Who We Are
Revd Sarah-Jane King - Chaplain
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Originally from North East England, Sarah-Jane lived in Oxford, Leiden and Florence before settling in Belgium. She did not grow up in a Christian family and came to faith as a student. Sarah-Jane later also studied theology at KUL and did her further training at St Mellitus College in London with an MA in Christian Leadership. Before ordination, she served in various legal, policy and management roles in government and the European Commission. Her interests are theologies of power and justice, resilience and wellbeing, pioneer ministry and outreach, Ignatian spirituality and contemplative prayer. She is married with two children, and she likes walking and singing.
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Sarah Jones - Licensed Lay Minister |
Sarah is a PE and Psychology teacher at a large international school.
She has been a member of St M&Ms since 2011. Away from church she enjoys hiking, camping and cricket. She is also the chair of our vzw The Friends of St Martha and St Mary Leuven. |
Andy Patton - Churchwarden |
Andy researches in New Testament textual scholarship at KU Leuven, primarily studying the way the scriptures have been transmitted in ancient Greek manuscripts. Born in the USA, he moved to Belgium a couple years ago after living in the UK for several years. Andy is married and has two children. He is an avid runner, cook, coffee drinker, and traveler.
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Jennifer Forness – Safeguarding Officer |
Jen moved to Leuven in 2022 after living for 7 years in Germany. A music teacher from America, Jen has taught music from babies through the International Baccalaureate program in New Jersey, Frankfurt, and Brussels. She's now an English teacher in the Flemish special education system. You'll often see Jen playing the piano for worship or leading the choir.
She enjoys spending time with her family playing games and watching movies, reading, and making and listening to music. She enjoys the warm and welcoming community at M&Ms. |
Stijn van Tongerloo – Ecumenical and Interfaith Officer |
Stijn works for a network of Christian NGO’s that fight poverty and help build a more fair and inclusive society. Born in Belgium, he studied sociology and philosophy at the universities of Antwerp and Leuven. Stijn feels at home in the vibrant city of Leuven, where he can meet, and learn from, people with various cultural and faith backgrounds. Within the M&M’s community he takes care of ecumenical and interfaith relations – work that has a special place in his heart.
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Xinyi Tang - Website Manager |
Xinyi was born and raised in Haimen, a small city near Shanghai. She moved to Leuven in the autumn of 2021 with her husband, Zhunlin. With a background in philosophy and digital humanities, she has recently begun her studies in theology at KU Leuven. Xinyi enjoys reading, watching films, and cooking alongside Zhunlin.
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The Chaplaincy Council
Our church is governed by two councils, the Chaplaincy Council and Kerkraad.
Meet our Chaplaincy Council! The parish administration in relation to the Church of England is undertaken by these wonderful members. If there is anything you wish to bring to the attention of the church council, please contact the secretary.
Meet our Chaplaincy Council! The parish administration in relation to the Church of England is undertaken by these wonderful members. If there is anything you wish to bring to the attention of the church council, please contact the secretary.
Andrew Wiersum – Treasurer |
Andrew is an R&D engineer in the petrochemical industry. Part British and part Dutch, Andrew grew up and studied in various countries around the world before moving to Belgium for work in 2013. Andrew is married with two young children and in his spare time he enjoys travelling, playing and watching sports and reading books. Within the M&M's community Andrew is Treasurer and helps out with M&Ms Kidz.
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Zhunlin Dai – Archdeaconry Synod Representative |
Zhunlin is a PhD student researching Hegel’s philosophy of nature. Originally from Shanghai and now based in Leuven with his wife, Xinyi, he spends his time thinking about nineteenth-century philosophy, cooking for friends, playing the piano, drawing, and expanding a growing collection of model trains.
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Aurore Vanliefde – Sacristan |
Aurore always lived somewhere between Brussels and Leuven, and studied in Leuven and Ghent. She is currently a postdoctoral researcher in prison studies at KU Leuven. Aurore lives in the green just south of Leuven with her young son and enjoys hiking or being out in the forest on horseback, reading, music, and discovering new places when traveling. Within the M&Ms community, she is church council member, sacristan and supports the starting up of the prison ministry.
