The St. Boniface Day in Dokkum is one of the annual high points in the diocese of Groningen-Leeuwarden. On that day the diocese remembers the death of her patron saint, St. Boniface, who was martyred in Dokkum in 754. In the past years this day has developed into a family day where hundreds of Catholics from all over the diocese, from young to old, meet each other.
The student parish St. Augustine is of course also a part of the diocese of Groningen-Leeuwarden. That is why we think it is important to be present on this day, since it is the chance to meet others. And it also well worth the effort.
’Out of love’
This year the St. Boniface Day will take place on 13 June and the theme will be ‘Out of love’. Love is of course at the centre of the faith and can be recognised and explained in many ways. On a day like this there is ample place for those various ways forms – love between man and woman, parents and children, friends, but certainly also between Christ and His people.
Program
The program starts in Dokkum at 10:30 am, with music and a performance by sand artist Gert van de Vijver. After that you can attend various workshops, including one by Leo Fijen about his books. You can also make your own rosaries or see how Gert van de Vijver works with sand. There is something to do for all ages.
At 13:30 the procession through the centre of Dokkum starts. Here in the north processions are fairly unique and certainly something you should experience once. Together we process from the St. Boniface church in the centre of Dokkum to the Boniface chapel, where we’ll arrive around 14:00. Solemnly yet festive, we enter the chapel and celebrate the Eucharist together with our bishop, Msgr. Gerard de Korte, and many other priests and faithful.

Mass in the Boniface chapel
Transport
But first we have to get to Dokkum in the morning of the thirteenth of June. We have various options for that. You can of course make your own way there, but you also take one of the diocesan busses. For 10 euros per person that bus will take you to Dokkum and back. The bus departs Groningen at 9:00.
The third – and actually the most fun – option is to go to Dokkum on foot. No, of course not all the way from Groningen, but from the small village of Nes on the northern Frisian coast. We’ll leave there at 7 in the morning. The route takes us along the dike with a view over the sea and then we’ll turn south towards Dokkum, our way blocked here and there by a streak, a fence or a herd of inquisitve cows. On the way we meet here and there the storytelling Deacon Peter Vermaat, as well as the necessary refreshments and rest stops.
The walk is a pilgrimage. Just like St. Boniface we travel to Dokkum on foot, and today that is not just another town. Dokkum is actually a symbol for that to which we travel every day: eternal happiness with Christ, something of which we get a foretaste in every Eucharist. And just like in our faith, we do not walk alone. In Dokkum too we’ll be together, believe together, celebrate together.
Both in the busses and on the pilgrimage there will be representatives of the parish, so you can easily join us. If you want to come, let us know via e-mail, telephone or personally after Mass (because of the organisation of the busses we must know before 27 May who wants to come).

The way to Dokkum