The Filipino Catholic Community of Rotterdam (FCCR) is a community of churchgoers in Rotterdam. Currently, the Sint Bavokerk of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Slinge, Rotterdam Zuid is the community’s church. With four other churches, the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish make up the R.K. Federatie H. Maria Magdalena (Roman Catholic St Mary Magdalene Federation).
FCCR is recognized by the Diocese of Rotterdam as an official Faith Community, and as such, it enjoys a certain level of autonomy and independence. Although organizationally, it falls under the umbrella of the parish/federation, as an official Faith Community, the community has a direct connection to the Diocese.
FCCR strives to be Christ-centered and service oriented, and encourages its members to participate in the mass and in sacramental services (e.g., funerals, baptisms, and confirmations) for the community and the parish. It also initiates spiritual and church events, holding onto some Filipino customs and traditions but always adapting situationally to what may be needed. It organizes socio-cultural activities to activate the community and involve more people in community building. Building on the inherent Filipino character of compassion, FCCR assists compatriots in need. The service component of FCCR is supplemented by an informal mutual-aid system typical of migrant communities. It conducts small-scale fundraising for calamity victims in the Philippines. It also renders incidental assistance to individuals in acute need and when requested, to church-related projects.
OUR VISION:
We envision an inclusive, participative and compassionate faith based community conscious of its responsibility to contribute to society in general and the church in particular.
OUR MISSION:
We want to build a Christ-centered and service-oriented community in Rotterdam and neighboring places.
OUR SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:
• To build a Christ-centered and service-oriented community
• To pass on the Filipino socio-cultural and spiritual values to the children of Filipino Catholic migrants
• To contribute to making the church in Rotterdam grow.
STRATEGY:
By identifying and responding to the cultural, social and spiritual needs of the Filipino Catholic migrants in Rotterdam, we hope to get migrants involved and organized to help themselves, to help others, and to contribute to the expansion of the network of compassionate churchgoers.
CURRENT SITUATION:
After more than twenty years in Rotterdam Noord, the FCCR found a new home in Slinge, Rotterdam Zuid. Most of the churchgoers are Dutch-Filipino couples and 100% Filipino families. On average, around 70 persons, excluding children, attend mass regularly. The community believes that approximately 1,000 people feel they belong to the community, even as irregular churchgoers, many participate in socio-cultural activities and sacramental services.
