Author Archive: Geoffrey Hall

Ronald Rolheiser’s Column Archives

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In the Spring of 2009, I travelled with Bishop Bill Hockin to St. Gertrude’s Roman Catholic Church in Woodstock, N.B.  As we arrived, we noticed the parking lot was full.  Upon entering the church, we found a large, ecumenical audience awaiting the introduction of Fr. Ronald Rolheiser.  He spoke all morning, and related effortlessly with his audience. As he shared intriguing personal anecdotes and recounted stories from his own life-experience, Rolheiser emphasized the deep desire of many people for an authentic relationship with God.  He called it a “holy longing.”

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Ronald Rolheiser

Earlier that week, in Fredericton, Rolheiser had been the recipient of an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from St. Thomas University. He also delivered STU’s Spring 2009 Convocation Address.

Born on a farm in Cactus Lake, Saskatchewan, ordained as a Catholic priest in 1972, Ronald Rolheiser has a long affiliation with the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. His formal education saw him earn a B.A. (University of Ottawa, 1969), B.Th. (Newman Theological College, 1973), M.A. (University of San Francisco, 1974), M.R.Sc (University of Louvain, 1982) and PhD (University of Louvain, 1983).  Currently,  Rolheiser serves as President of the Oblate School of Theology, a Catholic graduate school for theological studies located in San Antonio, Texas.

In 1982 while living and studying in Belgium, he began to write a regular column in the Canadian newspaper, The Western Catholic Reporter.  These columns featured reflections on theological, Biblical and secular issues.  Choosing to call his column, In Exile, Fr. Ron wrote:

All of us live our lives in exile. We live in our separate riddles, partially separated from God, each other, and even from ourselves. We experience some love, some community, some peace, but never these in their fullness. Our senses, egocentricity, and human nature place a veil between us and full love, full community, and full peace. We live, truly, as in a riddle: The God who is omnipresent cannot be sensed; others, who are as real as ourselves, are always partially distanced and unreal; and we are, in the end, fundamentally a mystery even to ourselves.

Rolheiser’s weekly columns offered down-to-earth observations connecting theology, church history, The Bible and contemporary issues.  Since its inception 34 years ago, 2000 commentaries have been posted online, each  approximately 850 words in length.  Currently, Rolheiser’s work is carried in over 80 newspapers worldwide.  At once, provocative and pastoral, his writing explores key themes in Christian spirituality, including the Trinity, World Religions, Christianity and Ancient and Medieval Philosophy, Existentialism, Mysticism, contemporary spirituality tied to the pressing questions of today (ecology, feminism, masculine spirituality, cultural change).

His 2014 book titled Sacred Fire: A Vision for a Deeper Human and Christian Maturity (Image Book, Random House) received the highest award for a hardcover book from the Catholic Press Association. His 1999 book, The Holy Longing: The Search For A Christian Spirituality (Doubleday, New York) is considered by many to be a modern classic.  Rolheiser writes for a diverse ecumenical audience.  But his weekly on-line columns may be less well known to non-Catholic readers. His website, Ronald Rolheiser’s Column Archives offers an engaging collection of short articles suitable for either personal reflection or for educational reading on Christian topics and issues.  The website includes a Search function which allows  readers to explore a wide range of topics. For example, here is a selection of just 15 titles from the 2016 column-archives:

November 14, 2016 – Why Dark Nights of the Soul?

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ronrolheiser.com

October 10, 2016 – Contemplative Prayer

September 26, 2016 – Software, Moral Formatting, and Living in Sin

August 15, 2016 – A Happy Death

July 25, 2016 – Suicide and Mental Health

July 11, 2016 – Our Deepest Insecurity

June 27, 2016 – Us First!

June 20, 2016 – Of Guns and Pacifism

June 13, 2016 – The Struggle to Love Our Neighbor

June 6, 2016 – Sensitivity and Suffering

May 30, 2016 – Ordinary Goodness and our Spiritual Journey

May 23, 2016 – Faith and Fear

May 9, 2016 – The Ten Commandments of Mercy

March 7, 2016 – How the Soul Matures 

February 8, 2016 – On Reading Difficult Passages in Scripture

Gregg Finley

2016 Christmas Angels

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Our Christmas Angel program has begun! Please help us provide gifts for needy children in the Fredericton area. 🙂

Paper angels from the Fredericton Food Bank are waiting to be chosen from small trees in the Cathedral and in the hall foyer. Each angel indicates a gift or stocking stuffers for a needy boy or girl of a specific age.

Unwrapped gifts, with the paper angels firmly attached, should be brought to the church or the hall by SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4th. Drop-off boxes are set up near the angel trees.

