Sint-Dominicus Saviokerk

Sint-Dominicus Saviokerk is a parish church in the Groot-Bijgaarden district, part of the municipality of Dilbeek in Flemish Brabant, standing at the junction of Robert Dansaertlaan and Stationsstraat. The church takes its name from Saint Dominic Savio (1842–1857), a young student of Don Bosco and one of the youngest non-martyr saints ever canonized by the Catholic Church.

How did the parish come about?

The story of the community goes back to 1959, when a new parish was established to serve the fast-growing Savio neighbourhood of Groot-Bijgaarden. Before a dedicated church building existed, worshippers gathered for services in the Don Bosco chapel on Hendrik Placestraat — a temporary arrangement common to post-war parishes founded in rapidly expanding suburbs on the outskirts of larger towns.

Why was a new church built?

As the neighbourhood grew and its population increased, the small chapel could no longer meet the community's needs. The decision was made to construct a proper parish church large enough to accommodate more worshippers and to serve as a hub of religious and social life for the surrounding area. The new building was formally inaugurated in 1980.

Who designed the church?

The architectural design is credited to Victor Broos. The Sint-Dominicus Savio church was among his final works, completed shortly before his death in that same year, 1980, making the building one of the last testaments to his architectural output.

What does the church's architecture look like?

Sint-Dominicus Saviokerk reflects the modernist approach to sacred architecture typical of the second half of the twentieth century in Belgium. Its volume is topped by a distinctive saddle roof, with an attached bell tower serving both a practical and symbolic role, marking the building's religious character from a distance. The simple, functional form sets it apart from older, historic churches in the region, aligning instead with the post-war trend in church design that favoured clear massing and restrained detailing over ornamentation.

What else is on site besides the church itself?

The complex extends beyond the church building alone. Adjacent to it stand a parish hall and additional community rooms, used for meetings, catechism classes and other parish activities. This combination of a church plus community facilities was a common pattern for post-war parishes built to help integrate newly developing residential neighbourhoods.

What role does it play today?

The church continues to function as an active parish within the church structures covering Dilbeek, serving the local community as a place of worship and gathering. It remains a landmark within the Groot-Bijgaarden landscape and part of the local identity of a neighbourhood that grew up around it during the second half of the twentieth century.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the church located? In the Groot-Bijgaarden district, part of the municipality of Dilbeek in Flemish Brabant, at the junction of Robert Dansaertlaan and Stationsstraat.

Where does the church's name come from? It is named after Saint Dominic Savio, a young student of Don Bosco who lived from 1842 to 1857.

When was the current building constructed? It was inaugurated in 1980, replacing an earlier temporary chapel.

Who designed the church? Architect Victor Broos, for whom this was one of his last projects before his death in 1980.

Are there other facilities alongside the church? Yes, a parish hall and community rooms used for pastoral activities are located on site.