About Saint Eugenia’s Church in Stockholm:
Saint Eugenia Parish, founded in 1837, is the oldest Catholic parish in Sweden following the Reformation. It was built in 1982 following the plans of the Danish architect Jørgen Kjaergaard. This church replaced an earlier one, also named Saint Eugenia, which was demolished due to urban redevelopment in the 1960s. The original church was Sweden’s first Catholic church after the Reformation.
The church is dedicated to Saint Eugenia (Eugénie d’Alsace), an abbess from Mont Sainte-Odile in Alsace, France, who lived from 700 to 735. The Jesuits manage the church and the parish’s pastoral care. Masses are conducted in Swedish, English, Polish, and Arabic, reflecting the diverse congregation.
Inside, the church includes several items from its predecessor, including water fonts, a neo-baroque baptismal font of porphyry from Älvdal (a gift from King Carl XIV Johan and Queen Désirée Clary in 1838), and a tabernacle of Carrara marble.
The sanctuary features a monumental wooden crucifix made from the old church’s roof beams, bearing a 13th-century figure of Christ. A foundation stone, a marble block from Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome, was a gift from Pope Paul VI. The church also includes a chapel dedicated to The Blessed Virgin Mary.
In addition to its religious functions as a parish church, Saint Eugenia’s hosts various events, including concerts and talks, and has been noted for its welcoming atmosphere and the diversity of its congregation.
Traveling to Saint Eugenia’s Church in Stockholm:
Saint Eugenia’s Church is located in the center of Stockholm, next to the former Royal Gardens, Kungsträdgården in Norrmalm.
The church is integrated into a historic palace built in 1887
The main building is somewhat hidden behind a neo-Renaissance facade, so it is not immediately recognizable as a church from the street.
The only external indication of the church is a small gilded cross above the main entrance as shown in the photo to the left.
Address: Kungsträdgårdsgatan 12, 111 47 Stockholm, Sweden
Phone: +46 8 505 780 00
Click here for the official website of Saint Eugenia’s Church in Stockholm