Protection of the Holy Sacrament by Shooters Brotherhood St. Sebastian Kerkrade

The shooters brotherhood consists of maximum twenty married Catholic men, but many people in Kerkrade and the surrounding area feel involved in the organisation. The brotherhood is embedded in the parish community of Kerkrade. The uniformed and solemn performance of the brotherhood always attracts visitors. Many people from Kerkrade are proud of the brotherhood.

The Shooters Brotherhood St. Sebastian was established in Kerkrade in 1617, by Governess Isabella Clara Eugenia of Austria, in her capacity as governess of the duchy of Brabant. At the time processions by Catholics were disturbed by Protestants. In the statutes of that year it was explicitly mentioned that the shooters had the task to protect the carrying of the Holy Sacrament. The oldest silver shield that is still hanging on the silver bird, dates from 1617. The Legezbuch, the oldest record of the shooters brotherhood, covers the period 1794-1922. Until 1925 the men shot with a rifle at the King’s shooting, afterwards a cross bow was used. The King’s shooting is after the Holy Mass that is read after the City Procession. Initially Patron’s Day was celebrated on the Name Day of Saint Sebastian, January 20th. As of 1969 the day has always been celebrated on a Sunday, on or shortly after that date. The King’s silver is a rich treasure for the brotherhood. In 1981 it was decided to only leave the King’s shields on the silver bird’s chain and exhibit the other shields in a glass cabinet in the church of Kerkrade. Many people were shocked when by the end of May 2013 it appeared that the 22 lbs heavy King’s silver was accidently given to the garbage collector. By a coincidence the silver was found by the police at a house search in February 2014. The brotherhood now cherishes the treasure even more than before.