Summer in the Arctic is short but very intense. The sun is up all the time, there is no night at all so different activities like hunting, fishing, boating, working and of course kids playing outside go on 24 hours a day, literally. The children do not go to school so it gives our mission the opportunity to organize for them various projects. It is already a tradition in the Our Lady of the Snows mission in Naujaat, Nu to take the children for a day to the mission’s cabin. The children play, some take a swim in icy cold lake, there is of course time for prayer and some teaching and everything sums up with bbq and smores from bonfire. The cabin is located some 8km from the town and it usually takes one or two trucks and several ATVs to bring all the kids there. Another attraction that the mission started during the summer is swimming pool. The always cold water (average temperature during summer is +9) is not a problem for the Inuit children who although shivering of cold still have incredible fun. The pool is set up for summer in front of the mission on artificial grass which on daily basis is a playground. On daily basis children come to the mission for the rosary prayer and the Mass and to enjoy some food and games. Our summer although short and cool is very intense with many activities.

(text and photos - Fr. Daniel Szwarc OMI)