished once more. Many people visited the chapel on the feast day of Saint John's Beheading, August 29th. (Hence the "Saint John's dish" seen in the chapel and in the church of Leende.) The Saint John the Baptist Guild of Leenderstrijp would go to the chapel on June 24th to honor their patron saint. Various pilgrims would visit the chapel individually, especially invoking Saint John against headaches and other ailments due to his beheading.
In the 20th century, organized group pilgrimages began to form. Likely in the 1930s, a chaplain from Leende organized youth pilgrimages to the Strijp chapel on the evening of June 24th. Under the singing of the Leende folk song, the participants would ascend the chapel hill, where, after a short prayer, the Saint John's bouquets would be blessed. On Saint John's days, June 24th (birth) and August 29th (beheading), the chapel was visited by many pilgrims. Masses were not held in Leenderstrijp, and attempts to establish a separate parish in 1880 and 1930 failed.
Only since 1962 has an annual open-air Eucharist celebration been held on June 24th. The guild, which has maintained the chapel since 1935, also ensures a festive and colorful atmosphere on this feast day. The history of the chapel and the guild are closely intertwined. According to tradition, the people of Strijp have their Saint John's bouquet blessed on June 24th. They gather herbs and flowers like St. John's wort, cornflower, daisy, cuckoo flower, forget-me-not, grass, rose, and violets. Such a bouquet placed next to the house door offers protection against evil spirits and lightning strikes.
Even today, hundreds of people visit the little chapel in Strijp each year. The many candles that are lit there are a sign that faith remains alive. (Source: Jac Biemans, Pilgrimage Sites in the Netherlands)