When the Diocese of Helsinki received a new bishop a year and a half ago, the life of the Catholic Church in Finland changed instantly. The daily life of the parishes continued as before: the same priests and familiar parishioners created a sense of continuity in our encounters. But under the surface, quite a lot has already taken place: new plans are being made.
Bishop Raimo’s vision is not of a Church standing still, but of one that is growing and increasingly active. His outlook is inspiring; he knows his diocese and understands that there is potential – a great deal of it. The greatest challenge may lie in how to combine enthusiasm, activity, resources, and real possibilities into one and the same package. A pastoral plan has been drawn up, work has begun on several fronts of the new evangelisation, and many committees and working groups have been called together.
Why? First and foremost because people’s thirst for Christ is evident; it can be felt and seen in the parishes, in the diocese, and in society at large. People long for the peace and consolation of God in their lives, for His loving touch. The Church must respond to this need, bringing the reality of Christ wherever He is awaited. Even though there are only eight parishes in Finland, Mass is celebrated regularly in more than 30 localities.
Bishop Raimo has spoken several times about his goals for the near future. There are many projects, and to realise them we need resources, funding, and many prayers. At the same time, we know that the diocese’s financial resources are limited: membership is growing, but the support offered by members is not. The real bottleneck is the fact that too many Catholics consider the membership fee voluntary. It is not. Every Catholic has a responsibility for the wellbeing of their Church.
In fact, the lack of financial resources has led to a situation where many parishes and church premises now face a significant backlog of urgent repairs – and these needs tend to arise at the worst possible time. In part for this reason, we include here a personal appeal written by Bishop Raimo to all Catholics in our country. Could each adult Catholic consider giving a €50 Easter donation to the diocesan account?
To strengthen financial resources, the bishop has already travelled to seek – and has found – benefactors in the United States and Spain: mention may be made of the Archdioceses of Houston, Los Angeles and Madrid, as well as various foundations. Cooperation also continues with the German organisations Bonifatiuswerk and Ansgar-Werk, which have long supported our local Church. Every benefactor and individual donor deserves our gratitude and our prayers.
Below we present a brief introduction to the main diocesan projects that are ongoing or in the planning stages.
Marko Tervaportti
PROJECTS
1. Diocesan Training Centre in Espoo
The former Carmelite convent in Espoo is being renovated and expanded into a centre for training and retreats. The goal is to offer a place for various events, camps, and courses. The centre would make it possible for Catholics from all over the country to come together. The plans include proper, modern accommodation and conference facilities, and the beautiful chapel of the former convent invites everyone to prayer. The cost estimate for the first phase is €1,500,000. Expansion will be possible later on.
2. Catholic School in the Capital Region
In August 2025, a new Catholic school will open in Helsinki. The first class group will include preschool and grades 1–3. The language of instruction is Finnish. The school will combine Catholic values with the strengths of Finnish education and a multicultural approach. The exact location will be announced as soon as possible. The school will be operated by a foundation established for this purpose.
3. New Churches and Chapels
In many areas where a larger number of Catholics may have settled, there are no permanent Catholic churches or chapels. Masses are held in rented spaces, and the parish has no permanent home. Building or acquiring new churches and chapels is a key goal, both in the short and long term. At the top of the list is finding a church space in the capital region, where the lack of space is an urgent problem.
4. Christian Senior Home for the Elderly
The diocese’s aim is to establish a senior home where the elderly can be cared for with attention to their spiritual needs, based on a Christian understanding of the human person. A Catholic care home could either be a standalone facility or part of a larger complex.
5. Renovation of the Diocesan Finance Office Premises
The diocesan finance office, located in the basement of the bishop’s residence, has been found to have serious structural damage. Repairs are urgently needed. The goal is to renovate and upgrade the basement to make it a safe and functional working environment where financial administration tasks can be carried out successfully. The cost estimate for the renovation is between €800,000 and €1,000,000.
There are many ways to support the work of the Church and the parishes financially.
- You can respond to the Bishop’s Easter appeal by making a donation at katolinen.fi/lahjoita.
- Most important of all, every Catholic should make sure they pay their own membership fee to their parish. The obligation to pay the membership fee applies to all adult Catholics whose annual income is at least €15,000. In addition, of course, collection offerings and other donations are an important part of parish finances. Another way to support the Church’s mission is by participating in various fundraising campaigns.
- More information is available at katolinen.fi/lahjoita, from your parish, or from the diocesan finance office.