The Ostrava-Poruba parish and the Diocese of Ostrava-Opava have held monthly Catholic services in English since September 2026; the second took place on 17 October 2026.
The Ostrava-Poruba parish, in cooperation with the Diocese of Ostrava-Opava, has introduced Catholic services in English for foreign students and workers. They are held once a month, always on the third Saturday at 6 p.m. in the Church of St Nicholas in Poruba. The first took place on 19 September 2026, the second on 17 October.[1][2]
According to Deník, about forty people came to the first Mass. The vicar general of the diocese, Jan Czudek, one of the initiators, told iDNES.cz that about sixty people gathered together with locals, among them students from both Ostrava universities taking part in the Erasmus programme, several Filipinos and a worker from Germany. Czudek, who previously served in the Czech expatriate parish in New York, expects attendance to grow. The diocese spokesperson Ondřej Elbel said that the parish and the diocese are responding to the growing number of foreigners in Ostrava and the region, and as an example mentioned the growing Filipino community in Kopřivnice.[1][2]
The services are to be celebrated in turn by priests who have a good command of English; after Czudek, the episcopal vicar Daniel Vícha celebrated on 17 October. According to Deník, the location is related to the proximity of the campus of VSB – Technical University of Ostrava. Further English Masses are planned for 21 November and 19 December 2026.[1][2]
Related articles: Moravian-Silesian Region
Chronology
- — In Poruba, Ostrava, in the Moravian-Silesian Region, another monthly Catholic Mass in English was held on 17 October 2026; the parish introduced these Masses together with the Diocese of Ostrava-Opava for foreign students and workers, and the first was held on 19 September. Deník: Moravskoslezský kraj iDNES.cz: Ostrava
Sources
- Deník: Moravskoslezský kraj — 17 October 2026
- iDNES.cz: Ostrava — 19 October 2026