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From the Diocesan Administrator: End of Exceptional Measures

27/4/2022

The restrictions put into place to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and protect people's health come to an end in the Diocese of Helsinki at the end of April.

Parishes return to their normal practices in their activities. However, we still encourage people to maintain good hand and cough hygiene and to avoid coming to church if you have symptoms of Covid-19 or some other easily transmissible disease.

From now on, the obligation to attend Mass in person on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation is in force again. However, those who are part of various risk goups may still need to avoid those Masses that generally have the greatest number of people.

For more information, please contact your parish.

Programme for Holy Week at St Henry's

30/3/2021

On this page you will find the programme for Holy Week 2021 at St Henry's Cathedral, Helsinki

You can watch the prayers and Masses at the Cathedral on our live stream at henrik.katolinen.fi/live.

Please note that attending a Mass or Way of the Cross, for instance, requires you to book your place in advance. The booking page is found at henrik.katolinen.fi/sede.

The current coronavirus instructions for the Catholic Diocese of Helsinki are available in Finnish, Swedish and English at katolinen.fi/covid-19/

We wish everybody a Blessed Paschal Triduum!
Holy Week Programme (pdf)

Coronavirus Instructions from September

31/8/2020

The Catholic Diocese of Helsinki follows the general instructions of the Finnish government to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

In the Cathedral Parish we have the following regulations in place:

We diligently ensure participation in church events only takes place when people are symptom-free. We take great care to ensure good hygiene and safe distances; if safe distances cannot be kept, people are asked to wear a face mask.
In the parish we return to the regular autumn schedule, but we continue to register for Mass.
Religious events, courses and meetings of communities as well as group meetings can go ahead again.
Holy Communion is still only given under the species of bread.
It is not yet recommended to have church coffees.

The conditions for participating are therefore: absence of symptoms – hygiene – safe distance – (face mask)

The faithful are still freed from the Sunday obligation, but it is important to keep the day of rest holy for example by following the mass on the Internet, by praying, reading the Bible or in some other way.

Instructions for Mass attendance from June 1st

24/5/2020

General Instructions concerning Mass Attendance in the Diocese of Helsinki, as of June 1st

General instructions

At this point, the faithful must register for Sunday Masses on the internet, or by calling the parish. When registering, please take into consideration parishioners who are unable to register online by leaving some vacancies for those persons. Your understanding during these circumstances is requested, as there are unfortunately no other options for the time being.

These instructions are general, and they may change or become more specific, should the government provide new directions. These instructions are also put into practice and modified in each parish in a manner that best corresponds to the realities of that parish. Thus, it may be beneficial to let the parish know about any suggestions for improvement.

Click for instructions in pdf format

How may I participate at Mass?

According to the decision made by the government on May 6, 2020 there may even be over 50 faithful present at Mass (in addition to clergy, altar servers, an organist and a small choir) as long as proper distancing is followed. The precise number allowed depends on the size of the Church, and is declared by each parish.
In order to attend Mass, all faithful must first register with the parish. Information about registering is given out by each parish.
Only those without any symptoms of a cold or of Coronavirus may attend Mass. Those at higher risk are asked to remain at home.

How do I implement proper safety measures in church?

Social distancing of at least 1 meter must be maintained at all times while in church.
Only the marked seats may be used. However, members of the same household may sit together in the same row.
One may use a mask in church. When sneezing or coughing, the faithful must cover their mouths with a handkerchief or sleeve.
When entering church and before Communion all faithful must sanitize their hands, just as the priest does before distributing Communion.
Holy Water is not available in church, and the Sign of the Peace by shaking hands is left out. There are no hymnals in use at this time.
The collection is taken at the door at the end of Mass.
After Mass has ended, it is not permitted to stay in the sanctuary in order to socialize.

How do I receive the Eucharist?

Holy Communion is given only under the species of bread.
After having sanitized his hands, the priest will give Communion first to those wishing to receive in the hand, and only after that to those receiving on the tongue. During this unusual time, receiving in the hand is recommended.
Social distancing must take place while in line to receive the Eucharist.
When receiving the Eucharist, the faithful must remain still and remain in place in front of the priest.
There is no obligation to receive Communion at Mass. Those worried about contracting the virus may request to have Communion given to them outside of Mass.

How do I receive other Sacraments?

For all other Sacraments (Baptism, Confession, and Matrimony) as well as to arrange a hospital visit or a funeral, please contact your closest Catholic parish.

Open the Mass reservations page for St Henry's Cathedral

Click here to read the Instructions on this page in pdf format

Cathedral remains open, but Mass no longer said publicly

17/3/2020

Due to the coronavirus outbreak and the CoViD-19 epidemic all activities and all public Masses at St Henry's Cathedral have been cancelled until further notice. However, the Cathedral remains open for the prayers of the faithful. Priests are available for instance for Confession.

On Sunday the High Mass at 11 a.m. will be streamed live online.

