Chapel of Our Lady of the Mosten

As was the case at several boarding schools, a scouts group was established from the Klein Seminarie Ypelaar in Ginneken. During the traditional camp week, which was often held during the summer vacation on a wooded plot that once belonged to emeritus pastor Alfons Douenberg, who was once a teacher at this seminary, the students brought an image of Mary each year, which would then remain there until the following year when another group of scouts brought a new image, also carved from soft wood. Animated by student Jos Videler, who later became the pastor of the Sint-Antoniusparish in Breda, the vacationers decided to build a small chapel here in 1945, dedicated to “Our Lady of the Mosten.” Stones, originating from the old church of Hoeven, were transported to Rijsbergen. The Oosterhout architectural and engineering firm Oomen provided the design that was converted into a chapel by Constant Verhaeren. It has become a simple covered brick wall. Sculptor Toon van de Wiel from Breda created a terra-cotta figure of Our Lady as the crowned Duchess of Brabant, with the child on her knees and a scepter in her left hand. The brown-red glazed figure is cemented into a carved-out niche. At the end of August, the chapel was blessed in the presence of Pastor Verbunt by a former scout who had just been ordained as a priest. The beautiful statue has often been damaged by vandals, but it has always been restored. The little building is still situated out of the way, near the Hazeldonk border crossing. Source: along the Lord's ways

Wim Blankers