In der Spalte "Vaticaninsider" in der englischen Ausgabe der intalienischen Zeitung "La Stampa" fand sich folgender Artikel über die Siutation der katholischen Kirche in Finnland, über die Bedeutung des Birgittenordens wie ein Interview mit dem am Dreikönigstag 2012 von Papst Benedikt XVI. zum Kardinal kreirten Erzbischof Fernando Filoni.

Das Ansgar-Werk druckt diesen hochinteressanten Text in Englisch ab:

A Monastery is like a cell transplant reinvigorating the ailing organs and beyond”

Interview with Archbishop Fernando Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Alberto Carosa, Rome
 
The year 2011 will go down in history as a year of significant growth and developments for Catholicism in Scandinavia, and more notably in Finland. The local Bridgettine order in particular had a double cause for celebration: the 100 anniversary of the (re)establishment of the order by Blessed Mother Maria Elisabeth Hesselblad, in the footsteps of the ancient order founded by Saint Bridget of Sweden, and the 25th anniversary of the foundation of their convent in Turku. Turku, the old Capital of Finland, is quite close to the medieval town of NaantaliVallis gratiae, in the Swedish form), where an old Bridgettine monastery was located and is still standing today. (Nådendal,
Interestingly, the mass for the anniversary of the order’s Finnish branch was celebrated by the local bishop, Msgr. Teemu Sippo, whose appointment on June 16, 2009, was hailed as a “historic move” by Finland’s major daily Helsingin Sanomat: he is the first Finn to serve as a Catholic bishop after over 500 years since the Reformation.
The author of this article still remembers the first meeting with him over 30 years ago, when he was a newly-ordained young priest visiting parishioners scattered over a diocese comprising the whole of Finland. When we met recently in his curia in Helsinki, our memories went back to those times, noting the differences between then and today.  “But the main difference is perhaps that the Church here in Finland has grown a lot”, he said. “I think in that time we had about 3000 Catholics, and now we have 11000, so it’s a big change”. And new parishes were being created to accommodate their growing numbers. Due to immigration waves, half of these Catholics are from abroad, and this is reflected also in the composition of the clergy. Whereas in that time most of them were Dutch fathers of the Congregation of the Sacred Heart, he pointed out, today the local clergy are much more internationalised, with priests coming not only from Italy but also India and Vietnam. But the growing status of the Catholic Church in Finland is more effectively shown, rather than mere numbers, by the fact that, in the bishop’s very words, it is increasingly acknowledged as integral part of the nation’s religious mainstream, together with its two main historical denominations, the Lutheran Church and the Orthodox Church. Interestingly, religious state services that were once only performed by Lutherans and Orthodox, today see also the participations of Catholics, like for example those on special occasions such as the Independence Day on December 6th and the official opening of parliament.
As a further sign of how far this recognition and acknowledgment have gone, Msgr. Sippo went on, not only has the Catholic Church joined the Finnish Ecumenical Council, but the very Catholic bishop, viz. Msgr. Sippo himself, is now its president, a position which has always been held until recently by Lutheran or Orthodox prelates. This Council is the most important forum for discussion, co-operation and dialogue among all Christians in Finland. But other facts could be cited to show Catholicism’s growing impact on Finnish society. While in Rome as head of one of some 80 foreign delegations participating in the celebration of the 150th anniversary of  Italy unity last June, outgoing Finnish president Tarja Halonen was reported to have paid an unexpected visit to Casa di Santa Brigida, the headquarter of the Bridgettines in piazza Farnese, due to her interest to know more about the Order. Moreover, she is “outgoing” in the sense that her second mandate ends on March 1st, 2012, and the Finns will have to elect a new president in January. For the first time also a catholic, Timo Soini, the leader of the Finns Party, will be among the eight presidential candidates.
Whereas one may well argue that the Bridgettines have also contributed, among other factors, to this growing Catholic visibility, the very presence of a monastery is comparable to the effectiveness of a cell transplant in reinvigorating the ailing organs and ultimately the whole body, in the vivid description of Archbishop Fernando Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. Msgr. Filoni was called by the Bridgettine Abbess, Mother Tekla Famiglietti, to act as main celebrant of the solemn mass winding up the 100th anniversary of the (re)founding of the Order last September 8th in Rome. He kindly agreed to answer few questions on these and other relevant issues.  
 
How did you come into contact with the Bridgettines?

