Our History in Brief:
On October 11, 1985, Pope John Paul II gave an important speech to the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences. After analyzing the secularization of Europe, he stated concisely that there was a need for a new evangelization of Europe.
“To carry out effective evangelization, we must return to the original apostolic model. We can admire this fundamental and exemplary model at the Last Supper. There, the apostles are together with Mary, waiting steadfastly for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Evangelization can only begin with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The gift of the Spirit is the first driving force, the first source, the first breath of authentic evangelization. Evangelization must therefore begin by invoking the Spirit and seeking where He is blowing (cf. John 3:8). Some signs of this blowing of the Spirit are certainly appearing in Europe today. To find, support, and develop them, it is sometimes necessary to abandon rigid patterns and go where ‘life according to the Spirit’ is beginning.”
Later, on January 15, 1986, at the suggestion of the initiators of the Neocatechumenal Way, the Pope sent several families to carry out the so-called “implantatio ecclesiae” in the most secularized parts of Europe. The purpose of this missionary work was to bring forth a christian community in wich the influence of faith would be visibly evident in modern times. The Pasinato’s family was among those sent. Supported by Father Marino Trevisini and with the approval of Bishop Paul Verschuren, they settled in Oulu, where there were very few members of the catholic Church.
Shortly after, and following the arrival of many catholic immigrants, it became clear that there was a need to build a proper meeting place in Oulu. Thus, the planning of the catholic Church of Oulu began.
Architect Gabriele Geronzi drew up the building plans. He was inspired by a model drawn up by Kiko Argüello on September 14, 1987, the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The plan was presented to the Pope Jonh Paul II, who blessed the foundation stone of the future building during his visit to Finland in 1989 and donated a painting depicting Our Lady of Jasna Góra. Today, the painting is in the church above the presidential seat. With the support of numerous Neocatechumenal communities in Italy and Switzerland, the first part of the church was built in 1991, and the construction was almost completed in 2000 with the support of the German Church’s “Bonifatiuswerk.”
The paintings of the Mysteries of the Rosary in the church hall are the work of the painter Kiko Argüello and his three painting assistants, Francisco Olivares Bogeskov, David Lopez, and Michele Benvenuto. The artwork required a year and a half of work and was done free of charge out of love for Christ and His Church.
John Paul II blessing of the first stone in Helsinki, 1989.