Father Jan Aarts SCJ has died at the age of 84 on Wednesday morning 26^th of January 2022 in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. He served for many years in the Diocese of Helsinki in various positions, including diocesan administrator, vicar general and parish priest of St Mary’s parish.

Father Aarts was born on 28 February 1937, made his first religious vows on the 8^th September 1959 and was ordained priest on the 19^th December 1964. Father Aarts came to Finland in 1966. After his retirement, he returned to his native country, the Netherlands, from where, however, he made frequent visits to Finland until recent years. May he rest in peace.

Bishop Emeritus Teemu Sippo SCJ will celebrate the Holy Mass for the soul of Father Jan Aarts SCJ on Tuesday 1^st of February 2022 at 18.00 in St. Mary’s Church.

Let us remember to pray for the unity of Christians especially during the week of prayers for the unity of Christians. More information on the website www.ekumenia.fi. The Finnish Ecumenical Council needs our financial support; we can put our donations into a box at the back of the church on your right during the week of prayers.

The feast of the conversion of the apostle Paul will be celebrated on Tuesday, 25.1.

There will be Mass in German on the next Sunday, 30.1 at 2.30 pm.

The church coffee is postponed due to the Corona situation.

The church coffee is postponed due to the Corona situation.

There will be two online meetings about the Synod. An online meeting in English will be held on Tuesday, 18.1, after the evening Mass (link: https://meet.google.com/iuh-cfsi-amp). An online meeting in Finnish will be held on Wednesday 19.1 after the evening Mass (link: https://meet.google.com/wao-auae-tjc).

A week of prayers for the unity of Christians begins on the next Tuesday, 18^th of January. More information on the website ekumenia.fi. Let us remember to pray for the unity of Christians. The Finnish Ecumenical Council needs our financial support; we can put our donations into a box at the back of the church on your right during the week of prayers.

The feast of St. Henry, patron saint of our diocese and Finland, will be celebrated on Wednesday 19^th of January.

There will be First Communion and Confirmation classes in Finnish on Saturday 22.1 in the parish hall.

We invite children from 5 to 8 years old to a Sunday school in Finnish. The meeting will take place on the next Sunday, 23.1 at 10 am in the parish hall. There will be the Holy Mass in Finnish for children at 11.30 am.

Stickers and prayers for the yearly home blessing are available in the porch. At the beginning pray together the Our Father and Hail Mary prayer, one reads the prayer of blessing and fixes the sticker. Donation for a sticker is at least 2 Euros to support the missionary work of the church.

We will celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord on the next Thursday, 6.1. There will be Mass in Finnish at 10 am, Mass in Finnish for children at 11.30, Mass in English at 1 pm, Mass in Finnish and Vietnamese at 2.30 pm, Mass in Polish at 4 pm and Mass in English at 6 pm.

We will celebrate the commemoration of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the next Friday 7.1. The adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will start after the evening Mass and will last till midnight.

There will be Mass in Karjaa, in St. Catharine church on the next Saturday 8.1 at 2 pm.

A marriage course will be organized for those who plan to get married next year. The course will begin on Tuesday, the 11^th of January 2022 in the parish hall of St. Henry’s cathedral at 7 pm.