International work at the LUT, Saimaa UAS and Saimaa Vocational College Sampo

The university and college chaplains of the Evangelical Lutheran parishes in Lappeenranta do international work at the LUT, Saimaa UAS and Saimaa Vocational College Sampo. These schools have a few thousand students and members of staff whose origin and native tongue is other than Finnish.

The university and college chaplains Sari Kosonen (tel. 040 3126 823) and Miika Kähkönen (tel. 040 3126 704) offer pastoral care and counselling for the staff and the students. They can also take church ceremonies such as baptisms, marriages and blessings of home or a marriage. All of these services are available in Finnish, English and German. The chaplains can also help to arrange someone to conduct a ceremony in other languages, for example in Russian or Swedish.

Furthermore, the university and college chaplains organize different kinds of events. Some of these events are focused to the students in particular, some of them – such as multicultural, interdenominational communion services - are open for everyone.

For example the International Evenings are focused especially for the students. They take place in Skinnarilan hovi once a month during the term time. Also, the students are invited twice a year to an International Outdoor Day (Saimaa day), which is held in Skinnarilan hovi and the sauna by the lake. In December there’s an International Christmas party in Tuosa centre. The students can also gather to a Bible study group. A Bible study in English takes place in Sammonlahti church every other Sunday during the term time.

Worlds within Worship is a multicultural, interdenominational service which is open for everyone. The annually organized Women’s Multicultural Day is also open for all (the women).   

One very important form of international cooperation is the Meet a Local Family –project (Ystäväperhe –toiminta). University and college chaplains plan and carry out the Meet a Local Family –project in cooperation with the coordinators from the LUT and Saimaa UAS, the Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS) and the Evangelical Lutheran parish of Imatra. Thanks to this project, dozens of local families in Lappeenranta and Imatra and the exchange and degree students, who’ve come to South Carelia from all over the world, meet every autumn.

If you want send an e-mail to our university and college chaplains the address is:
firstname.surename@evl.fi.