As the Apostolic Administration of Estonia gears up to mark its centenary this year, Bishop Philippe Jourdan reminisces about the challenges his flock faced during decades of Soviet rule and the aspirations Catholics hold for the future of their Church.
By Devin Watkins
“One hundred years may not seem like much for a 2,000-year-old Church, but in Estonia’s case, it was truly a test of faith.”
Bishop Philippe Jourdan, the Apostolic Administrator of Estonia, shared this insight in an interview with Vatican News as the local Church readies to commemorate the 100th anniversary of its establishment as an Apostolic Administration.
On November 1, 1924, Pope Pius XI established the Apostolic Administration of Estonia, separating its territory from the Archdiocese of Riga in neighboring Latvia.
Estonia had recently gained independence from Russia in 1918, and Catholics in the country desired a Church of their own, despite Catholics having a presence in what is now Estonia for centuries.
A tumultuous history
However, the following decades proved challenging for the fledgling Church.
In 1931, Pope Pius XI entrusted the Apostolic Administration to Servant of God Eduard Profittlich, a German-born Jesuit missionary. He worked to strengthen the local Catholic Church, which mainly comprised of foreigners. Given Estonia’s strong Lutheran presence since the Protestant Reformation, Archbishop Profittlich sought to build ecumenical ties and explain the Catholic faith through regular columns in newspapers.
Then, in 1940, Soviet forces invaded Estonia, resulting in the deportation of thousands of people to Siberian gulags.
“My predecessor, Archbishop Profittlich, passed away in a Soviet prison. His Vicar General spent a decade in a Siberian jail and returned in poor health. Numerous priests were expelled,” Bishop Jourdan recounted. “It was a dark period, almost a time of martyrs.”
Out of a population of 1.1 million in 1949, approximately 20 percent of Estonians were deported around the same time as Archbishop Profittlich.
“Every Estonian family has a story of a gulag victim during that era,” Bishop Jourdan remarked. “Archbishop Profittlich’s life symbolizes the Estonian people’s experiences in the 20th century.”
With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Catholic Church in Estonia experienced a revival, sparking a resurgence of Catholicism in the country. “The sufferings of Estonian Catholics over the past century are now bearing fruit,” noted Bishop Jourdan.
Centenary celebrations
To honor its rich past and centenary, the Church in Estonia has scheduled a series of events for the weekend of November 2-3, 2024.
The highlight will be a Mass at the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul in Tallinn.
“We have invited guests from abroad, particularly from neighboring countries and Churches that provided crucial support during the Soviet era,” Bishop Jourdan remarked.
One notable guest is expected to be Archbishop Zbigņev Stankevičs, the Archbishop of Riga, to which Estonia historically belonged.
The centenary weekend will include conferences to delve into the local Church’s history. Ahead of the anniversary, Catholics will undertake a pilgrimage in late August to St. Mary’s Chapel, Estonia’s oldest Marian shrine built in the 13th century in Viru-Nigula.
Bishop Jourdan mentioned that Taize’s European Youth Meeting will coincide with the centenary celebrations in late December, providing an opportunity to engage young people in the commemoration.
Inspiration in the saints
The centenary jubilee offers the Church in Estonia a chance to showcase the life and sacrifice of Archbishop Profittlich, Bishop Jourdan’s predecessor, whose cause for canonization is under review at the Vatican Dicastery for the Causes of Saints.
“His beatification would be a significant milestone as he would become the first Estonian saint in the Catholic Church,” Bishop Jourdan acknowledged. “His cause allows us to share the concept of saints, especially with our Lutheran brothers and sisters who may be unfamiliar with it.”
As the centenary approaches, Estonian Catholics draw inspiration from Archbishop Eduard Profittlich, viewing him as a model of dedication and faith.
“The saints do not seek personal glory but instead fully embrace God’s grace, leading them to holiness,” concluded Bishop Jourdan.
