Parish pastor

Briefly explain what you do for a living.

I work as a parish pastor at the Tuusula parish, and I am responsible for Kellokoski's regional work. My tasks include planning and implementing the activities together with the regional team. I mainly hold worships in northern Tuusula, in addition to which I conduct religious services, devotions and worships, as well as confirmation school work in the entire area of the Tuusula parish.

How have you ended up in the profession of your choice?

I worked 10 years in the commercial sector until I wanted to study for a higher education degree. At the same time, I had a spiritual call to pastor's work. In addition to my studies, I did volunteer work and participated as a summer worker in organising confirmation schools in different parishes. The employment situation of pastors has varied over the years, and it is normal to start the career as a substitute. This is how my pastor journey began in 2019. First, I worked for the Järvenpää parish. At that time, I received the bishop’s ceremony, i.e. the right to act as a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. In the current parish in Tuusula, I have been able to serve since 2021.

Describe your typical working day or week.

A pastor’s daily work consists of encountering parishioners in different situations. I may start my working day with a meeting with a baptism family, after which I meet mourning relatives, support them in their grief and plan the funeral with them. I try to encounter people without any rush. In addition, everyday work includes operational planning and meetings. Religious ceremonies, such as baptisms, funerals and marriage ceremonies often take place at weekends, as do worships.

What kind of work environment or working hours do you have?

Pastor’s work requires a lot of moving from one place to another, so a car is a must, at least in Tuusula. The schools, service houses, chapels and churches in the neighbouring area have become familiar. Baptisms, for example, are also held at the homes of parishioners.

I do not have regular working hours, and I work on weekdays and weekends. My days off are often Monday and Tuesday. In addition, we have circles run by volunteers, often gathering in the evening, where I try to visit regularly. My work also includes on-call work, which means that I can be reached by phone between 9 am and 9 pm. I serve the people of our parish with spiritual discussions. I am also prepared to deliver a parishioner’s last communion, and these situations can come suddenly – often even in the evening.

What kind of competence or qualities are required in the profession?

A social nature, good interaction skills and the ability to be present are important in the work of a pastor working with people of different ages and in different life situations. In the work of a parish pastor, it is important to be able to create a non-urgent space and moment. In addition to singing, I play on many occasions, so musicality is an advantage. Media competence is important, and many events require the ability to film, stream and communicate in different social media channels.

What is the best thing about your profession?

The best part of the work is its meaningfulness and the fact that I can be involved in the moments of people’s joy and sorrow. Faith in God and in Jesus' Great Commission is the basis of my work, and the guidance is present in all my work. I feel that the pastor's job is my calling.

What are the downsides of the profession or what seems challenging?

Sometimes balancing work and leisure time is challenging because I do not have regular working hours. Tasks that feel heavy also sometimes remain in my mind after the working day, but I have also learned to deal with more difficult emotions through experience. The Church offers various training and work guidance that support coping at work.

What would you tell a person considering the profession of a parish pastor?

The work of a pastor is versatile, meaningful, humane and rewarding. The parish is a great work community where you can engage in multi-professional cooperation with competent colleagues. I recommend studies in theology and the profession of a pastor to those who feel the calling for spiritual work.

How do you see the future of your profession?

There is much discussion on the future of the church, belonging to the church and the significance of faith. Threats related to the discussion do not come up as much in daily life as you could think.

When the world feels uneasy, people need each other more than ever. It is important to be heard and seen. The Church can offer all this, and it is up to us as pastors and parish employees to be present to those in need of support. It's an honour for us.