“It was as if singer Dineke was directing this Departure Ceremony”

It was completely unexpected, a very special departure ceremony last Saturday in the Valkhof Chapel in Nijmegen. Manja Bente, co-developer of the Walk of Wisdom, came early to the chapel in the Valkhofpark to get everything ready for the ceremony for pilgrims who are about to start their Walk of Wisdom .

She says:
“I opened the door in the morning and suddenly there was a coffin in front of the altar. For a few seconds I thought, ‘Help, there’s a dead person here.’ But I soon saw that it had to do with an exhibition. There was an exhibition by Josje Schouten entitled My Grave Place.

That day, Dineke de Velde Harsenhorst would sing and play at the Departure Ceremony as she has done so many times in recent years. But unfortunately Dineke recently passed away. I lit a candle for her on the coffin. It seemed as if she was a bit there and that we couldn’t ignore her.

Because of the coffin, everything was different. We couldn’t sit in our familiar line-up, so we didn’t get back to business as usual. Attention was paid to Dineke’s absence.

Stuart Harris was the pilgrim who told his story about his Walk of Wisdom and his journey – together with Rita van Benthem – was also connected to death. Stuart and Rita walked the march as a mourning ritual after the death of both their partners (their story can also be found here). He was also moved by the coffin that stood there. Right on the day he told his story.

There was beautiful music by performer Marjolein Pieks. Her songs moved a number of pilgrims. The departing pilgrims expressed special intentions. It all seemed to be directed and Dineke was good at that.”

Photo: Stuart Harris