After the wedding: Newly-married couple Leonie Eecheak and Jayko Tattatuapik, in front, with Bertha Piujuk, Tommy Tattatuapik, Bishop Rouleau and Father Krotki.
"Lord God Almighty, how great and wonderful are Your deeds! ...how right and true are Your ways!”
This passage of the Holy Scripture came to mind during my last mission trip to the northernmost Catholic community in Arctic Bay, known to Inuit as Ikpiarjuk, north of Baffin Island.
Before I left for Poland to visit my mother and our family, I had planned as well on my return to Igloolik (my mission base community) to visit Arctic Bay where several of our youth and young adults were to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. The youth had been preparing for Confirmation with my help over the past few months. Just before the Confirmation, we were to celebrate the wedding of Jayko Tattatuapik and Leonie Eecheak in the Arctic Bay community as well. The wedding and Confirmation earlier booked in May had been postponed. Now the wedding was to be celebrated on the 29th of September, the day after the Confirmation.
Our bishop, Most Rev. Reynald Rouleau, O.M.I., of the Diocese of Churchill-Hudson Bay, was to arrive and confirm the youth. I was scheduled to arrive September 26th to make the necessary preparations before the bishop’s arrival. The First Air flight left on time from Iqaluit airport, and all the passengers got the green sticker on the boarding cards which said: “Landing subject to weather.” Oh no, I thought, not this again, what about our plans? What about the couple and the Confirmation group? Then a quick reflection and decision to try anyway. I thought maybe we would make it. On the other hand, I still had a few days to spare before the arrival of Bishop Rouleau.
The flight was smooth coming to Nanisivik airport. The plane came low, and I could see the road to the airport and the trucks coming in when suddenly, a thick cloud appeared and it was over. The pilot could not take the risk. He informed us we would have to fly to Resolute Bay, an hour’s flight northwest. Two hours later, we were on our route again going to Nanisivik. Sure enough, the conditions got even worse, and we flew to Iqaluit, the capital of Nunavut. Upon arrival, we were told to try again at six o’clock the following morning.
The next day, I was up and ready again. The same thing happened, however, and the day after. Each day I asked God why I had to stay there for so long. On Saturday evening, the answer came.
A little after 7:00 p.m., I received a call from the local hospital in Iqaluit. A nurse said the family of Lucien had asked for a priest because the moment had come for him to enter the life with God in His Kingdom. The local pastor, Oblate Father Greg Oszust, was not due to arrive till the following week. The family did not know I was in the city. I knew the family very well. I had earlier buried Lucien’s son; they were from the Igloolik community. Some I had brought to their place of rest, some I had baptized while others had received First Communion from me.
On the way to hospital, I thanked God for the grace to be there with Lucien’s family in their time of difficulty. I realized also that God had been holding my trip up until that day because something important needed to be done. Again, Jesus’ words—“My ways and your ways are different...”—had never been truer, His ways being true and wonderful as always.
Meanwhile, our bishop had left ahead for Arctic Bay, and was making preparations not knowing if I would arrive before the Confirmation. The wedding seemed to have gone into a future possibility while the Confirmation lay still farther ahead.
The following Sunday, our plane took off and, with it, the possibility of landing 50/50 with the green stickers again. This time, I believed I would be free to fly to Arctic Bay. And so I did. We landed in Nanisivik airport and, with help from friends, got to town in the afternoon. People were expecting me and were happy to welcome me. I was happy to see them, hoping I still had time to prepare for the Confirmation and the wedding.
Sunday night we had a meeting with the bishop and the youth. Jayko and Leonie came to the meeting, too. Leonie was a baptized Anglican but was ready to enter the Catholic Church and to receive three sacraments in one celebration. She was getting ready for marriage and yet had never received the Eucharist in her life. She wanted to follow her husband’s faith. After the Confirmation practice, we met with the couple and they decided it would be wonderful to have the wedding on the day of Confirmation. Leonie’s eyes shone so much that tears started to pour down her cheeks. I asked her: “Leonie, are you ready for this?” “Yes, for twelve years,” she replied, “I wanted to do this.” We all smiled. We worked on all the documents until late in the night.
Our chapel in Arctic Bay could accommodate only 30 people but I knew we would have around 200 and more coming to celebrate with us Monday evening. We asked the local Anglican minister to allow use of their church this time. They were very happy and joked that it was fine as long as I did it with a smile. “Done deal,” I said.
The following evening, we were all ready to celebrate with a large crowd of people. Youth waited in front in their chairs while the bridegroom waited for his future wife to show up. The bishop and I came first, then the best man and maid of honor, and in the rear, Leonie with her father walking down the aisle. People cheered gently and respectfully.
Our bishop gave the homily on the readings of the Pentecost. He said: “I am so overwhelmed with the surroundings in this part of the world—how beautiful the land and the mountains! A few years ago, I came here for Christmas Mass but it was so dark I could see nothing—only street lights—wondering how it looked in the daylight. Now I can see it in the day and I am happy to be with you again.”
Then the Sacrament of Confirmation, and at an ending filled with emotion, Leonie and Jayko together coming forward. It was all new to me, too. I was so happy for them. With those moments of joyful participation, I thought that my job of giving a nice smile was done. The moving wedding and exchange of promises brought a sense of wonder among those gathered. For Leonie, another marvellous thing happened that night. During Holy Communion, she and her husband came forward to receive the Body and Blood of Christ together for the first time. At that moment, they became fully united as one with their Master and the One who makes things possible.
Tuesday was the day of both the bishop’s and my return to Iqaluit. Again, God gave me grace to fly back to Igloolik with Lucien’s wife and children for the funeral. Before he passed away, Lucien had requested to have his funeral in Igloolik. It seems that God made things possible so I could be in places I needed to be, to participate in His glory on Earth. I am very grateful to have been given the opportunity to live it. Very few people live in the Arctic but His presence is so powerful—God is LOVE and God is ONE with us.
(Father Tony Krotki, O.M.I., is pastor of Saint-Étienne-et-Notre-Dame mission in Igloolik, Sacre Coeur mission in Pond Inlet, and Coeur-Douloureux-et-Immaculé in Sanerajak (Hall Beach) in the Diocese of Churchill-Hudson Bay in Nunavut.)