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Rebecca Breekveldt |
Rebecca moved to Argentina with her parents when she was one year old, and has since made many different countries 'home'. She and her husband landed in Leuven in 2021, and have greatly enjoyed becoming part of M&M’s welcoming community.
A translator by training, Rebecca currently works for the Central Committee of the Anglican Church in Belgium, where she gets to put her language skills to good use thanks to Belgium's unique linguistic landscape. When not at the computer, she can be found experimenting in the kitchen, curled up with a hot beverage and a good book, or exploring the great outdoors by bike or on foot. She is also the secretary of our vzw The Friends of St Martha and St Mary Leuven. |
Leonieke Bosch |
I am originally from the Netherlands, but I came to Leuven to study Theology at the ETF. I am in my third year of my bachelor, and I am especially interested in historical theology. In my free time, I enjoy reading, swimming and listening to music. I love and admire M&Ms for its warm community.
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Ohin Cheng |
Ohin arrived in Belgium in 2022 to study theology and is now pursuing a PhD in medieval mystical theology. When he’s not enjoying the spiritual writings of St Bernard and his friend William of Saint-Thierry, you might find him taking a walk at Abdij van Park or singing! Ohin is very grateful to have met all these loving siblings in Christ through M&Ms!
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Karen Papellero |
Karen is a researcher in trauma theology and postcolonial experience. She is pursuing a PhD in theology and religious studies at KU Leuven. Originally from Cebu, the Philippines, she now lives in Leuven with her husband and lovely cat. She enjoys reading in cafes, walking in nature, and watching funny cat videos. She also likes to listen to people's stories.
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The Kerkraad
Meet our Kerkraad! The civil administration of our church in relation to the City of Leuven is undertaken by Dutch-speaking members.
Jeffrey Schoenaers – Chairperson of the Kerkraad |
Jeffrey comes from Wallonia, but has also called Flanders and Slovenia home. After a career as a performer that took him around the world, he settled with his better half in Tienen, first to get a degree in Japanese studies at KU Leuven, then to teach in a Brussels secondary school. His creative time is still filled with a lot of dancing, making music and writing, but his ideal holiday consists of little more than trail running and reading.
As conversion took him by surprise when he turned 28, he found in M&Ms the church community he was always longing for - albeit unknowingly. |
Andrew Wiersum – Treasurer |
Andrew is an R&D engineer in the petrochemical industry. Part British and part Dutch, Andrew grew up and studied in various countries around the world before moving to Belgium for work in 2013. Andrew is married with two young children and in his spare time he enjoys travelling, playing and watching sports and reading books. Within the M&M's community Andrew is Treasurer and helps out with M&Ms Kidz.
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Brendan Pousett |
Brendan came to Leuven in 2022 to pursue a PhD. in Robotics from KU Leuven (a very relevant field of study to be on a church council). He was born and raised in Surrey, Canada, and has three older siblings, or role models, who were integral to the development of his faith in his teenage years. After moving to Europe, Brendan and his wife Kayla were delighted to find the M&M's community, which has been a consistent joy amidst the struggles of settling in to a new home.
He enjoys experiencing God's creation on hiking trips with his brothers and dad, exploring European cities with Kayla, and learning new recipes. Kayla and Brendan are also known at M&Ms for their excessively large water bottles. |
Mathias Weikl - Environmental Officer |
Originally from Austria, Mathias studied Theology in Belfast before starting his Research Master’s in Theology at KU Leuven in 2021. Through conversations at M&M’s, he has become interested in how the Christian faith relates to the Ecological Crisis. He enjoys talking theology, reading and listening to
music. Having grown up in the mountains of Austria, Mathias also enjoys spending time being active in the outdoors, biking, climbing, or running. |