If you cannot bring your gift on time, please take it to the drop-off box in the hall no later than Monday, December 5th. It might seem early, but it is the deadline for the Cathedral Outreach Committee to deliver the gifts to the Food Bank volunteers, who will then distribute the gifts to the children’s parents to be wrapped.

If you prefer to donate money instead of toys or stocking stuffers, please write a cheque payable to Christ Church Cathedral and indicate Christmas Outreach on the memo line. Your cheque or cash should reach the church office by Friday, December 16th. These funds will be divided equally among the Fredericton Homeless Shelters, Transition House and the Fredericton Community Kitchen.

The Outreach Committee thanks you for your generous support in making Christmas special for needy families in our community!

Reign of Christ Commissioning

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On the celebration of the last Sunday of the Church year, the Reign of Christ (20 November 2016) the Cathedral took advantage of the opportunity to focus on the many ways the Christian community lives out the reality of the Kingdom of God in the midst of the world in which we live.  That day we commissioned the ministries that exist among us.  Three new members of staff were commissioned to their respective duties.  New servers, administrators of the reserved Sacrament at home and, leaders of the daily offices at the Cathedral (8:45 am and 4:45 pm, Monday – Friday) were also commissioned to all important ways that members of the Cathedral community minister the Gospel in many and various ways.  An additional commissioning for all other ongoing and existing ministries was part of the celebration.

The Dean of Fredericton made reference to our fragmentation as a congregation, the result of the advantage of a diverse worship experience on a normal Sunday morning.  We enjoy comprehensive worship, providing a wide range of liturgical style, but we are ultimately left with a situation where we don’t always know one another as we could or should.  The worship on 20 November was a combined worship, incorporating all of our styles into one.

Members of staff commissioned:

l_mcknightCathedral Sexton (full-time): Louis McKnight
Lou has spent most of his life in Sussex, where he was born. He spent 33 years working for the Town of Sussex, both as a recreation maintenance man at the arena, and as an equipment operator at the works garage. He and his wife, Gisele (diocesan communications officer) moved to the Fredericton area in 2012 for Gisele’s work. Since then, Lou has worked at the Grant Harvey Centre and Kings Landing. He is very happy to be the Cathedral sexton. He loves to tinker and tear things apart in his garage. He is a whiz with bicycle and lawn mower repair and loves to build and fix things. His favourite “toy” is his 4-wheeler. Lou and Gisele have two grown daughters. Ashley is a librarian, and Jacqueline is studying to be a social worker.k_snowCathedral

Parish Nurse (half-time): Kathleen Snow
Kathleen commenced her role as Parish Nurse on September 1, 2016. She has a Bachelor of Nursing from the University of New Brunswick. She holds certificates in Adult Education, Advanced Mediation, and is a Certified Privacy Professional. She is a Trainer and Facilitator in the Worldwide Mothers’ Union Parenting Program and completed her certification in Parish Nursing in November of 2014. Kathleen’s work experience includes 18 years in Labour and Delivery at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital, 10 years as Patient Advocate for Horizon Health Authority and more recently, she held the role of Chief Privacy Officer. Kathleen is passionate about sharing her faith, and has led a woman’s home Bible Study for many years. She has been an active member of Mothers’ Union, and is currently a Representative Member and sits on a Fundraising and Communications Committee of the worldwide Mothers’ Union.  She is married to Tim, and has three sons Eric, David and Tim. She loves to run, garden, walk Jack and Maude, and enjoys Sunday lunch with her mother Margaret.

d_drinkell2Director of Music (half-time): David Drinkell
David Drinkell, from Colchester, England, has been a church organist since the age of twelve.  After gaining his degree at Bristol University and a teaching qualification at Cambridge, he was responsible for the music at St. Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, St. Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast and St. John’s Cathedral, Newfoundland, coming to Fredericton in 2016.  He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists, Associate of the Royal College of Music and holds the Archbishop’s Diploma in Church Music.

Other Cathedral ministries commissioned can be found in the Order of Commissioning used on 20 November 2016.

The Cathedral is thankful for the time, talent and treasure that continues to make possible its role as a lead congregation in the Diocese of Fredericton and the home of the cathedra of the Bishop of Fredericton.  With the honour and responsibility of being a Cathedral Church, we also give thanks for the enormous privilege afforded us, humbly striving to be, while by no means perfect, a model for Anglican ministry in the province of New Brunswick and Diocese of Fredericton.

