Convent of De Bremstruik in Roeselare - Discover this open and welcoming religious building

Convent | 1872 - 1874 | Neogothic | Roman Catholic Church

Toilets Pilgrimage site

Carte

Opening hours

01 January - 31 December
Mon 8.30 - 18.30
Tue 8.30 - 18.30
Wed 8.30 - 18.30
Thu 8.30 - 18.30
Fri 8.30 - 18.30
Sat 8.30 - 18.30
Sun 8.30 - 17.30

Guided tour

+32 51 20 04 20

Religious offices

evening prayer : Monday to Friday : 6 pm
eucharist : Saturday 6 pm - Sunday 8.30 am

Description

The Broom, established in the earlier convent of the Clarissen, hold out its hand to the present human being searching for the meaning of life. Are you looking for a quiet place, a listening ear, a helping hand ? Are you longing to a meeting with people that goes deeper than the shallowness? Are you looking out for inspirational words and human connections, for a way of meaningful living? Then a visit to The Broom is surely worthwhile.

The church magazine Tertio published : “The media especially has an eye for the descending church going, but doesn’t notice that in Flanders many refreshing and innovative projects come alive, inspired by the Christian heritage. One of these is ‘The Broom’ in Roeselare.”

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Remarkable elements

Church interior

Jesus and the SS. Mothers Clare and Colette whom we may see as the founders of the Order of Saint Clare. In 1872 an additional tower was added. In 1976 the walls were stripped from their plaster to show the rough brickwork underneath.

Saint Rita

Every day about 50 to 100 people come into the church for a moment of silence and contemplation. The most honoured saints in this church are undoubtedly Our Lady and Saint Rita. Saint Rita brings comfort to a lot of people in hopeless situations and hundreds of candles burn constantly at her statue.

Our Lady

On one hand, there is a strong devotion to Our Lady of Ever-present Assistance, on the other hand there is Mary, Seat of Wisdom. The finely carved wooden statue of Mary, Seat of Wisdom, dates from the 16th century and originates from Treves in Rhineland.

Stained-glass window of Saint Francis

From 1867 to 2013 this monastery was inhabited by the Clares. Since the beginning of the 13th century Francis, sun of a rich salesman of Assisi (Italy), chose a life of poverty and spread the gospel wherever he went. Clare, a rich man’s daughter, joined him. She retreated in prayer in the Monastery of San Damiano.

Peek window

This grated peek window you can find to your left in the church, 5 metres high, behind which the infirmary was situated. Through this peek window the sick and elderly sisters could follow Mass. The Poor Clares were nuns in an enclosed order, that preferred to live a sequestered life in prayer. The long blind outer wall and the many shuttered windows are a representation of this.

‘Hand of God’

Behind the altar a sister choir is situated, where the Clares gathered five times daily for prayer. Even now this still remains holy ground, where people can enter to spend some time in silence. Here, you can also find the ‘Hand of God’ in which people can leave their worries and needs. A contemporary way to give to God what is in our inner most thoughts.

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