Bishop Raimo Goyarrola of Helsinki has made new appointments of parochial vicars and established an episcopal council in the Diocese. The autumn programme also includes a meeting of the Pastoral Council, the Bishop’s visits to all the parishes to confer the Sacrament of Confirmation, the centenary celebration of the parish in Turku, and a priestly ordination in Oulu.
New parochial vicars appointed
The Bishop has appointed four priests as parochial vicars for five-year terms. Father Amando Dee Di has been appointed parochial vicar of Holy Cross Parish in Tampere as of 1 September 2026. Father Chien Nguyen has been appointed parochial vicar for the Ostrobothnia region as of 8 September 2026 and chaplain to the Vietnamese community as of 13 October 2026. Father Leonard Wobilla Shwei has been appointed parochial vicar of St Olaf’s Parish in Jyväskylä, and Father Dominique Ndagajimana parochial vicar of St Ursula’s Parish in Kouvola, both as of 1 September 2026.
Episcopal Council established in the Diocese
Bishop Goyarrola has established an Episcopal Council in the Diocese in accordance with canon 473 § 4 of the Code of Canon Law. The following have been appointed as members for a five-year term beginning on 1 September 2026: the Vicar General, parish priest Jean Claude Kabeza; parish priest Rafal Czernia SCJ; parish priest Tri Nguyen; Father Mauricio Bravo; Father Stanislaw Zawilowicz SCJ; Father Pedro Perez; Brother Marie-Augustin Laurent-Huyghues-Beaufond OP; and Father Martti Savijoki SCJ.
Pastoral Council to meet in November
The Diocesan Pastoral Council will meet at the Bishop’s House on Saturday, 7 November 2026. The centenary of the Parish of St Bridget and Blessed Hemming will be celebrated in Turku on Saturday, 26 September. The jubilee Mass will begin at 11.00 at St Michael’s Church in Turku. Bishop Goyarrola will ordain Deacon Emanuele Cianchi to the priesthood at the Church of the Holy Family of Nazareth in Oulu on Saturday, 19 December. The Ordination Mass will begin at 11.00.
Bishop to visit all parishes in the autumn
Bishop Goyarrola will once again visit all eight parishes during the autumn to confer the Sacrament of Confirmation and receive new members into the full communion of the Church. The visits begin in Tampere on 12–13 September and continue to St Henry’s Cathedral Parish in Helsinki, St Mary’s Parish, Turku, Kuopio, Kouvola and Oulu. The final visit will be to St Olaf’s Parish in Jyväskylä on 8 November.
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