Geoffrey Hall
Dean of Fredericton

Bishop and Chapter News – Nov 2016

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Bishop and Chapter met on Monday evening, 21 November with nine of thirteen members present. Minutes of the October meeting were adopted. The Dean offered some reflections on the reality of the kingdom of God among us, leading us into a conversation about ways in which we might move towards becoming less maintenance and more missional in our focus. The discussion took us naturally into considering how “Divine Renovation” by James Mallon might assist us in the task of improving (church) culture

Business Arising
• Cathedral Signage – Word from the Guild of St. Joseph is that it is too late to erect the standards necessary for new signs on the green and that a permit will be needed from the city to install. The project will need to be postponed to spring
• Cathedral outside lighting – we are moving on upgrading fixtures and replacing with energy efficient LED lighting
• Safe Churches policy – online training modules now available. Health Ministry is working toward implementing for ministries under its purview.

From the Dean
• Routine activities – usual activities and duties include facility communions, commitments with diocesan and Cathedral groups and committees
• Board room audio/visual – recommendation
• Absence – 17-21 December to Calgary AB
• Christmas worship – 4, 8 and 11 p.m. Christmas Eve; 10 a.m. Christmas Day
Items for Decision
• Audio/Visual – that the board room be equipped with an internet connected screen for meeting use, viewing video and other learning purposes at an estimated cost of less than $1000

Items for Discussion
• Safe Churches – A broad implementation plan will be necessary as well as appointing a co-ordinator (officer) for the Safe Churches initiative which is now officially a requirement in the Diocese
• 2017 Budget Preparation – with the pending departure of our Treasurer, preparation of the 2017 budget needs to begin now. Groups and committees are asked to communicate budget needs through their respective members of Bishop and Chapter as soon as possible.
• Changing Church Culture – The discussion’s goal was review of our current context, what we do well and areas where we especially need to improve and invest in the next year. A comprehensive list was assembled and a short list of potential priorities identified for more detailed consideration. An in-depth discussion led to a decision to have a Chapter planning session on 10 December, which will be led by Bishop Edwards.

Reports
• Financial – a new format report summarizing monthly and year to date receipts and disbursements was received and reviewed.

Up-coming Events
• Advent Procession 4:00 p.m., 27 November
• Advent Friday Organ Recitals
• Christmas Lessons and Carols 4:00 p.m., 18 December
• Bishop’s Reception – 01 January

Next meetings
10 December – planning; 19 December, 16 January
19 February – Annual congregational meeting

GMH

New vision for Cathedral and Anglican properties proposal

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For many years, Bishops, members of the Cathedral Chapter and members of the Diocesan Council have wrestled with the challenges of owning and maintaining five old Fredericton buildings (most of them historic) and paying their annual operating costs. Bishop Medley’s beautiful Cathedral is almost 170 years old and many of its aging parts cry out for another multi-million dollar restoration project. To that end a local heritage architect has given us a very comprehensive, multi-year maintenance plan that will be followed as funds become available. Cathedral Memorial Hall sits idle most of the time and, while structurally sound, it is in need of extensive and expensive renovations. Neither Bishop’s Court nor Odell House (the deanery) are being used as homes for the bishop or the dean, but we continue to spend good portions of our annual income to maintain them. The synod office at 115 Church St. is another beautiful old residence but it falls far short of being contemporary office space, and renovations are needed.

Meeting with the Bishop of Fredericton – 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, 15 November 2016 at the Cathedral

Annual maintenance and operations expenditures for these properties are substantial. In recent years, the Cathedral congregation’s average expenditures have totalled just less than $200,000 per year for the Cathedral, the former deanery (Odell House) and Memorial Hall, not including insurance. Even with that level of expenditures the deferred maintenance on these three buildings is in the hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars. The diocese is spending approximately $ 36,000 each year to maintain Bishop’s Court and the diocesan office.

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Partnerships key to success of Monday morning drop-in

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The guests who attend the Monday morning drop-in at Cathedral Memorial Hall are lucky. People who have never even met them collaborate to make the event a success.

They have a warm, welcoming place to hang out and socialize with their friends. Thanks to members of the congregation who generously donate sandwiches, muffins and fruit, they never leave hungry.

Thanks to others who set up the room, they can enjoy a cup of coffee while sitting in  comfortable chairs. Their dirty dishes will be made sparkling clean by volunteers in the kitchen.

Monday music

WHEN THE SAINTS – When the Saints Go Marching In is one of the favourite songs performed by a small group of Christian men who sing and play at the Monday morning drop-in.

Some guests are busy “shopping,” looking through the free stash of used clothing and small housewares donated by cathedral members, their relatives and friends.

