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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
The sun beat down on the Fort Simpson papal grounds as ashes from a roaring fire filled the air and congregation members slowly trickled into the arbour on a crisp Sunday afternoon.

Bishop Murray Chatlain preaches during a mass Sept. 16 in honour of Pope John Paul II's visit 25 years ago. - Miranda Scotland/NNSL photo

Martina Norwegian, with Fort Simpson's Sacred Heart Parish, stood on a small stage and welcomed everyone to the celebration of mass in honour of Pope John Paul II's visit to the community 25 years ago.

The pope, who died in 2005, came to Fort Simpson in 1987 and presided over mass for 4,000 people.

Sheila Gunderson, who attended the event this past weekend, was one of the onlookers in that crowd decades ago.

Gunderson said she remembers people coming from all over to see the Pope. Tents were everywhere, with visitors camping in a forest where the Seven Spruce Golf course now sits.

On the day of his visit, the Pope greeted the crowd, carried out the blessing of the four directions and went to the teepee for a private meeting with some of the leaders and elders. Afterwards, he preached to the crowd and the people lined up to take communion.

"It was beautiful," Gunderson said of the day, adding she doesn't remember much of Pope John Paul II's sermon.

The Pope had tried to come to Fort Simpson in 1984 but bad weather prevented his plane from landing. Gunderson said she drove all the way from Inuvik to see him that time, only to be disappointed.

"Everybody had just been waiting for so long," she said, adding it was a miserable day. "(The fog) was right to the ground. You couldn’t even see to your nose."

Norwegian said she still remembers listening to the plane circling.

"The plane went around and around and around until we got the call that they were not landing here, they were going on to Yellowknife and that was a real sad moment, a sad time because of the expectation and the work that had gone into preparing for this visit," she said.

Norwegian had spent months helping prepare for his coming.

Bishop Murray Chatlain said although he wasn't there when the Pope visited, he was pleased to be part of the celebration this past weekend.

"These grounds have held a lot of specialness since that gathering," he said, adding he was impressed by the great turnout. About 60 people came to see the mass, during which Chatlain gave a sermon on selfishness.

"Fight and resist against the call of materialism," he told the congregation. "Be someone who is thankful for the little things."

After the ceremony everyone enjoyed a potluck lunch around the fire, chatting and reminiscing.

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