The Diocese of Helsinki and the Nordic Bishops' Conference (NBK) has provided the following information regarding the coronavirus:

Tarkennettuja ohjeita koronaepidemiaan liittyen (March 16, 2020, from the Diocese of Helsinki, in Finnish, stating that Masses may not be celebrated publicly)
Guidelines during corona epidemic (March 13, 2020)
Piispainkokouksen ohjeita koronaviruksen varalta (March 13, 2020, NBK in Finnish)
Nordiska biskopskonferensens anvisningar med anledning av coronaviruset (12.3.2020, NBK in Swedish)
List pasterski: Konferencja Episkopatu Krajow Nordyckich (NBK in Polish)
Koronavirukseen liittyvia ohjeita Helsingin katolisessa hiippakunnassa (March 7, 2020, Diocese of Helsinki, in Finnish)

Diocesan Day in Lohja on August 17

30/7/2019

This year's Diocesan Day is celebrated on Saturday, August 17th. We begin the day at 11 a.m. with Holy Mass at St Laurence's Church (Pyhän Laurin kirkko) in Lohja. The Mass is celebrated by Bishop Emeritus Teemu Sippo SCI.

NB! The programme after the Mass has changed. Please read the following carefully!

Programme:

Holy Mass for Our Lady at St Laurence's Church (Pyhän Laurin kirkko) in Lohja at 11 a.m.

After Mass lunch is served at Vivamo. After the lunch there is a Marian prayer, coffe and return to the parish

The parish-chartered bus leaves St Henry's Cathedral at 9 a.m. The bus fare to and from Lohja is EUR 15 per person, which is paid on the bus.

Lunch at Vivamo costs EUR 10 per adult or teenager and EUR 5 per child under 12 years of age.

Sign up for the Diocesan Day by calling or e-mailing St Henry's at 09 637853 / henrik@katolinen.fi no later than 12.8.2019.

NB! Those who come by car to Vivamo must also sign up so we know how many people are coming for lunch!

We will be back in Helsinki no later than 5 p.m.

Fr Jean Claude Kabeza to become parish priest at St Henry's

9/4/2019

Bishop Teemu Sippo SCI has appointed Fr Jean Claude Kabeza parish priest of St Henry's Cathedral Parish from September 1, 2019. At present, Father Jean Claude is parish priest of St Ursula's Parish in Kouvola. Father Marco Pasinato, currently parish priest at St Henry's, will take on the job of leading the Redemptoris Mater seminary.

Three newly-appointed parish priests: Fr Tri Nguyen, Fr Jean Claude Kabeza and Fr Tuomas Nyyssölä. Photo: Catholic Information Service

The appointment results in another change in the priests at St Henry's, as Fr Tuomas Nyyssölä, who currently is at St Henry's, has been appointed parish priest at St Ursula in Kouvola to replace Fr Jean Claude from the beginning of September. Furthermore Fr Tri Nguyen, also at St Henry's at present, has been appointed parish priest at Holy Cross Parish in Tampere from July 1, 2019.

Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland celebrates Mass at St Mary's on Oct 28

19/10/2018

On Sunday, October 28, there will be a very special High Mass at St Mary's Church at 12.45 p.m. The Mass will be celebrated by the Most Reverend Jude Thaddeus Okolo, Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland and Titular Archbishop of Novica, together with His Eminence, Mgr. Teemu Sippo SCJ, Bishop of Helsinki. The theme of the Mass is Worshipping God in Unity while embracing and respecting Diversity.

The Papal Nuncio makes a three-day visit to the Diocese of Helsinki and the African Catholic Chaplaincy from October 26 to 29, 2018. The African Catholic Chaplaincy was inaugurated on 4 June 2017 in Helsinki by Bishop Teemu Sippo SCJ. Fr. Leonard Wobilla Shwei is the Chaplain of the African Catholic Chaplaincy in Finland.

Take a Day Trip to the Papal Mass in Tallinn

1/6/2018

Pope Francis makes an apostolic visit to Tallinn, Estonia, on Tuesday, September 25, 2018. He will celebrate Mass in the afternoon, but the exact schedule of the Mass will not be announced until August for security reasons. St Henry's Cathedral Parish and St Mary's Parish jointly arrange a day-trip to Tallinn to take part in the Papal Mass on Tuesday, September 25.

Pope Francis in St Peter's Square.

NB! Deadline for registering for the parish trip was July 15th.
No further registrations will be accepted.

Join Pope Francis for a Youth Meeting in Tallinn

1/6/2018

Dear young people!

Pope Francis makes an apostolic visit to Tallinn, Estonia, on Tuesday, September 25, 2018. St Henry's Cathedral Parish is organising a trip for young people who wish to take part in the Youth Meeting with the Pope that is held in Tallinn's Kaarli Church (St Charles's Church) that Tuesday morning.

Pope Francis in Rome.