Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Arviat (Nov 07/01) - The hamlet of Arviat welcomed a traveller of continents late last month.

The World Youth Day cross made a one-day whirlwind tour of the hamlet, Oct. 27, while on its way to Yellowknife.

The cross also stopped in Iqaluit, but a scheduled visit to Rankin Inlet was cancelled due to bad weather.

The cross was donated to World Youth Day by the Pope and has visited all five continents.

Father Greg Oszust says the cross spent a full day in Arviat. It arrived late afternoon and departed the community the following afternoon.

Oszust said many hamlet residents came together to celebrate the cross's arrival.

He said prayers were held after the celebration and those present had the opportunity to share the cross they bear in their own personal lives.

"We had a way of the cross on Sunday morning and took the cross around the hamlet for people to see," said Oszust.

"The Anglican Church agreed for us to stop by and visit their congregation with the cross and that was also very exciting."

Everyone who took part in the welcoming ceremony received their own little cross as a reminder of the experience.

The cross was also a part of regular Sunday mass and Oszust said people of all denominations in the hamlet were very excited about the cross's arrival.

"Although the cross is for everybody, it did have special significance for our young people in town who went to Rome to meet the Pope this past year.

"They presented some traditional activities, including a drum dance, to mark the occasion and that was very special, as well."

Oszust said the World Youth Day cross also symbolizes Arviat's connection with Rome.

"The cross symbolizes the way we all share the same feelings. There have been times Inuit have suffered a lot and the cross also symbolizes their way of life and their triumphs in the face of adversity."