Catholics in Finland are having to travel hundreds of miles to reach Mass as the country’s only diocese struggles to meet the needs of a growing and scattered flock. Speaking to Aid to the Church in Need, Bishop Raimo Goyarrola of Helsinki (Finland’s only diocese) described the intense logistical challenges facing his priests. “Every weekend we cover thousands of kilometers to bring the heavenly food to our faithful,” he said. The Diocese is one of the largest in Europe in terms of area. Despite this, there are only eight parishes with 28 priests attempting to minister to Catholics, many of whom are immigrants, refugees, or international workers.
