His Eminence Cardinal Willem Jacobus Eijk’s First Pontifical Traditional Latin Mass – March 15, 2026

 

His Eminence Cardinal Willem Jacobus Eijk’s First Pontifical Traditional Latin Mass

Church of the Immaculate Conception (Grote Kerk ),

Oss, the Netherlands – Laetare Sunday, 15 March 2026

 

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On Laetare Sunday, 15 March 2026, His Eminence Cardinal Willem Jacobus Eijk, Archbishop of Utrecht, will celebrate for the first time in his episcopal ministry a Pontifical High Mass according to the Vetus Ordo, also known as the Traditional Latin Mass.

The solemn liturgy will take place in the historic Church of Mary Immaculate Conception (Grote Kerk) in Oss, Netherlands. For many faithful attached to the ancient Roman liturgy, this occasion represents a historic moment in the contemporary Catholic life of the Netherlands.

A Historic Moment in Dutch Liturgical Life

Before the liturgical reforms following the Second Vatican Council, pontifical celebrations of the Traditional Roman Rite were a normal part of Catholic life in the Netherlands. However, since the introduction of the new Roman Missal in 1969, such celebrations by Dutch cardinals appear not to have taken place in the country.

If confirmed, Cardinal Eijk’s forthcoming celebration would therefore mark the first pontifical Traditional Latin Mass by a Dutch cardinal in well over half a century.

The Catholic Tradition of the Netherlands

The Netherlands once played an important role in the missionary life of the Catholic Church. From the early Middle Ages onward, missionaries from the Low Countries helped spread the Christian faith throughout Northern Europe.

Among the most prominent figures is Saint Willibrord, often called the Apostle of the Netherlands, whose missionary work shaped the Christian history of the region.

In later centuries, Dutch clergy, religious orders, and missionaries continued to contribute significantly to the life of the universal Church. The Catholic heritage of the Netherlands is therefore both deep and historically influential.

The Church in Oss and the Continuity of the Liturgy

The Grote Kerk (a big church) in Oss has for many years been a place where the Traditional Latin Mass is offered with stability within the diocese. In the decades surrounding the Second Vatican Council, the Netherlands became known as one of the countries where particularly rapid and far-reaching changes in Catholic life occurred.

In many places, traditional liturgical practices that had shaped Catholic spirituality for centuries were quickly replaced or disappeared altogether. Despite these developments, communities of faithful attached to the Traditional Latin Mass have continued to preserve and cultivate the ancient Roman liturgy.

In recent years, the Grote Kerk in Oss has become one of the places where the Vetus Ordo is offered with stability and reverence within the diocesan life of the Church.

The patroness of the church is Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, and the region is also closely associated with Saint Willibrord, the great missionary bishop often called the Apostle of the Netherlands.

 

Profile of Cardinal Willem Jacobus Eijk

Cardinal Willem Jacobus Eijk was born in 1953 in Duivendrecht in the Netherlands. Before entering the seminary, he studied medicine at the University of Amsterdam. He later obtained a doctorate in medical bioethics and philosophy, specializing in moral theology.

He was ordained a priest in 1985, appointed Bishop of Groningen-Leeuwarden in 1999, and became Archbishop of Utrecht in 2007. In 2012 he was created a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI.

His pastoral ministry and academic work have been particularly focused on questions of Catholic moral theology and bioethics in a society that has undergone rapid secularization process in recent decades.

The Pontifical High Mass – 15 March 2026

The Pontifical High Mass will begin at 12:30 PM in the Church of Mary Immaculate Conception (Grote Kerk), Kerkstraat 15, Oss.

The celebration forms part of the regular diocesan life of the Traditional Latin Mass community in Oss and is organized in cooperation with Radio Maria Netherlands.

Invitation to fellow believers and friends

Dear Fellow Believers, Dear Friends,

You all are warmly invited to participate in this solemn celebration of the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church.

After the Holy Mass, attendees are invited to a communal lunch offered by members of the local traditional Catholic community.

Please feel free to share this announcement with fellow faithful, friends, and all who may be interested in attending this memorable occasion.

 

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Below you find a printable flyer of this beautiful and historic occasion, which you can distribute to fellow believers.

This announcement is also available in Dutch, French and other languages.