“The people here have a very authentic faith”

Who are the Catholics of Greenland?

The vast majority of my parishioners are Filipino, about 90%. There are also some Thais and Vietnamese. They are mainly fishermen, who come here because the activity pays well. There are around 500 Catholics in Nuuk, and another 300 in the rest of Greenland.

What links do you have with the Lutheran Church, which is dominant here?

They sometimes invite me, for example at Christmas, but our contact remains limited. The Greenlanders are almost all Lutherans. I notice that some people today are returning to shamanic practices, or mixing them with their Christian faith.

What makes Catholic life special in Greenland?

Here, people come to church because they want to, not because they have to. They seek God, community, proximity. It is a very authentic faith. The faithful really need the Church. I know them all. The only real problem is that they work a lot: my pastoral life focuses almost entirely on Sundays.

How do Filipino Catholics fit in?

They put in a lot of effort. Many want to stay here. There is already a second generation, mixed marriages with Danes or Greenlanders. The children learn Greenlandic and Danish. Their Catholic culture is very rich, but they remain discreet.

For example, the Santo Niño festival, which is very joyful in the Philippines, is almost not celebrated here, so as not to disturb others.

What is your personal background?

I am Slovenian, Conventual Franciscan. I was a priest in Slovenia then missioned to Denmark in 2017. Since 2023, I have also been a parish priest in Nuuk. I come to Greenland for six months a year, I also have a parish in Copenhagen. I feel happy here, in the darkness and solitude.