The Cave of Wiemesmeer: Lourdes close to home

If you want to give a cross or visit the Lourdes cave, you no longer have to make a long journey to France. Currently, there are about 650 replicas located throughout Flanders. One of the lesser-known Marian caves is the one in Wiemesmeer in Zutendaal. Today, there is still a lot of activity there, as the site can welcome around 900 people each summer. Masses are still being held, and there is even Wi-Fi.

Hidden in the forest of Zutendaal, at Veugenstraat 65, lies the Grotto of Wiemesmeer, one of the lesser-known Lourdes caves in Flanders. It is easily accessible by bike. The cave is located between cycling junction 29 and the center of Wiemesmeer. Jos Hendrikx, responsible for the cave and chairman of the Grotto Committee, explains: ‘Even though the cave is somewhat hidden, we still see many people coming by. I estimate about 900 people each summer. Throughout the year, we don’t really have an overview. Both young and old come to the cave to relax, light a candle, or pray. We often still see groups coming on pilgrimage, although that had quieted down a bit during the COVID period.’ On summer Sundays, masses are even organized.

Limburg’s Lourdes

The Marian Grotto was built in 1925, commissioned by Mathijs Thijssens, a local resident who had previously placed a statue of Mary at the site in 1907. His daughter wanted a Marian grotto nearby, and her father decided to build one eighteen years later. ‘That was my grandfather,’ Hendrikx explains. ‘He had first built a statue of Mary a bit further away and later another one at the location where the grotto now stands. That was to thank God because he had been cured of the disease called furunculosis, which is a very contagious and unpleasant disease.’ The grotto was constructed based on the model of the Lourdes grotto in Edegem. Nowadays, the site consists of more than just a grotto. There are now benches, extra chapels, columns, a pond, and quite a bit of nature; both landscaped and naturally grown. Additionally, a shelter has been built for the choir singers who support the services.

For a time, masses were only held at the grotto on Sundays, and the boys' college went there on pilgrimage. However, this changed in 1976 when the roof of the local church collapsed. With the church of Wiemesmeer no longer able to be used for services, a solution had to be sought. ‘The pastor then requested to hold masses on Saturday evenings and sometimes on Fridays. This continued. It was, of course, only during spring and summer because otherwise, it was far too cold.’ The collapse laid the foundation for an annual tradition. Every summer, evening services are held. Annually, about 900 people come to Wiemesmeer from all over Limburg for these services.

Keeping up with the times

The Grotto of Wiemesmeer has kept up with the times. In 2021, even a house number was requested. This was not without reason: it allowed them to install a Wi-Fi connection. Hendrikx explains why: ‘The Wi-Fi came about during the corona period. When no more than fifty people were allowed to be physically present at our masses, we decided to do livestreams through our website. This way, everyone could follow along from home.’ Without a house number, of course, an internet cable cannot be laid, but fortunately, the municipal council approved that quickly. A month after the request, it was all set, just before the start of the month of May.

Author: © Femke Vaes

Source: reproduced with permission from StampMedia

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