Bishop Raimo Goyarrola with a family in Helsinki | Credit: Courtesy of Bishop Raimo Goyarrola
Jan 13, 2026 / 17:16 pm (CNA).
A “dream” that could soon become a reality is how the bishop of Helsinki, Raimo Goyarrola, described the founding of the first Catholic school in Finland, where the Catholic Church practically disappeared after the state adopted Lutheranism in the 16th century as a consequence of the Protestant Reformation.
Placing his trust in God’s hands and in providence, Goyarrola plans to open the school in August on the second floor of a Lutheran church dedicated to St. James the Apostle and located on the island of Lauttasaari, just three miles from the Finnish capital. His intention, “if the finances allow,” is to acquire the building within three years.
Image of Lauttasaari, the island located three miles from Helsinki. | Credit: Public domain
