Louise-Ann Trainor, Doris Norman, Michele LeBlanc and Jennifer Griffiths, ACW members, stand beside the commemorative quilt.
The joint efforts of the ACW and the Health & Pastoral Care ministries of Christ Church Cathedral resulted recently in a delicious and delightful afternoon luncheon. Bowls of steaming hot soup and plates of succulent sweets accompanied by hot and cold beverages were enjoyed by all of those attending. Many examples of fine needlework, some of which were Christmas themed, were on display including a lovely quilt designed by the late Wendy Brien. The quilt was designed to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the ACW (Anglican Church Women) which started life in 1885 as the WA (Women’s Auxilliary).
With so many gathered together in one place, it was an opportune time to talk about and share Christmas memories. Here’s a sampling of the many stories told around the tables that day!
Gail MacGillivray and Kathy McBride enjoy a tasty lunch.
Kathy McBride: Kathy was in grade 12 in 1970 and working at Sobey’s on Christmas Eve. It had been snowing heavily all day and she barely made it home that evening. By then, even the roads were not plowed but her Mother gathered the children together and off they set on foot from Clark Street in Devon for St. Mary’s church. One can only imagination the steely grit of this determined group in the face of blizzard conditions. They made it!!! Along with about 12 other hearty souls. Unfortunately, their fearless leader for the service, Father Smith at the time, didn’t make it! Not to be daunted, this brave little troupe sang a few carols, said the Lord’s Prayer and thus had their own Christmas Eve service before heading back out to brave the elements!
Michele LeBlanc: On that same Christmas Eve of 1970, Michelle had returned to her home on Reid Street from her first year of nursing in Saint John. At the time, Michelle’s family worshipped at St. Dunstan’s on Regent Street. In spite of the blizzard, Michelle’s Mother, much like Kathy’s, was not about to let a little blizzard deter her family from ushering in Christmas at Church. Off they set, stopping at Rosary Hall, to invite the nuns to join their party. They arrived safely and likely a little wet and cold but at least they weren’t required to improvise as the priest living just next door to the Church was present. The walk home was equally brutal but Christmas had been ushered in appropriately! Kudos to the Moms and their brave wee ones! And 51 years later, Kathy and Michelle discovered that they shared this Christmas Eve experience!
Doris Norman: Doris won’t ever forget the panic that set in at Church one Christmas Eve! With several curious wee ones at home, it was deemed important to hide presents in a secure location lest Santa Claus’s identity be revealed in an untimely manner. Thus, David and Doris hid their purchases for the children in a trailer belonging to their neighbours and retrieved them before leaving for Church and skillfully snuck them into the house to be arranged beneath the tree to be there when the family returned. Dean Rhodes was mid service when some gesture of his awakened Doris to the fact that they had forgotten to retrieve and place the presents. Can’t you imagine the panic of this young Mom - the intake of breath, the expression on her face, the grasping of David’s arm, the relegation of everything else in the world to the back of her mind! Determined that this was not to be the Christmas that Santa failed to appear at the appointed time, Doris somehow conveyed to David that a crisis was in progress and a plan was hatched! When they arrived home, David remained in the car with the children, while Doris went in one door and out the other, waded through the snow to the neighbour’s trailer, grabbed the armful of gifts, returned home, placed them under the tree, and, no doubt, wiping sweat from her brow ushered David and the kids inside! Mom of the Year goes to Doris Norman for the year that Santa retained his dignity and identity!
The Christmas luncheon was enjoyed by all. Read all of our Christmas reflections over the years!
-- Stories collected by Gail MacGillivray
Mary Allwood and Carol Gregory at the Christmas luncheon.
