A playful snow day
It takes more than a -18°C day to stop fun in Saskatchewan. Admittedly, the windchill did shorten our time outside, but our resident Gap Year, Mission Year, and Apostolic Internship participants didn’t let that stop our annual Snow Day—an afternoon and evening of “Little Way” joy, play, some classic winter comfort food, and most importantly, intentional community.
The Battle for the Forts
The afternoon kicked off with a high-stakes construction project. Participants spent thirty minutes harvesting massive ice chunks to build snow forts, which quickly became the front lines of what was described as an “all-out war.” Between the physical exertion and the strategic snow-lump barrages, the freezing temperatures were forgotten for a while.
Will Cornish, a Gap Year student, reflected on the importance of this shared intensity:
“It was great to do things with everyone, especially something physical with the other men—lots of activity, lots of tackling, just being able to get some pent-up aggressive energy out with the community. It was a highlight for me.”
The “Indoor Cabin” Experience
When the -33°C windchill finally forced a retreat, the fun didn’t stop; it just moved. The gym had been transformed into a “cabin” oasis, featuring couches, blankets, a digital fireplace on the projector screen, and plenty of hot chocolate. The afternoon was filled with board games and chatting on the cabin half of the gym, while round after round of pickleball kept people moving in the other half.
Jenna Regnier, currently in her Mission Year, noted how this shift in the pace of life was exactly what she needed:
“Today reminded me of when I was growing up in Ontario and we’d have a snow day: we’d get to skip school, and go outside and play. Then, my mom would always make us hot chocolate when we’d come back, and it was really warm and cosy. Today felt like a break from regular real life and let me just be a child again. It was fun to hang out with people and relive this, plus I got to eat bannock for the first time! I love Saskatchewan!”.
Fire, Rosaries and Dragons
As the sun began to dip, the community suited back up in their winter gear and gathered around a bonfire for a classic weiner roast. A special treat (and Jenna’s favorite part) was the pan-fried bannock served with jam.
For Rachelle Bentler, an Apostolic Intern, the outdoor meal was a reminder of what it means to be a spiritual family:
“We have community night every Saturday night, but it was really good just to have a day where everyone could be together, welcoming and interacting with everyone—from the people you normally do things with, to those that you sometimes struggle with or don’t know well. It’s a chance to break through that and do something together with everybody to create memories together. It felt like fruitful family-time and was very wholesome.
A highlight for me was the bonfire supper. It was just so much fun. We had hot dogs together around the fire—I think it was the first time where I actually really enjoyed a hot dog, charred by the fire, so warm and delicious!”
Gap Year participant, Alyana Canda’s highlight of the day was the movie that night. After supper clean up and saying the Rosary in the chapel, it was back to the gym for a not-winter-themed flick, How to Train Your Dragon 2.
“It was just so much fun just being with the community, being on the couches that we’d moved into the gym, the nice warm lights, the bonding time, and laughing together at the movie. Normally we try to be quiet during movies (so that everyone can watch and listen without distractions), but this time we were so expressive!”
Why We Play: The Theology of Leisure
Leisure is not an “escape” from our spiritual lives, but a vital part of them. By stepping away from the regular daily routine, our participants are able to refresh themselves and return to their mission with renewed fervor. This is what St. Thomas Aquinas called the virtue of eutrapelia—the moderation and “rightness” in play. Aquinas taught that because the soul’s power is finite, it becomes weary through over-application. Just as the body requires physical rest, the soul requires the “rest” of play and mirth to return to its work with a clear mind.
We see this lived out beautifully in the life of St. John Paul II. Even during his busy papacy, he was known for slipping away to the mountains to ski. He understood that encountering the majesty of winter was a way to encounter the Creator. He once said:
“It is important for us to find moments of silence and reflection, but also of healthy recreation, which allows us to return to our daily duties with new energy.”
While our “mountains” in Bruno might be made of shoveled snow, the sentiment remains the same. Whether skiing down a mountain side, or roasting hot dogs over a bonfire on the Saskatchewan prairies and trying bannock for the first time, we find God in the joy of His creation.
James Riley has been on the St.Therese Institute mission staff since before anyone else here can remember, and he has done a little of everything in his time! He currently serves as the Deputy of Operations.
