Catholic nuns run guesthouse in Turku monastery
Translated from Finnish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- A Brigittine monastery in Turku, Finland, houses nine nuns from various international backgrounds who operate a guesthouse.
- The monastery has been active in Turku for 40 years, with nuns originating from India, Mexico, Poland, and Italy.
- The guesthouse offers 40 beds, and the nuns, despite not being Finnish, sing and pray in the Finnish language.
In the heart of Turku, Finland, a unique Brigittine monastery thrives, home to nine nuns who not only live together but also manage a guesthouse. This spiritual community has been a fixture in Turku for four decades, fostering an international presence with sisters hailing from India, Mexico, Poland, and Italy.
The monastery's guesthouse provides accommodation for 40 guests, offering a peaceful retreat. Within the church walls, the nuns gather for prayer, their voices rising in song in Finnish, a testament to their integration into the local culture. Sister Leena, originally from a large family in South India, has found her new family within the monastery in Turku.
The shared devotion is palpable as the nuns engage in prayer, their voices echoing the sentiment, "From everlasting to everlasting, He cares for us." Despite their diverse origins, they unite in their faith and their service, singing and praying in Finnish, demonstrating a deep connection to their adopted home.
Originally published by Helsingin Sanomat in Finnish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.