Towards 175^th FIC’s Anniversary

 In 2015 our Congregation is going to celebrate its 175^th anniversary. The Congregation was officially founded by Mgr. Ludovicus Rutten on November 21^st , 1840.  This important event is expected to be an opportunity for all brothers FIC in the provinces to express their sense of gratitude to God and people who have made the Congregation possible to develop and carry out its mission successfully. This jubilee year coincides perfectly with the 50^th anniversary of FIC’s presence in Ghana, Africa.  All provinces are expected to celebrate this jubilee year according to their needs and situation.

To prepare the celebration the Dutch Province, which is aware of its position as the origin of the Congregation, has assigned a preparatory committee to think of the ways and means to celebrate the event properly. The committee consists of three brothers: Bros. Wis Swuste, Frans Turkenburg, and Lo Koeleman. They have started their work by discussing among others the theme and activities to be done during the celebration.

The theme of the celebration in the Dutch Province will be “The Story Goes Further” or in Dutch “Het Verhaal Gaat Verder”. Meanwhile the activities to be done among others the historical exhibition at Vrijthof-Maastricht in October-November 2015 and the Eucharistic celebration on 21 November 2015 followed by a reception in The Beyart. Another idea is to organize a special gathering where some important persons such as the Governor of Limburg and the Mayor of Maastricht will be invited to give speeches.  The committee will also publish a special calendar of 2015 and a special edition of the Congregational magazine.

Another idea came to the fore is a fund raising for a project in different provinces outside The Netherlands. This movement is involving brothers and people of good-will in general. The provinces are invited to propose a project (for the needy) of which might attract people and fellow brothers to support the project by giving some financial contribution to it.  This movement is hopefully able to bring people to a significant project which makes the story of the Congregation possible to go further.