Bishop of Helsinki Delays Opening of Finland's First Catholic School to 2027
Bishop Raimo Goyarrola said the Helsinki Catholic School, planned as the first Catholic school in Finland in roughly 500 years, will not open in August 2026 because administrative, logistical and funding matters remain unresolved
Finland's first Catholic school, announced for an August 2026 opening, will not begin classes as planned. Bishop Raimo Goyarrola of Helsinki confirmed that the opening has been postponed to 2027 while several administrative and logistical matters are resolved.
The Helsinki Catholic School, announced in the diocesan magazine last November, would be the first Catholic institution of its kind in the country in about 500 years. Catholic institutional life in Finland largely disappeared after the Reformation and the adoption of Lutheranism as the state religion in the 16th century.
Goyarrola had described the project as a step toward rebuilding Catholic education in Finland. The school was to operate initially on the second floor of a Lutheran church dedicated to St. James the Apostle in Lauttasaari, an island district of Helsinki. The bishop had said he hoped the diocese could buy the building within three years if finances allowed.
The school is planned as a small institution serving grades 1 through 3 at the outset, following the national curriculum of Finland and that of the city of Helsinki while incorporating Catholic values. Its stated approach centers on individual attention, a calm learning environment, initiative and character formation.
Asked about the project by EWTN News, Goyarrola said the school has not begun operating and that its opening has been delayed. "The school will open once everything is fully in place," he said. "We had hoped to begin this August, but after careful consideration we have decided to postpone the opening until next year, as there are still several important matters to resolve."
Goyarrola said "the administrative procedures, logistics and financing are complicated." He added that "when the school is Catholic and privately run, the work and the requirements become even more demanding." Recent social media posts have said the Helsinki Catholic School is already operating. It is not: no classes or regular educational activities are being held.
The Diocese of Helsinki continues to work with its partners to establish the school and hopes it will open in 2027. Goyarrola asked the faithful to pray for the project as the diocese works through the remaining requirements. "We would be deeply grateful for your prayers as we continue working to make this project a reality," he said.
