Eventually she began studying theology part-time in an effort to further contemplate and understand religion. After her studies, Helene interned with a parish, working with their youth. Soon after, she answered an ad in the newspaper for a pastoral worker at the UT. 'Enschede? It's the end of the world!' she thought. That was five gratifying years ago.
In the 1960s, the Second Vatican Council elected to permit laypeople to play a wider role in the Roman Catholic Church, in part because of the growing lack of ordained priests. Laymen, such as Helene van den Bemt, were encouraged to study theology and, as pastoral worker, ultimately fulfill the same duties as priests, except for giving sacraments.
With two other pastors, Kees Kuyvenhoven and Arent Weevers, Helene leads SPe (Studentplein Enschede or Student square, in the sense of a gathering place). While SPe is supported by the UT, the Hogeschool Enschede, and the Roman Catholic, Dutch Reformed and Reformed Churches, Helene is paid by the Roman Catholic Church.
Located in Vrijhof 203, SPe is an ecumenical organization for students, staff, and faculty members of any or no religious affiliation. Helene and her peers offer a forum for debate of existential topics such as ethics, philosophy, economy and religion. The stress lies more on asking questions than providing answers. The primary goal is non-judgmental dialogue among people of different religions.
Activities include: Bible study where participants are encouraged to read the Bible not as The Truth but as a truth; Sunday worship service; an annual trip to the French village of Taize where young people from all over the world have been gathering since 1940 for ecumenical prayer; weekends at a Benedictine monastery in Oosterhout; and lectures and moderated discussions on topics such as The Lord of the Rings, Nietzsche, Violence and Religion, and the Misconceptions of Islam. Furthermore, SPe offers a room for silentprayer and meditation in Vrijhof 206.
At a science and technology-based university, what role does an organization like SPe play? Helene explains that SPe encourages 'students to think about their responsibility as engineers. They have to think about ethics, about society, about what being an engineer means for society.' SPe permits opportunities to consider the influence of certain branches of science, like DNA research, weapons, or biogenetics.
Helene derives profound gratification from the 'discussions with students about the deeper meaning of life, about what really concerns them.' The exchanges are not just intellectual but often entail emotional or spiritual input. Since 1965, SPe has defied traditional notions of faith-based organizations, encouraging participants to explore both their beliefs and their doubts. As for the future, Helene seeks increased student participation to further her goal of a dynamic SPe that is not only for students but also of students.
For more information on SPe, click on
www.utwente.nl/disc/ukdisc/
