St. Henry’s Cathedral Parish to Begin Activities in Lauttasaari – New Chapel and School in St. James’s Church.
St. Henry’s Cathedral Parish has signed a lease agreement with the Evangelical Lutheran Church’s Helsinki Parish Union to use St. James’s Church (S:t Jacobs kyrka), which is located adjacent to Lauttasaari Church. According to the agreement, the lease may be extended or replaced by other arrangements after a couple of years.
Catholic activities in Pyhän Jaakobin kirkko – St. James’s Church will officially begin in the beginning of August 2025. Sunday Masses will be celebrated in Finnish, English, and according to the needs of different language and nationality groups. The church will become a chapel under St. Henry’s Cathedral, with the cathedral parish priest, Father Jean Claude Kabeza, as the person in charge. The coordinating priest will be Father Mauri Bravo.
In August, a new Catholic school will also start operating in the office spaces next to the church (see news article in Finnish). The school responds to a long-standing need for Catholic education in the capital region.
St. James’s Church is part of the Lauttasaari church complex, completed in 1958 based on designs by architects Keijo and Marja Petäjä. The smaller chapel, St. James’s Church, was previously used by the Swedish-speaking Lutheran parish of Helsinki.
Bishop Raimo Goyarrola of Helsinki is pleased with the agreement: “Let us thank God and the Evangelical Lutheran Church for this significant opportunity to grow as a Christian community.”
St. James’s Church in Lauttasaari is easily accessible by metro (Lauttasaari/Gyldénintie station) and by bus (line 22 from Helsinki city centre toward Katajaharju, or regional buses running along Lauttasaarentie between Espoo and Helsinki). There is also ample parking in front of the church. The address is Myllykallionrinne 1, Helsinki.
KATT
Lauttasaari (Swedish: Drumsö) is a seaside district and island in western Helsinki, just a few kilometres from the city centre. Known for its green areas, residential character, and excellent transport connections – both by metro and bus – Lauttasaari has preserved a peaceful and local atmosphere despite its proximity to downtown Helsinki.