Growth We believe ongoing education is an important part of the renewal process. A small group of us has successfully taken a correspondence course in Lay Formation Ministry with St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia. Others have participated in rallies and formation sessions both locally and down South. ( Well, we mean Winnipeg, Edmonton and Ottawa.) Opportunities have been offered to learn more about the historical Jesus, liturgy, liturgical ministry, the blending of culture and faith… It is our goal to continue to produce material that will promote personal and community growth while being ourselves continually transformed from within. top Faith We believe in God the Father, in Jesus Christ the Son and in the Holy Spirit. We believe in the Catholic Church and are faithful to its authority manifested in the person of our bishop. We believe in each person’s baptismal priesthood. As adults, we have the responsibility and duty of our own education and that of others around us. We believe in the importance of being able to be fully, actively and consciously participating in liturgical celebrations but also in any aspect of our faith journey. We believe in the beauty of the human nature, the various cultures and of creation and seek to recognize and encounter in it the presence of our God. top Renewal We believe it is important for any individual and community to be open to renewal. But really what does that means? At the Mikilaaq Centre, renewal remains a challenge. The process entails discernment. It forces us to maintain an open mind and to stretch our limited financial resources to keep in touch with the latest technology and programs. How and when does one choose to remain faithful to what works and is proven as opposed to trying innovative programs that offer expanded possibilities but also comes with their own quirks. We have tried to remain informed on what is available out there and adapt whenever possible, yet not rushing out to buy all the latest fads on the market. This has allowed us to continue to be effective in our ministry and, we hope, to provide quality material. The renewal process though is also experienced in every other aspect of our ministry and life. Music being a vital part of our ministry, Nadine has put much time and energy to collect new songs (with copyright permission) to add to the collection provided by Joanne, some years back. Various young musicians and singers are involved with music ministry during Sunday night liturgical celebrations, rallies, but also for the drop-in centre. A better selection of hymns, praise & worship and contemporary songs that suits the needs of the faith community are providing lively and meaningful celebrations while avoiding the pitfalls of routine. Some beautiful liturgical dances have also been created for liturgies, formation sessions, and youth rallies. It is our desire to love and serve the Lord. We are committed to seek to do his will through our life and work at the Mikilaaq Centre and to never take for granted that we got it all down pack! A commitment to personal and communal prayer is fundamental to our ministry. top Hope Ideas for new projects flow through Lynne's head as a gushing river. However there is never enough time, money, or energy to allow her imagination to run free. And of course, there is always the danger that the new initiatives wash away all the old foundations. We are learning though, at the Mikilaaq Centre, to harness this force. In the past years, prayerful discernment, the suggestions and counsel of our friends and the financial support from benefactors and the Government of Nunavut have helped us to tame and channel many of these wonderful ideas into new and traditional ventures. Many dreams have come true. It is our hope that the Mikilaaq Centre will continue to be a beacon and refuge for all who have joined daringly and humbly on the journey to conversion. In the next few years we are determined to direct our efforts to live a prayerful community life and to shine Christ's love to the world. We hope that our way of life and our service to the community will be an invitation for all to surrender to God's mercy and his everlasting love. We hope that others will join us in our desire to always learn more and to grow deeper in love for God and our neighbours. We hope to be able to facilitate this process by providing adequate tools and resources. Our hope lies in the death and resurrection of Christ, our life and salvation. top Community We have been chosen to form a Christian community. We are disciple of the cross, awaiting the return of the Risen Lord. We have been called together in order to support our mutual development in faith. Our community is inclusive. We welcome all those who seek God in the face of their brothers and sisters regardless of their faith affiliation. top Charity We have been called together in order to better serve others. We are dedicated in bringing to the world the love of God through our words, our silence and our work. We are committed to the building of the Kingdom of God. We will not rest until our work in the vineyard is done and the Master has brought us home for the final banquet. top Owl In the Inuit culture, the snowy owl is a symbol of purity. It is our desire at the Mikilaaq Centre to remain faithful to both the Inuit culture and to the Gospel. We pursue a better knowledge of the Inuit culture and a deeper appreciation of how it reflects the goodness and generosity of God. We are also aware that each Christian is called to witness to the present culture and society. We are to engage personally as individuals but also in partnership with society in a process of discernment to purify our own values and guiding principles. The gospel must ultimately be our foundation. It must ‘purify’ but also transform our way of thinking and doing so that we may be more and more conformed to Christ himself. Together, let us build the Kingdom of God. top Sun Many years ago, a lady from Arviat shared a dream she had concerning the Mikilaaq Centre. It was dark all over the town. This obscurity that covered the village actually had not much to do with the sun gone to sleep, rather, the sinfulness encountered in the community created a shadow of death. She explained that the only light shinning through the darkness came from the Mikilaaq Centre. Although we do believe that the sun shines in Arviat, and that all is not darkness, we are also very aware that all is not according to God's plan. It is therefore our mission to shine brightly for all to see. We understand the importance of taking time to bask in the light of the Son and to, in turn, reflect it on those who come in contact with us. As the Christophers would say: "It is more important to light a candle than to curse the darkness." top Inukshuk In the recent years, the Inukshuk, has gained international renown as a variety of books on the subject and posters have flooded the market. Even more so, new Inukshuit being built all around the world in commemoration of important moments, such as most recently in Afghanistan and in Toronto, have added to the growing recognition of the Inuit symbol. Likewise, in the past, the Inukshuk served the Inuit in marking important sites. It indicated nearby fishing areas, or again the direction to the camp. It stood the test of time to commemorate special encounters, or occasions that occurred in a particular place. Faithful to its name which mean 'looks like a man' the Inukshuit built in series, often along a ridge, were used to direct caribou to a designated spot where Inuit where awaiting to kill them. The Inukshuk is symbolic of Christ, the cornerstone, the rock upon which our faith is built. Christ not only marks the encounter between humankind and God, He is God made present in our midst. Christ became a man and walked our paths in order to show the way to the Father and his eternal kingdom. top