Who are the people behind Sanctus Artes? What inspired us to create this website?

Welcome to Sanctus Artes! My name is David, and I was born and raised in Belgium. I was baptized and grew up Catholic, but like many in Europe, I found myself drifting away from the church over the years. In fact, my only visits to church were for the occasional wedding, funeral, or baptism. It’s no secret that churches across Europe are becoming emptier as the years go by.

But in 2020, my life took a new turn when I met my wife, Heilda. She’s from Indonesia, a country that is predominantly Muslim, but also home to a vibrant and deeply rooted Catholic community. Unlike in Belgium, where mass is often only once a week or even less frequently, churches in Indonesia are full, with multiple masses daily. On special Catholic holidays, the demand is so high that people often need tickets to attend mass.

In April 2023, Heilda moved to Belgium, and together we started visiting more churches here. I quickly realized how much I didn’t know about my own faith, the history of the churches, and the stories of the saints. This journey sparked a deeper curiosity in me—about the richness of our religion, its traditions, and how it can still speak to us in a modern age.

Birth of Sanctus Artes

Sanctus Artes was born from this discovery. It’s a space where we share what we learn about different churches, the saints, and Bible stories in a way that’s accessible to everyone. Our hope is to help people reconnect with their faith, or simply explore its history and meaning in today’s world.

Whether you’re someone looking to rediscover your faith, introduce it to your children, or just curious about Catholic traditions around the world, we hope you’ll find something here that speaks to you.

Thank you for joining us on this journey!

— David & Heilda