A Greeting from Fr. Raimo Goyarrola, Bishop-Elect of Helsinki
Dear Christians and all people of good will,
I am thankful to God that after a long wait, the Diocese of Helsinki will have a new Bishop. I am surprised, and at the same time, grateful to Pope Francis for the confidence he has in me.
I offer my thanks to Bishop Emeritus Teemu Sippo and the Diocesan Administrator Marco Pasinato for all their brotherly care and support. I also wish to thank the Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Julio Murat for his reassuring words and his promise to always offer support in my future work. Thank you, all my brothers in the priesthood, for your encouragement. Thank you all for your congratulations, but even more so your promises to pray for me! Thank you, also, to the members of my family, who have always loved and supported me.
Before my ordination as Bishop I hope to be able to concentrate on prayer, and to receive strength from a continuous conversion, so that my heart may become more and more like the Heart of Jesus. For that, I ask for your prayers.
Let us pray for one another. You are all already in my heart and in my prayers. I am always willing to listen and have a discussion with each of you. Until my ordination the matters of the Diocese are continued to be taken care of by Fr. Pasinato.
St. Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us.
St. Joseph, Support of Families, pray for us.
St. Michael the Archangel, pray for us.
St. Henry, Patron of our Diocese and all of Finland, pray for us.
Blessed Hemming, St. Josemaría Escrivá, and all the Saints, pray for us.
In Helsinki on September 30, 2023, on the Feast of St. Jerome (Hieronymus), Priest and Doctor of the Church
Fr. Raimo Goyarrola