Den katolske kirke

What Den katolske kirke does

Den katolske kirke i Norge (The Catholic Church in Norway) is a registered non-profit religious organization (Org. nr. 820 140 362) operating as part of the global Catholic Church under the Holy See, with a Norwegian presence re-established in 1843 after the 1537 Reformation. It serves approximately 160,000 registered Catholics across Norway through three ecclesiastical districts — Oslo katolske bispedømme, Trondheim stift, and Tromsø stift — comprising 41 parishes and chapel districts, with mass offered in over 15 languages to a predominantly immigrant membership from Poland, Lithuania, the Philippines, Vietnam, and other countries. The institution delivers the seven Catholic sacraments, catechesis, marriage preparation, funeral services, counseling, and charitable work through affiliated bodies including Caritas Norge, Missio Norge, Norges Unge Katolikker (NUK), and St. Olav Forlag publishing house.

Its core digital and content products include the katolsk.no website, two mobile applications (Katolsk and Katekismen, the latter containing the full 2,700-paragraph Catholic Catechism), the quarterly St. Olav – katolsk tidsskrift for religion og kultur (in print since 1889), the Sycamore 20-episode course series (delivered in Norwegian, Polish, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Lithuanian), and dedicated family pastoral and marriage preparation resources (katekese.no, blilys.no). Leading clergy include Bishop Fredrik Hansen (Oslo, since 16 July 2025) and Bishop Erik Varden OCSO (Trondheim, since 3 October 2020, also Apostolic Administrator of Tromsø stift since 31 August 2023).

The revenue model is a mixed non-profit structure: voluntary tax-deductible donations via the Givertjenesten giving service (Vipps and bank transfer), Norwegian government subsidies (offentlige tilskudd) tied to registered members with 11-digit birth numbers, free magazine distribution (non-revenue), publishing sales through St. Olav Forlag, and specialized charitable flows through Missio Norge and Caritas Norge. Programs are offered free of charge and the institution is not commercially oriented. Governance is hierarchical under the Norsk katolsk bisperåd (Norwegian Catholic Bishops' Council), with corresponding participation in the Den nordiske bispekonferanse (Nordic Bishops' Conference).

Name

Den katolske kirke

Legal name

Den katolske kirke

Website

https://katolsk.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

1843

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Den katolske kirke i Norge is a non-profit Catholic religious institution serving approximately 160,000 registered Catholics across Norway through 41 parishes in three dioceses, delivering sacraments, catechesis, worship, and charitable services in over 15 languages, funded by donations, government subsidies, and publishing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAJAB

Denominational & Ecclesiastical Governance Bodies (Dioceses, Synods, Conferences)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Religious & Faith-Based Organizations

SECONDARYBPAGAJAL

Places of Worship & Religious Facilities Operations (Cemeteries, Retreat Centers, Pilgrimage Sites)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Religious & Faith-Based Organizations

SECONDARYBPAGAJAD

Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Religious & Faith-Based Organizations

Keywords

• Religious services
• Catholic sacraments
• Catechesis education
• Pastoral counseling
• Humanitarian charity

Headquarters

HQ city

Oslo

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Tithes and Donations (Givertjenesten): The Catholic Church in Norway receives financial contributions from registered members. Catholics are encouraged to give monetary gifts through a secure electronic payment system, Vipps, and bank transfers. Donors can receive tax deductions for their contributions. The giving service (givertjenesten) assigns unique identification numbers to donors.
2. St. Olav Magazine: St. Olav – katolsk tidsskrift for religion og kultur (Catholic magazine for religion and culture) is distributed free of charge to subscribers. ISSN: 0802-6726. The magazine is also available in Daisy format and on CD for blind and visually impaired individuals.
3. Government Subsidies (Offentlige tilskudd): The Catholic Church in Norway receives public subsidies for registered members. To qualify for government subsidies, Catholics must be registered with their full 11-digit birth number (birthdate + personal number). The church maintains a membership register to track adherents.
4. St. Olav Forlag (Publishing): St. Olav Forlag (St. Olav Publishing House) publishes religious texts, catechetical materials, the Catholic Catechism in Norwegian translation, and other Catholic literature for sale to the faithful and the general public.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Den katolske kirke i Norge is a non-profit religious institution providing Catholic religious services, including the seven sacraments (baptism, confirmation, eucharist, reconciliation, anointing of the sick, holy orders, matrimony), daily and Sunday mass in 15+ languages, catechesis for children and adults, marriage preparation, pastoral counseling, funeral services, and pilgrimages. It serves approximately 160,000 registered Catholics across 41 parishes and chapel districts in Norway, organized under three dioceses. The Church also publishes St. Olav magazine and operates St. Olav Forlag publishing house, plus charitable arms Caritas Norge and Missio Norge.

Product overview

Den katolske kirke i Norge operates a digital platform primarily through its website katolsk.no and two mobile applications: the Katolsk app for accessing mass texts, liturgical calendars, church locations, and prayers, and the Katekismen app containing the full Catholic Catechism. Supporting these are digital resources including St. Olav magazine (quarterly publication since 1889), the Sycamore course series (20 episodes on Catholic faith), and the online book 'Katolsk tro og kristenliv'. The digital infrastructure also includes a comprehensive mass times directory covering all 41 parishes and chapel districts in Norway, available in 15 languages. The church offers no public API for external integrations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Caritas Norge: Humanitarian aid organization within the Catholic Church
• Norges Unge Katolikker (NUK)
• St. Olav
• Missio Norge

