Opus Dei exists to serve the Church.
However, we cannot rest content with good intentions. Jesus rewards us for love shown in deeds, not for ineffectual good intentions; very specific deeds, small ones perhaps, but deeds done out of love.
Every day we must strive to perform deeds of love, because every day we can and should come closer to our Lord. “Since our first conscious decision really to follow the teaching of Christ, we have no doubt made good progress along the way of faithfulness to his word. And yet isn't it true that there is still much to be done? Isn't it true, particularly, that there is still so much pride in us? We need, most probably, to change again, to be more loyal and humble, so that we become less selfish and let Christ grow in us, for he must become more and more, I must become less and less."
Even though you see your limitations, still, God is counting on you.”
Bishop Ramón (Raimo, in Finnish) Goyarrola, a member of Opus Dei, was ordained a bishop in November 2023. What is most striking about him, is that he is the only bishop in all of Finland, a country of more than 338,000 square kilometers (a bit bigger than the Philippines), where there are barely 20,000 Catholics, that is, 1% of the population. In addition, Msgr. Goyarrola is a physician, a native of Bilbao, Spain. With a smile, he also recalls that he was born the same day and time that Neil Armstrong stepped on the moon, a fact that has always seemed significant to him. “I've come a long way too,” he joked, referring to his geographical location.
Despite the challenges facing his diocese –especially the economic ones, since the State of Finland mainly finances the Lutheran Church and contributes only 6 euros per Catholic–, Msgr. Goyarrola maintains a hopeful message: “I am optimistic, I want to focus on pastoral work, not so much on money. I see the diocese as a family, in which I have to find food for my children”.
The bishop also has great apostolic projects for the future of the country: “We want to open a Catholic school, a residence for the elderly, a camp for young people, and a house for spiritual retreats”, he commented with great enthusiasm. For him, there are no difficulties.
He also underlines the remarkable ecumenism that exists in the country: “It is a blessing from God, we Catholics are one family”. He tells, for example, how during this year the first procession of Our Lady was organized together with the Orthodox through the streets of Helsinki: “The tourists were amazed”. The bishop also reflects on his own mission and the sense of service that guides his life: “To serve, serve and serve. When you serve you have no time for yourself. You get an incredible inner peace. Speaking of his future and that of his community, he expressed optimism: “I have so many dreams here. When you fall in love, everything is possible. When I came to Finland, I fell in love."
Pic: Msgr. Goyarrola baptizing an adult.
Video available in You Tube: https://youtu.be/rzug82sufK4