Archdeacon Pat Drummond offers a Bible study each week. Parish nurse Kathleen Snow takes blood pressures and chats with people about their health problems, often pointing them toward helpful resources.

A few Christian men from a local Baptist church bring their guitars and banjos to play gospel music, with some country tunes and oldies mixed in. Sometimes there’s a singalong.

A social worker from the downtown health clinic circulates through the crowd to assist people he knows or has just met. Cathedral volunteers chat, making the day a little brighter for  guests struggling with loneliness, illness, poverty, and addictions.

Blood Pressure check

BP CHECKS – A blood pressure check is one of the services offered by parish nurse Kathleen Snow at the Monday morning drop-in for people in need.

“We enjoy wonderful partnerships with people from the cathedral and elsewhere in the community who believe in opening their hearts to help people in need,” said a smiling Penny Ericson who is chair of the Outreach Committee. “We couldn’t do it without their kind and faithful support.”

She noted that the Cathedral ACW helps by providing funding as well as food once a month as do the pastors and parishioners of St. Margaret’s Anglican and New Maryland United.

“We have a great time working together in the kitchen and talking with the guests,” she said. “The people who come appreciate what we offer very much. About 40 people attend every Monday, although on the last Monday of the month when we give out a $10 gift card or bus tickets, the turnout climbs. We are grateful to the Bishop and Chapter for the money to fund that part of our activities.”

Penny welcomes questions from anyone who is interested in learning more about the Monday drop-in.

Ann Deveau

Music Monthly – November 2016

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06 November 2016 – Twenty-Fifth after Pentecost – All Saints Sunday – Remembrance

10.00 Choral Eucharist and Holy Baptism
Christ hath a garden – Drinkell
German Mass – Schubert
Psalm 149
O quam gloriosum – Victoria
528, 250, 361, 274, 57, 276
St. Anne Fugue in E flat BWV 552 – Bach

4.00: Choral Evensong
Smith Responses
Psalms 148 and 150
Walmisley in D minor
Give us the wings of faith – Bullock
275, 520, 282
Sarabande in modo elegiaco – Howells

13 November 2016 – Twenty-Sixth after Pentecost

10.00 Choral Eucharist (BCP)
Cast thy burden upon the Lord – Mendelssohn
Darke in F
Psalm 98 And I saw a new heaven – Bainton
370, 515, 527, 76, 535
Sonata No. 1 (1st mve.) – Mendelssohn

20 November 2016 – Last after Pentecost – The Reign of Christ

10.00 Choral Eucharist (BAS)
O praise God in his holiness – Weldon
Festive Eucharist – Rawsthorne
Benedictus O taste and see – Vaughan Williams
184, 606, 374, 48, 602
Exurgat Deus – Hurford

27 November 2016 – First Sunday of Advent

10.00 Choral Eucharist and Great Litany (BCP)
Wood in the Phrygian Mode
Psalm 122
How beautiful upon the mountains – Stainer
112, 99, 116, 52, 110
Passacaglia in C minor BWV 532 – Bach

4.00 Advent Procession
The Great O Antiphons of Advent
Matin Responsory – after Palestrina
O come, O come, Emmanuel
The Truth from above – arr. Vaughan Williams
There is a flower springing – Praetorius
Hills of the North, rejoice!
Rejoice in the Lord alway – Anon. 16th cent.
‘Twas in the year – arr. Wood
On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry
Vesper Responsory – after Praetorius
Lo! He comes, with clouds descending
Litanies – Alain

New director of music

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The congregation of Christ Church Cathedral, Fredericton welcomed David Drinkell as director of music in July. He comes among us with his wife, Elspeth. The Cathedral has valued a high standard of music in the past and we are pleased that with David’s expertise and leadership it appears that  will continue.

David comes with a long history of accomplishments and experience. He was born in Colchester, Essex in England and had his first paid job as a church organist at twelve years of age! He was paid five shillings per week! Since then, he has earned his BA, FRCO, ADCM, ARCM and has been organist and choir master at many Cathedrals in England, Ireland and for the last ten years, at St. John the Baptist Cathedral, St. John’s, Newfoundland.

A Cathedral is a Cathedral, and it must be a leader in the diocese.

1610_drinkell_choir“A Cathedral is a Cathedral,” says David, “and it must be a leader in the diocese.”

However, that does not mean it must be too serious. He has been quoted to say, “Life is too short to be serious,” Indeed, choir rehearsals are peppered with anecdotes and funny stories about the composers and the music, keeping choristers amused.

“When you play a noisy beast like a church organ, you have to have a sense of humour.” He loves to bring to life all the various sounds the organ can produce.

