You feel happy when you meet Viveka Bratt and Hans (Hasse) Bratt Hernberg, they’re quick to laugh, yet have a great depth to them.
Viveka and Hasse met in 2001 at Klara Church in Stockholm. It took them exactly 38 minutes to decide that they were meant for each other and that they would get married. In other words, it was love at first sight.
Neither of them was very young. Hasse had one child from a previous marriage and two from a cohabiting relationship. Viveka, on the other hand, had never been married before, but she also has two children from a previous relationship.
Both worked within the Stockholm Cathedral Parish and helped build and develop its activities. Hasse was an ordained deacon and devoted a large part of his time to helping the homeless, people struggling with addiction, refugees, and others in need.
For 12 years he stood at Sergels Torg in Stockholm in all kinds of weather, distributing food to those in need.
At the same time, Sweden’s Prince Carl Philip did an internship for several weeks and provided Hasse with much-appreciated help. He also documented their work through photography. These photos were later sold by Prince Carl Philip and the proceeds were donated to the church to be able to help homeless people to a place of recovery (Good Foundation).
Hasse recalls that the Swedish royal family contributed in many ways, and their involvement brought significant publicity and more funds to those less privileged.
In 2001, Hasse graduated as a deacon, and in 2013 he was ordained as a priest at Storkyrkan in Stockholm. During those years, he studied almost every day and night, yet Viveka and he still managed to organize and lead group trips to Israel.
Together Viveka and Hasse established rehabilitation centers and arranged educational programs for people from all walks of life. Here too, Prince Carl Philip, along with politicians, journalists, and other influential figures, contributed financially.
Viveka is a psychotherapist and came to Klara Parish, two years before Hasse. Before the couple could move to Los Angeles, Hasse spent a short period serving as a priest in the old beautiful 12th-century Botkyrka Church, located between Stockholm and Södertälje. During that time, he was active both as a youth pastor and a prison chaplain.
In order to serve in Los Angeles, Hasse needed to continue his studies to qualify as a senior pastor. In October 2017, he and Viveka packed their bags and flew to Los Angeles – the beginning of a true adventure.
Once in Los Angeles, their mission was to expand the existing congregation. They began by traveling around and building a strong network. They established a close collaboration with the beautiful old brick church in downtown Los Angeles (the first Swedish church) now belonging to the Evangelical Lutheran Church (ELCA).
They also established closer ties with the Swedish Embassy, the Swedish Chamber of Commerce and SWEA (Swedish Women Educational Association).
Then, suddenly, the pandemic struck and many people chose to leave, but for Viveka and Hasse, it was essential to stay and help wherever they could. In 2013 “The Black Lives Matter movement” began after George Zimmerman was acquitted in the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin. It gained global prominence in 2020, particularly following the death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, in Minneapolis.
This led to widespread protests not only in the United States, but across the world. There was looting, arson and demonstrations in many areas, and both Los Angeles and San Francisco were heavily affected.
Hasse and Viveka remember the devastation – where downtrodden and homeless people were screaming, some wandering the streets naked, desperate. They did everything they could to care for and support those affected Swedish families.
During this period, Viveka’s days were filled with therapy sessions, and they worked together when Hasse conducted both funerals and occasional weddings on Zoom. They recall many Swedish families who suddenly found themselves unemployed and forced to leave their homes.
Both say they have probably never worked as hard or as intensely, and that it left them feeling deeply exhausted.
The couple remained in Los Angeles for five years, which is the limit for so-called religious visas. As they had not seen their children for three years, it felt right to return to Sweden. Hasse was offered a position at “Stjärnholm Castle and Retreat Center”, located in southeastern Sweden, near Oxelösund, about 1.5-2 hours southwest of Stockholm.
Viveka became involuntarily retired. Being the active and enterprising woman Viveka is, she certainly did not see herself as retired. She started her own business and began working with the female priest Louise Linder, providing counseling therapy in a space in Gamla Stan (The Old Town, Stockholm).
At more or less the same time, Klara Parish had begun to experience some difficulties, and there was a strong desire to have Hasse and Viveka return.
Hasse was asked to reapply for a position at the parish and was offered the job as director.
He was met by an overflowing desk. There was a lack of structure and order-everything was in a state of mild chaos.
It was a really challenging time for both of them, but through joint effort they managed to restore order and structure. Then, with perfect timing, Hasse was asked if he would like to take on an assignment on the French Riviera and Monaco. Hasse accepted and went there for about one and a half years, but Viveka stayed in Stockholm.
Viveka had long carried a dream of being stationed in Asia. Sometimes dreams do come true, and as a couple they were offered a position in Asia. Without the slightest hesitation, they applied and were given their dream posting. On February 10, 2026, they landed happily in Bangkok.
For them, an extensive task now begins – securing all the necessary permits, visas, and so on. In the future they will be based in Hong Kong, where their mission will be to build up a functioning congregation and be travelling to hold service around Asia. They will also need to establish agreements with social media platforms and handle many other practical matters.
Those of us who live and work in Asia know how time-consuming this process can be. Unlike before, they will no longer be posted from Sweden, but will instead be locally employed.
So far, they have been staying in Bangkok while travelling to Hong Kong to, among other things, determine where it would be best to live and to get a sense of the Hong Kong environment. Before the pandemic, there was a functioning congregation that shut down during the pandemic, but Olof and Marie Olsson have been travelling there and kept the flame and hope up, but now it will be Hasse and Viveka’s task to expand and reopen it.
As Hasse puts it: “We want to lay the foundation for the future of the Church of Sweden in Asia. Worship, Education, Diakonia, and Mission (WEDM) are our guiding principles.”
Both have realized that people are theologically curious and eager to learn more about the Bible’s often complex messages, as well as to engage in meaningful conversations.
Having had the pleasure of meeting Viveka and Hasse, I am convinced that they are the right people in the right place. With their positive attitude, easy laughter, and genuine care for others, they will undoubtedly put the Church of Sweden on the map.
All that remains for us is to wish them the very best of luck.