Products and services

• Katolsk Mobile App

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Norges Unge Katolikker (NUK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorges Unge Katolikker (NUK) is a nationwide association of Catholic children's and youth organizations in Norway. The organization is affiliated with the Catholic Church in Norway and operates under the Norwegian Catholic Bishops' Council. NUK arranges youth pilgrimages (e.g., Selja pilgrimage), retreats, and faith formation activities. The organization's main board 2024–2025 is referenced on the DKKN website.
• Caritas NorgecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCaritas Norge is the Catholic Church's humanitarian and charitable organization in Norway. It operates independently but is affiliated with the Catholic Church and the broader Caritas international network. Caritas Norge provides humanitarian aid, development assistance, and social services, and is referenced as a key organization within the Catholic Church in Norway structure.
• St. Olav ForlagcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSt. Olav Forlag (St. Olav Publishing House) is the publishing arm of the Catholic Church in Norway. It publishes the Norwegian translation of the Catholic Catechism, Fr. Arne Fjeld OP's 'Katolsk tro og kristenliv', and other Catholic literature. It operates under the Norwegian Catholic Bishops' Council.
• Kateketisk senter i OKBcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKateketisk senter (Catechetical Center) in Oslo Catholic Diocese was established in 1972 and provides resources for catechesis (faith formation) for children, youth, and adults. It operates websites katekese.no (marriage courses) and blilys.no (Sunday school materials). It also houses the Family Pastoral Counseling function established in September 2000.
• Missio NorgecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMissio Norge is the Norwegian branch of The Pontifical Mission Societies (Missio), which supports missionary work worldwide. It operates on mandate from the Nordic Bishops' Conference. Missio supports church planting in poor dioceses, children's missions, priestly education, and the 'Apostle Peter's Friends' program. The coordinator is Deacon Sindre-Jacob Bostad.
• Den nordiske bispekonferansecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Nordic Bishops' Conference is the governing body of Catholic bishops in the Nordic countries (Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland). It issues joint documents, pastoral letters, and statements on behalf of the Nordic Catholic churches. The Norwegian Catholic Bishops' Council participates in this regional body.
• St. Eystein PresteseminarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSt. Eystein Priestly Seminary is the seminary for training priests within Oslo Catholic Diocese. It prepares men for the priesthood and is an essential pipeline for the Church's clergy. Norwegian priest students also study at the English College in Rome.
• The Vatican and The Holy SeecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Catholic Church in Norway operates as part of the worldwide Catholic Church under the leadership of the Pope (currently Pope Leo XIV) in Vatican City. The Church in Norway receives documents, encyclicals, and directives from the Vatican and the Pope. Pope Leo XIV visited Barcelona, Spain in June 2026.
• Religious Orders in NorwaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple religious orders operate within the Catholic Church in Norway including: Dominicans (O.P.), Franciscans (O.F.M.), Augustinian Canons (Can.Reg.), Cistercians (O.C.S.O.), Dehonians (S.C.J.), Marists (S.M.), Missionaries of the Holy Family (M.S.F.), Oblate Fathers (O.M.I.), Picpus Fathers (SS.CC.), Verbists (S.V.D.), Sisters of St. Joseph of Chambéry (C.S.J.), Sisters of the Holy Cross (S.H.K.), Carmelite Nuns (O.C.D.), Birgitta Sisters (O.Ss.S.), and others.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Buddhistforbundet (Buddhist Federation of Norway): Another minority-faith umbrella organization in Norway with comparable scale, immigrant-rooted membership, and reliance on state subsidies tied to registered members. Useful as a direct parallel to Den katolske kirke's structural and funding model.
• Islamic Council of Norway (Islam Råd Norge): Another large minority-faith umbrella organization in Norway serving immigrant communities. Comparable as a non-Christian faith community reliant on government subsidies tied to registered membership, providing a useful benchmark for state-religion relations.
• Den katolska kyrkan i Sverige (Catholic Church of Sweden): The Catholic diocesan structure in neighboring Sweden, organized under the same Nordic Bishops' Conference and serving a similar immigrant-rooted Catholic minority. Operates an equivalent app, parish network, and catechetical apparatus in Swedish.
• Suomen katolinen kirkko (Catholic Church in Finland): The Catholic diocese in Finland and a fellow member of the Nordic Bishops' Conference. Closely comparable in size, structure, immigrant-rooted membership profile, and dependence on Finnish government recognition.
• Katolsk Kirke i Danmark (Catholic Church of Denmark): The Catholic diocese in Denmark, also a minority Catholic presence in a historically Lutheran country. Provides an almost identical operating model: parishes, sacramental services, catechesis, and government interaction under the same Nordic Catholic framework.

Others

• Caritas Norge: The Catholic Church's affiliated humanitarian and charitable organization in Norway. While organizationally distinct, it operates as an extension of the Church's mission and shares donor, brand, and governance ties.
• Norges Kristne Råd (Norwegian Christian Council): An ecumenical fellowship of Norwegian Christian churches and organizations, including the Catholic Church as a member. Relevant as the principal inter-church coordinating body with which Den katolske kirke engages on social and policy matters.

Broad incumbents

• Svenska kyrkan (Church of Sweden): The established Lutheran state church in neighboring Sweden. Comparable as a large, property-rich, state-supported national church with parish-based structure, useful for cross-Nordic benchmarking of operating models.
• Den norske kirke (Church of Norway): The Evangelical Lutheran state church of Norway and the dominant religious body in the country. Comparable as a nationwide ecclesiastical governance organization funded partly by state, but with vastly larger membership and the established-incumbent position.
• Holy See / Vatican: The global governance body of the Catholic Church and ultimate canonical authority for Den katolske kirke in Norway. Comparable as the broader incumbent under whose canonical framework and brand the Norwegian church operates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCkatolsk
• Facebookfacebook.com/katolsk.no
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/den-katolske-kirke-i-norge
• Instagraminstagram.com/katolskno
• Xx.com/katolsk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Den katolske kirke