Sint-Jozefskerk

Sint-Jozefskerk is the parish church of Halveweg, a hamlet within the Belgian municipality of Zonhoven in the province of Limburg. The building belongs to the Diocese of Hasselt and is dedicated to Saint Joseph. It is the youngest church on Zonhoven's territory — the current structure dates only from the early 1970s, built on the site of an earlier church that burned down.

What is the history of this church?

The first church for the newly established Halveweg parish was designed by architect Sylvain Strauven of Tessenderlo. Construction was completed in 1938 by contractor Vandijck of Houthalen, and the building seated around 250 to 300 worshippers. It did not survive long: on 10 July 1968, the church was destroyed by fire.

A new church was built on the same site within a few years. It was consecrated on 10 July 1971 by Paul Schruers, then auxiliary bishop and later bishop of Hasselt. The consecration date deliberately matched the anniversary of the earlier fire.

Who designed the current building?

The new church was designed by architect Paul Stevens of Hasselt, with construction carried out by contractor Clauwers of Kaulille. The build cost 6.3 million Belgian francs at the time. The result is a modern hall-church with a flat roof, built entirely of yellow brick, which gives the structure its distinctive, uniform appearance.

What can visitors see inside?

The church holds approximately 400 people. The main worship hall has a wood-paneled ceiling, and two bronze relief sculptures depicting Saint Joseph and Mary flank the altar. Besides the main hall, the building also contains a meeting room with a kitchen, a winter chapel, and an entrance hall — a layout typical of postwar parish churches designed for multi-purpose use by the local community.

The Stations of the Cross inside the church were illustrated in 1978 by first-grade schoolchildren, an unusual detail that gives the interior a personal, local character.

Where does the pipe organ come from?

The pipe organ was installed in the church in 2007, though the instrument itself has a much older history. It was built in 1961 by the firm Fonteyn en Gaal for a Reformed church in Bussum, the Netherlands. After decades of service there, the organ was relocated to Zonhoven, where it remains in use today.

What about the bells?

The church's three bells were cast by the Petit & Fritsen bell foundry, a firm with a long tradition of church bell casting in the Netherlands. The bells have been part of the church's furnishings since it was built.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Sint-Jozefskerk located? The church stands in the hamlet of Halveweg, within the municipality of Zonhoven in the Belgian province of Limburg, at coordinates 50.994164, 5.340222.

Is this the oldest church in Zonhoven? No — Sint-Jozefskerk is actually the youngest church in the municipality, built between 1968 and 1971 after the earlier 1938 church burned down.

How many people can the church hold? The building has a capacity of around 400 worshippers.

Are regular services still held there? According to available information, the church currently does not hold regular weekend services, although funeral services are still possible.