Twice a month, FLC Village residents gather in the cinema room to sing, listen to a traditional Catholic service, and possibly have a one-on-one talk with a Catholic priest.
The increasingly popular Sunday services in FLC Village are conducted by Janusz Turek, the Catholic priest of Our Lady’s Church in Næstved.
“The Sunday services in FLC Village have come about due to a request from the former Catholic parish priest on Lolland-Falster, Gilberto Vinciguerra. He had in vain tried to find a Polish-speaking priest for the many Polish workers at the Fehmarnbelt tunnel project, who profess the Catholic faith,” tells Janusz Turek.
An engaged congregation
Realising that logistics and distance would hinder the ability of the FLC Village residents to attend his church services in Our Lady’s Church in Næstved, Janusz Turek has set course for FLC Village two Sundays each month since September 2023. A one-hour drive each way which he doesn’t mind at all. On the contrary.
”I have rarely experienced such an engaged congregation. Many of the FLC Village residents even know the song lyrics by heart, and we have great and inspiring conversations after the services. As a priest, it is a privilege for me to include some of the workers on this giant project in my congregation, and when I drive back to Næstved after the Sunday sermons, I always feel very grateful and spiritually enriched,” tells Janusz Turek.
Janusz Turek is educated in Poland and Austria but has worked as a Catholic minister in Denmark for several years. He is minister for a congregation of 850 people in Næstved and one of 450 people in Ringsted.
The arrangement of the Catholic services will continue as long as the residents of FLC Village wish. And so far, nothing indicates that the interest will fade.
“The Catholic services in FLC Village have both a social and religious impact, and when Janusz Turek and his colleague approached us with a request to organize Catholic services, we immediately agreed to the practical setup. Janusz Turek’s dedication and personal commitment has only confirmed our first impression, and a growing number of our Polish Catholic residents truly appreciate Janusz Turek and his Sunday services,” says Jens Tornager, FLC Village Manager.
