The new prayer center, the eighth established by Nasarean.org worldwide, opens as the nation’s Catholic leaders report increasing interest in the faith among young adults raised outside Christianity.
The Diocese of Oslo, Norway, a capital city marked by advanced secularization and immigration from non-Christian countries, inaugurated a shrine dedicated to persecuted Christians June 20. The shrine is the eighth such prayer center established worldwide since 2018 by the U.S.-based organization Nasarean.org — and the second in Scandinavia, after Stockholm in 2023.
Blessed under the patronage of Mary, Mother of Persecuted Christians, the shrine at St. John’s Church was inaugurated by Bishop Fredrik Hansen, who took office less than a year ago.
For Bishop Hansen, who spoke with the Register ahead of the ceremony, the timing carries a particular resonance, as Norway is experiencing what he described as a small but steadily growing turn toward the Catholic faith, notably among young Norwegians. The witness of persecuted Christians abroad offers, he believes, both a challenge and an encouragement to those finding their way to the faith at home.
Persecution, Witnessed Firsthand
The juxtaposition may seem unexpected since Norway remains one of Europe’s most secular countries, where Christians face no threat
