Don Boscokerk

Don Boscokerk is a parish church in Buizingen, a village within the town of Halle in the Flemish Brabant province of Belgium, standing along the Alsembergsesteenweg 130. It is a modest but distinctive example of a "hall church" (zaalkerk) — a single wide nave without separate side aisles — accompanied by a detached, square bell tower built alongside the main structure.

When was the church built?

The building was consecrated by Bishop Emiel-Jozef De Smedt on 30 December 1951. Construction of the physical church, however, was only the starting point: over the following decade the interior and furnishings were steadily expanded, with the addition of a carillon, a copper baptismal font, three stained-glass windows, a processional cross, and a statue of the parish's patron saint. The parish itself was not formally granted official "parish" status until 1963, even though it had already been functioning as a place of worship since its consecration.

Who is the church named after?

The church takes its name from Saint John Bosco (Giovanni Bosco), an Italian priest and educator who founded the Salesian order and was canonized in 1934. He is particularly venerated as a patron of young people and youth education, a theme that resonated strongly with post-war Belgium's wave of new church construction dedicated to saints associated with social and educational work.

What can visitors see inside?

The interior of Don Boscokerk holds a small but notable collection of religious art. One highlight is a copper half-relief depicting Jesus, Saint Peter, and a fishing boat — a scene referencing the biblical account of the miraculous catch of fish. Another significant feature is the set of Stations of the Cross, executed in terracotta by sculptor Camiel Colruyt in 1960, produced during the same decade in which much of the church's decorative program was assembled.

What is the parish's current status?

In recent years the story of Don Boscokerk has taken an unusual turn. The parish community sought recognition as a so-called "labo-kerk" (laboratory church), a designation that would have allowed greater pastoral flexibility and experimental forms of community life. Instead, in 2024 the community was expelled from the official structures of the Catholic Church and has since continued as an independent faith community, operating outside the formal diocesan framework. Despite this change in canonical status, the group retained the right to hold services and gatherings in the same building.

Where exactly is it located?

The church stands in Buizingen, a locality that forms part of the town of Halle, situated along the main Alsembergsesteenweg road amid the residential area of this part of the municipality. Its location makes it an easily identifiable landmark for anyone moving through Buizingen, with the square bell tower standing out clearly against the surrounding houses.

Frequently asked questions

Is Don Boscokerk still a Catholic church? Formally, since 2024 the community has operated outside the structures of the Catholic Church as an independent faith community, although it has kept the ability to hold services in the same building.

Who is the church's patron saint? Saint John Bosco, the Italian priest and founder of the Salesian order, known for his work with young people.

What artworks can be found inside? A copper half-relief showing Jesus, Peter, and a fishing boat, along with a set of terracotta Stations of the Cross created by Camiel Colruyt in 1960.

When was the church consecrated? On 30 December 1951, by Bishop Emiel-Jozef De Smedt.