I actually came in contact with the Bridgettine order when I was apostolic nuncio in the Philippines, though of course I already knew it by name and fame, but without any real direct contact. So in the Philippines I met mother Elisa, who was there on behalf of the Order to take care of the flourishing local vocations, and had the opportunity to see their activities, to know them a bit better, a knowledge I could deepen when as a substitute of the Secretariat of State I started working in close contact with the Holy Father. Here of course I could also better know and assess the work, dedication and generosity of the Bridgettines.
And regarding your collaboration with them?
Although I do not have direct collaboration with the Order, they do work in the Church and with Church in so many of their activities that I really appreciate. I am referring for instance to the contribution that the Order gives in Northern Europe, extremely difficult places where the presence of the Catholic Church is very, very small, and where the testimony they give through their own presence is precisely in line with the thought, mind, and heart of Saint Bridget, I think it's very good. Thus, from this point of view I see their collaboration with the Church as extremely important, and not only there, but also elsewhere. Earlier I mentioned the Philippines, but they are active also in India and in many other areas, where I think their testimony and their charisma are enriching the local Church.
 
You celebrated the September 8th closing Mass of the Order in Casa di Santa  Brigida in Rome with an inspiring homily: could you give us a brief summary of its main points?

A. The homily was referring to the hundredth anniversary of the Order, but was particularly focused on the figure of such great teacher of spirituality and love for the Church as Saint Bridget. It is still fascinating that a woman of that time, a very difficult time for everybody, managed to enhance such charisma proper to femininity, not just as mother but also as woman religious, at the full service of the Church, families, women, men of her time. So many times one has almost the impression that a religious has somehow to deny her femininity, and this is not true. Not only because in Saint Bridget we have precisely this dual presence of mother and active woman, but also a woman of great spirituality, who was able to combine these two aspects. And then the simultaneous presence of these two aspects, that are in a way typical of the Bridgettine order, is quite topical today. As a matter of fact, at times one tends to think that women religious either shy away from the world, or get so involved in the world that you fail to properly figure out what their charisma or mission is all about. My sermon virtually touched upon these two aspects, both their service and their spirituality. And then also on one of the typical features of femininity, viz. motherhood, which is naturally visible and concrete in a woman’s active family life. But there is also a spiritual motherhood attached to religious life, that is, a woman is always a woman and ultimately is always a mother. Therefore a woman receives this aspect of spiritual motherhood just as a father receives his fatherhood, a God-given aspect which may never be cancelled, unless you want to cancel femininity itself. These were the main topics on which I tried to help reflect and meditate.
 
How would you relate the Bridgettine Order to the purposes of your Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples?

A. Their presence in various countries, especially in mission territories, indicates that it is a useful, important, essential one. I sometimes quote a small example, by referring to the fact that today’s  transplants of cells appear to be increasingly resorted to as against the most complex organ transplants, because doctors are convinced that these new cells can facilitate a person’s recovery and care. Let us consider this transplant spiritually, ecclesiastically. Now for example, the establishment of a monastery, in this case a Bridgettine one, is just like a cell being transplanted into a place, and what does it create around itself? It creates solidarity, concern, prayers, visits of the people who ask who you are, why you are here, what are you doing, and then also asks for prayers, then their children come along and so forth. So a life develops through this cell that helps heal that body whose ailing part had atrophied, or needed to be reinvigorated.

Reinvigoration badly needed also in our increasingly secularised West....

Let us think of this activity especially in the Nordic countries, Norway, Sweden, Finland, etc., what are these monasteries doing? They have precisely this task, creating around themselves an atmosphere of warmth, spirituality, attention that awakens feelings that sometimes may have already vanished. So, this is a type of activity for example in the Nordic countries. But in other parts, such as the Philippines, India, etc., it creates another type of solidarity, a spirit of openness and acceptance, a more in-depth knowledge, which a monastery precisely for the impetus it receives from its prayer life can offer and spread.
Do you want to conclude with a message to our readers?

A problem that sometimes afflicts in general our congregations, orders and institutions, is a lack of knowledge. Above all, it would be good for them, I mean those who are not in a position to approach us, to seek instead to contact us, ask, know and get informed. This knowledge drive generates a relationship, and all relationships always carry along with them something positive. So from my side I would like to call on the reader, the listener, or whoever may be, to ask, make inquiries, get informed. I believe that knowledge will bring many benefits. Here is my encouragement. For many who have had the opportunity to get to know the Bridgettines this was exactly the case, and for so many others it may still be the occasion of so much human spiritual and moral revival.