Café Emmaüs

‘Pray in the Spirit’ with Sister Simi © Chris De Groote

English Café

Laatste aanpassing op woensdag 11 juni 2025 - 13:50

We did an English ‘Pray in the Spirit’, Café Emmaüs, with music and profound prayers by Sister Simi and Father Ferry! …

Café Emmaus is a simple initiative inspired by the story of the journey of the two disciples from Jerusalem to Emmaüs (Luke 24:13-35)

and

the words of Jesus himself: “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them!” (Matthew 18:20).

We are on our way together!

As Jesus walked with the Emmaüs travelers, so it is with us. We are searching, desperate and have many questions. We do not realize that He is walking with us.

Until we arrive in Emmaüs, does He give us insights? …

New initiative, English Café Emmaüs, we call it 'Oase - English', ...

Dear friends, …

With Sister Simi, an Indian religious sister, we came together on Wednesday 21 May. We were three, as organizers, Sister Simi, Father Ferry and myself Chris. We did an English ‘Pray in the Spirit’ with music and profound prayers by Sister Simi and Father Ferry with singing on the guitar. This will be our English wing of Café Emmaüs, we will call it 'Oase - English' for the future.

Sister Simi belongs to an indigenous congregation, the Missionary Sisters of Mary Immaculate, founded by the late Msgr. C.J. Varkey on September 8, 1962—the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary—at Kulathuvayal in Kerala, India.

Our charism is to manifest the redemptive love of Jesus, with a special focus on family apostolate through family catechesis and the preaching of the Word of God.

Being here in Leuven, I look forward to actively engaging in the ministry of proclaiming the Word of God through meditations and reflections in our prayer groups, spiritual counselling sessions, and by leading praise and worship in group gatherings. Yes, it is the calling of the Holy Spirit for all of us to unite in prayer.

We have decided to come together once a month on a Friday. And we are going to do a survey to know when it is best to come together. We also have a what’s app group in which we will communicate. Anyone who is interested is asked to join this group. We will also keep you informed via the agenda, …

Chris

Soup and stories?

It was a beautiful meeting on Pentecost Monday in the Damien Monastery on the Sint Antoniusberg, in Leuven.

Those who were there, thank you. Those who apologized, hopefully until next time.

What was the intention. To get to know each other better as religious and lay people. To build a bridge between those present. To make contact. Across the congregations.

There were six of us, not counting Father Frits, Father Juan Carlos, Father Rémy, Kristien and Father Jef. They were just passers-by.

I took the following spontaneous photo with Father Ferry of the Picpus Order, Sister Soli of the Congregation of the Mother of Carmel (CMC), myself, Chris and organizer, Kiara of Focolare and Frieda, faithful follower of Café Emmaüs. Diocesan priest Johan thought he should not be on the photo. We did receive a blessing from our priest Johan for what we do and have done for our movement Café Emmaüs.

The intention was to bring people from different congregations together and that worked. We got to know each other better.

Father Ferry on guitar and the rest singing along at the top of their lungs. Praying a text about the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. Fantastic. Then eating soup together with Spanish baguette, followed by a glass of wine and cheese. There were also some snacks. We will continue like this.

Next week we will come together again, in the Damien monastery. In the Spirit of Pentecost we will continue. We are no longer afraid to go outside. The Holy Spirit was among us on this Pentecost Monday and remains among us!

Let us pray for that.

Chris