About Finland:
Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is known for its stunning natural beauty, innovative design, and high quality of life. Finland spans about 138,000 square miles (338,455 square km), with about 75% percent of the land covered in forests. over 180,000 lakes, and a long coastline along the Baltic Sea. It has a cold, temperate climate with distinct seasons—winters are snowy and dark (with polar night in the north), while summers are mild with long daylight (midnight sun in Lapland).
Finland is close in size to Germany (Germany is slightly larger) or the U.S. state of Montana; yet smaller than Sweden, Norway, France, and Spain. With a population of only about 5.6 million people, Finland is sparsely populated. Finns speak Finnish (a Uralic language) and Swedish (official minority language), with many fluent in English. The culture blends Nordic minimalism, sauna traditions (over 2 million saunas!), and a love for nature. Indigenous Sámi people live in Lapland, preserving unique traditions.
Catholic places of interest in Finland:
The Catholic population is small: as of 2025, around 16,000 registered members, or 0.3% of Finland’s 5.6 million people—but the Church is vibrant, with eight parishes across the country. Priests travel extensively, and Masses are sometimes held in borrowed Lutheran or Orthodox churches (25 non-Catholic churches host Catholic Masses monthly).
Check parish websites (e.g., katolinen.fi) for Mass schedules, as services may be in Finnish or other languages. Confession is available in multiple languages, often 30 minutes before Mass. The Church’s ecumenical spirit is strong, with close ties to Lutheran and Orthodox communities.
Helsinki:
Located on the southern coast, Helsinki is the capitol of Finland and its largest city.
Saint Henry’s Cathedral. Saint Mary’s Church, Church of the Assumption of Mary
Turku:
St. Bridget and Blessed Hemming): Turku, Finland’s oldest city, was a Catholic stronghold before the Reformation. The modern parish, established in 1926, is named after St. Bridget of Sweden and Blessed Hemming, a 14th-century bishop. While the medieval Turku Cathedral is now Lutheran, it was originally Catholic and remains a pilgrimage site for its historical significance, once housing St. Henry’s relics. The current Catholic church in Turku offers Masses and community events.
Köyliö Pilgrimage Site: In southwestern Finland, Köyliö is where St. Henry was martyred in 1156 on Lake Köyliö’s ice. A chapel on an artificial island marks the spot. Since the 1950s, an annual pilgrimage in mid-June draws Catholics for a one-day bus trip or a three-day walk, fostering devotion and community.
Catholic parishes in Jyväskylä, Tampere (with chapels in Vaasa and Pietarsaari), Kouvola, Kuopio, and Oulu are active, often serving diverse communities with Masses in multiple languages.
Oulu’s Holy Family of Nazareth Parish, one of the northernmost Catholic parishes globally, is notable for its missionary history tied to the Neocatechumenal Way. These parishes often rely on ecumenical cooperation, using Lutheran or Orthodox churches for Masses due to limited Catholic infrastructure.
As of 2025, Finland’s Catholic community is growing (500+ new Catholics annually, half from baptisms, half from immigration), but financial constraints limit new church construction. Pilgrimages and youth camps in Lapland, led by Bishop Raimo Goyarrola, strengthen faith amid a secular landscape.