Artist Zeus Hoenderop explores loss of church home in new film

Zeus Hoenderop lived and worked in the Hasseltsekerk in Tilburg for twenty years before moving out in 2003. A fire later damaged the church roof and tower. The experience inspired his film Ite missa est, which examines three repurposed Tilburg churches. The documentary focuses on farewell and the human need for belonging. Hoenderop described the church as a temporary space that eventually felt like home. He was raised in a convent after his mother became an orphan at age four. Born in a Breda orphanage, he spent two weeks there before his mother brought him home. These early displacements shaped his search for meaning.

He found that many people connect deeply with church buildings and their communities. Former parishioners of the Sacramentskerk expressed strong emotions about the loss. Hoenderop invited them to a table on the site of the former altar. He often filmed them before asking questions. Their reflections revealed visible longing. Pastor Harm Schilder, who left the Margaretha Maria Alacoquekerk in 2017, also appears in the film. Schilder was seen as either too traditional or too progressive by different groups. Hoenderop noted that Schilder does not avoid confrontation. The film also features Deveny Pfaff, a young woman who found her place within the church.

She described faith as a source of direction and tradition. Another story involves a protest against the sale of the Catharinakerk in Hengstdijk. The documentary’s title, Ite missa est, refers to the final words of the Mass. It suggests both an ending and a sending forth. Hoenderop hopes the film highlights shared human experiences across different beliefs. The film premieres in Tilburg on October 1 and in Bladel on October 3. Information is available on Hoenderop’s website.