David’s experience is extensive.

1610_drinkell_choir1Educated:

  • Colchester Royal Grammar School
  • Bristol University,
  • Homerton College, Cambridge, England

Church posts have included:

drinkell_keyboardDavid is known for frequent organ recitals. In Ireland, he played a different program in all 31 Cathedrals, all within one week! In St. John’s, the locals were treated to weekly recitals, totaling 200 consecutive performances. Fredericton audiences will be pleased to learn that he is hoping to continue that custom at Christ Church Cathedral, beginning this year with an Advent series, and continuing each Friday thereafter. He is also hoping that there will be enough interest among youngsters, to form a children’s choir.

His interests are varied and include choral and organ music, food, wine and restaurants and architecture, especially of old churches. He is extremely knowledgeable about many church organs, and regularly posts comments on organ sites by way of the internet with details about church organs.

Accompanying him is his talented wife, Elspeth, who is from the Orkney Isles in Scotland. She has already shown her versatility as a singer, helping in the soprano, alto and tenor sections of the choir, as needed – but not all at the same time! She is looking for employment as an administrator or secretary in the Fredericton area.

Since the position at the Christ Church Cathedral is only part-time, David is also checking out the need for accompanist, adjudicator positions in the Fredericton area.

We are hope David and Elspeth will enjoy being part of our Cathedral church family for a long time.

David’s short biography can be found on the Cathedral Clergy and Staff page. A new web site feature is “Music Monthly,” a listing of choral music planned for the month ahead.

Marilyn Lewell

Photos M. Lewell and G. Hall

On the Theology of Money

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Theology of Money report criticizes capitalist economics

The report of the task force on the theology of money argues that the current economic system is an example of “structural sin.” Image: Saskia Rowley On October 18,an Anglican Church of Canada task force has released “On The Theology of Money,” a report calling the faithful to embrace a “vision of ‘enough'” when it comes to material wealth.

Bishop and Chapter News – Oct 2016

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Bishop and Chapter met on Monday evening, 17 October with ten of thirteen members present. Minutes of the September meeting were adopted. The Dean shared portions of the workbook that accompanies the book “Divine Renovation: From a Maintenance to a Missional Parish” by James Mallon focusing on the role of the pastor and the need for functional teams.

Business Arising

•    Hall Front Steps – Repair has been delayed possibly to spring.

From the Dean

•    Routine activities – a summary of pastoral and programme activities was outlined as usual
•    Meetings – Scheduling meetings continues to be one of the more frustrating challenges. Perhaps scheduling farther in advance would be more effective.
•    Leadership in isolation – further to the need for a change in leadership culture, leadership operating in isolation remains one of our corporate challenges.  Leaders need to gather to themselves effective and well-rounded teams for ministry tasks.  The Chapter needs to operate in an overseeing, strategic planning role.
•    To do’s pending – current priorities are Baptism Preparation for 06 November and calling together a Server Guild.
•    Thanksgiving Break-in – Police investigation is on-going.

Items for Decision

•    Chapter membership – Edmond Biden elected to membership as chair of Buildings and Property with thanks and appreciation.
•    Safe Church Policy – Diocesan policy is now in force.  Health and Pastoral Care Committee will lead implementation.
•    Signage – Communications Committee propose a new Cathedral sign for the southeast green and were granted permission to execute at a cost of between $500-600.
•    Church Lighting – a proposal has been made to change outside flood lighting at the Cathedral to LED at an estimated $1500 per year energy saving.  Referred to Property Committee for action.

Items for Discussion

•    Changing Church Culture – follow-up on of “Divine Renovation” by James Mallon.  Discussion on changing the culture towards better health.  Recognizing what we do well,  implementation of a strategy is needed.  The Dean was asked to provide a summary of areas where we are now effective and those not.  Executive charged with preparing a proposal for next steps.

Reports

•    Financial – the Treasurer indicated that income is ahead of the previous year at about 7%.  Gathering information from Cathedral ministries for preparing the 2017 budget needs to begin now. Committee chairs asked to begin that process.

Other

•    Treasurer Resignation– received from our Treasurer as of 15 December 2016.  The job is beyond what Carol can do at this time. Thanks was expressed to Carol for her service. A detailed list of suggested immediate needs was included and the Executive will facilitate a review of our situation.
•    Harvest Supper – organizational lead needs to be identified as Kathy McBride is unavailable due to unforeseen personal commitments
•    Up-coming Events – were noted and reviewed. Our Calendar.

Next meetings

21 November; 19 December. 16 January, 19 February (Annual Congregational Meeting)

GMH