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Groups

Groups assembling in Studium Catholicum:

Academicum Catholicum


Knowing Faith - Believing in Knowledge

The association called Academicum Catholicum was founded in 1936. Its purpose is to raise the level of Catholic awareness and to function as a channel of discussion on topical issues. The essential work of AC consists in organizing cycles of lectures and open discussions. The range of themes touched upon pertains to sectors such as:

At least once a year, AC organizes a forum where current issues, that can even be at times controversial and harrowing, are discussed. An excursion-trip is also organized annually, with the purpose of visiting a place of interest, either from a Catholic or from a historical/cultural point of view.

Contacts:
Academicum Catholicum ry
Email: academicum.catholicum(at)catholic.fi
Website: http://www.catholic.fi/soc/ac.htm
Bank account: Nordea 200120-513060
Chairman: Caterina Stenius, puh. 040 593 8038, e-mail: caterina.stenius(at)welho.com
Secretary: Anna-Maija Lindholm, puh. 0400 466 402, fax. 09 455 1877, e-mail: lindholms(at)kolumbus.fi
Mail address: Itälinnake 8, 02160 ESPOO
Moderator: isä Teemu Sippo SCJ

Lay Dominicans

Religious Orders founded during the Middle Ages often gave birth to a specific branch for lay people. It is the case of the Dominican Order. Lay Dominicans were granted their first rule in 1285. The present rule was enacted in 1985. It reads in particular "Some lay persons, moved by the Holy Spirit to live a life according to the spirit and charism of Saint Dominic, are incorporated into the Order by a special promise according to statutes proper to them.(...) As members of the Order, they share its apostolic mission, by study, prayer and preaching according to the state proper to lay persons."

Lay Dominicans gather monthly at the Studium Catholicum. The group comprises ten members at the moment. They are professionals or retired men and women. The first members took their first vows in 1994. During our meetings, we try to comment together on Scriptures, hear presentations on different subjects, familiarize ourselves with various aspects of the Dominican Order, take part in the Mass, share a meal and engage together in open discussions. Fr. Brian Bricker, op, is our spiritual advisor.

Once a year, on the day of our patron-saint, St. Catherine of Sienna, we organize a lecture open to everybody. A common celebration of Vespers ensues. We also organize every year a pilgrimage to the church of the Holy Cross in Hattula. It takes place sometime around the 14th of September, the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross.

Lay Dominicans also maintain connections with similar groups throughout the Nordic countries.

Contact Person: Kaarina Koho, Ph. 09 8765308
Website: www.maallikkodominikaanit.org

Lay Carmelites

Ordo carmelitarum discalceatorum saecularis (OCDS)

The Finnish association of Lay Carmelites has been working under the supervision of the convent of Norraby in Sweden and in cooperation with the sisters of the monastery of the Mother of God in Espoo. Its spiritual advisor is Jakob Iturralde-Mack ocd. who has been living in Belgium since 2007. Members of the associate live in the region of Helsinki, in Turku and in Jyväskylä.

The association has three types of gatherings.

  1. Meetings at the Studium Catholicum, once a month, are only meant for the members of the association. They attend Mass together, have a time of silent prayer and sing Vespers. Some time is also devoted to studying, discussing projects and getting together. Study covers areas such as Carmelite saints, spiritual and theological writings. We hear presentations and discuss on spiritual or theological themes with experts.
  2. Every Monday at 17.00 a time of prayer open to everyone is held at St. Henry´s cathedral.
  3. In cooperation with the Lay Carmelites living in Tallin, we organize annual retreats that take place in Finland, Estonia or Sweden. During the summer, a meeting is held in a Carmelite monastery. (11.-13.9. retrreat in Stella Maris)

Four meetings are planned during the fall, one in August, one in October, one in November and one in December. They generally take place on a Sunday from 14.30 to 18.00.

Readers' Circle


One evening, five years ago, as a few lovers of literature were sitting together, someone tossed out an idea: why not found a small literary circle? This is how the group came to be. The main activities of the circle consist in commenting on Catholic books, classical works and more recent publications. Discussion winds its way from one aspect to another. People express their likes and dislikes. The fact that all might not have had the time to read the works commented on is not a problem. We do not have a leader or a moderator. The group is independent and its mode of working is quite free. We gather at the Studium once a month.

Autumn 2009:
14.9. Frank McCourt: Seitsemännen portaan enkeli
12.10. Werner Bergengruen: Suurtyranni
09.11. Dante Alighieri: Kiirastuli
7.12. Charles Dickens: Joululaulu

Meetings start at 18.30.

Further Information:
Tuula Luoma, Ph. 050 5758892 or
Eva Airava, Ph. 0400 810044

Working Group on Messianic Judaism

A Picture of the Working Group

A Messianic Jew is someone who, born a Jew, came to recognize in Jesus Christ the Messiah of Israel and of all other Nations. It is a specific spiritual path that for instance the Carmelite nun Edith Stein and Father Alexander Men have illustrated in the Catholic and the Orthodox Churches respectively. The rapid growth of "Messianic Jewish communities", inside and outside Israel, wishing to keep away from traditional Christian confessions, urge all Christians to face the following question: how could a specifically Jewish voice be heard within Christian communities without re-establishing a "wall of hatred" between Jews and non-Jews?

With this idea in mind, our working group aims at developing the theological dialogue between Messianic Jews of different confessions and communities of faith.

New members are welcome. Some previous academic training is required, though.

Contact Person: Mervi Liljeberg, mervi.liljeberg(at)kolumbus.fi