Songs and smiles on the Cathedral lawn

Posted on July 26, 2022September 7, 2022

The Calithumpians theatre troupe has been entertaining audiences in Fredericton for over forty years, and in 2020, its headquarters moved to Cathedral Memorial Hall.

For the last three summers, the Cathedral lawn has been filled with the sights and sounds of children participating in drama day camps. Kids and teens spend each weeklong camp singing, dancing, acting and playing outdoor games.

According to the Calithumpians' website, "The troupe is named after an ancient tradition wherein young people, dressed in costume and disguise, paraded through the streets celebrating and making joyous noise."

Drama camps are offered between Canada Day and Labour Day for kids between 6 and 14 years old, and scholarships are available. With the support of local business sponsors, children from families with limited financial means are given the opportunity to attend camp with the fee waived. The camps foster creativity and confidence, and since 2011, over 500 children have benefited from the scholarship program. Spaces are still available for August 2022, so reach out for more information.

In addition to camps, each day at 12:15 p.m., the public is invited to watch a free, family-friendly musical theatre performance outside the Cathedral. Four shows are rotated throughout the summer, each showcasing local issues and historic figures in a a humorous way. On Fridays, the campers also perform a short play before the performing troupe launches into its show.

The Calithumpians also perform in other downtown Fredericton locations. The repertoire includes guided walking and motorcoach tours, historical interpretation, training and consultation, school visits and workshops, dinner theatre, and Haunted Hikes.

View the performance and tour schedule.

Festival brings live music to the Cathedral Green

Posted on July 21, 2022August 2, 2022

From July 15-17, downtown Fredericton was filled with the sound of music from the Sweltering Songs music festival.

A tent on the Cathedral Green was set up for the music festival.

Christ Church Cathedral was pleased to be a strategic partner of the festival, permitting use of the 'Green', the Cathedral's waterfront land, for a performance tent.

A spin-off initiative of the long-running winter music festival, Shivering Songs, Sweltering Songs was designed as a multi-day summer folk festival and launched in 2021. This is the Cathedral's first year participating.

“Shivering Songs has long been known as ‘a cure for the winter blues' in Fredericton, but given the challenges with COVID-19 during the past two winters, featuring a summer edition has allowed us to prioritize supporting artists and small businesses locally, as we've always done,” said festival co-organizer, Zach Atkinson.

Performances were held in two tented venues in downtown Fredericton: one on the Cathedral 'Green', hosting programming Friday and Saturday morning; and one on Carleton Street Saturday and Sunday. Additional shows were held indoors at The CAP.

Sweltering Songs offered a mix of all ages, family-friendly events and licensed adult-only events, featuring 19 artists including: The Weather Station, Julie Doiron, Aquakultre, The Hypochondriacs, Motherhood, Les Hôtesses D'Hilaire, Cedric Noel, and more.

During the festival, the Calithumpians also performed family-friendly musical theatre on the lawn beside Christ Church Cathedral.

Congregation and community support for the Outreach Program

Posted on July 19, 2022February 7, 2024

On the last Monday of each month, people in need are welcomed at Memorial Hall by members of the Cathedral Outreach Committee.

Between 8:30 - 10:00 a.m., volunteers hand out goodie bags containing fresh fruit, homemade muffins and cookies, a granola bar, a beverage and other food items such as cheese strings, soup packets and sandwiches.

Members of our congregation prepare food and donate funds to purchase non-perishable food items and gift cards. Other churches, such as New Maryland United Church and St. Margaret's Anglican Church also contribute to the Monday Outreach program.

Visitors, such as David M. being checked in by volunteer Ann Deveau, are always grateful for the treats and a $10 gift card to use at a local supermarket.

Bus tickets are also available as an alternative to supermarket gift cards. The City of Fredericton donated 100 single-ride bus tickets to the Cathedral Outreach Committee, one of 26 community agencies given an allotment of tickets. Outreach guests appreciate the chance for a free ride to attend medical appointments, access training, or look for work. The committee purchases additional bus tickets throughout the year to fulfill the need.

During the Monday Outreach program, visitors are also invited to choose items from a table of seasonal clothing and household items donated by members of the congregation. They are thankful for the the shirts, jackets, footwear, hats, sunglasses, water bottles, towels, and personal care items such as soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste.

Guests are also made aware of other services in the community, such as a weekly breakfast program at Saint Andrew's Presbyterian Church, a free clothing bank at The Drive Baptist Church, and the Greener Village food bank, learning kitchen and income tax services.

Typically, approximately fifty people in need attend the Cathedral's Monday Outreach program each month, with many regular visitors. While a majority of the guests are men, the program also sees women of all ages and occasionally children.

Throughout the pandemic, visitors have been appreciative of the continued support. Due to pandemic precautions, the program has been held as a drop-in program on the steps and lobby of Cathedral Memorial Hall. Guests look forward to a time when they may again be able to gather inside the Hall for music, conversation, and a buffet table.

One grateful guest delivered a card to program volunteers, which read, "On behalf of myself and people I've once known, I'd like to say how thankful I am to have received the blessings and gifts over the years. Thank you and from the bottom of not just my heart but others as well. You are angels."

Primate meets Pope as Catholics look to Anglican model of synod

Posted on July 18, 2022August 16, 2022

Cathedral Tours

Posted on July 15, 2022August 31, 2022

Guided tours of Christ Church Cathedral are available throughout July and August, Monday to Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and after worship on Sunday until 4:00 p.m. Tours are free, donations are welcome (fill out a donation envelope to receive a tax receipt).

Drop by to welcome new tour guide Sophia Pacione, and Alex LeBlanc, who is returning in the position for a second summer.

Tours made possible due to receipt of a Community Funding Grant from the City of Fredericton.

Self-guided tour booklets are available in English, French and German.

Celebration at St. Hilda’s

Posted on July 15, 2022August 16, 2022

Graduates of St. Hilda's Anglican School were thrilled to receive their diplomas from Standard 6 (grade 8) at the end of June.

Principal Jane Martinez shared photos of the happy students, which you can see below. She previously sent photos of a worship service held for the graduates in the school's chapel.

Upon this completion of publicly funded education, students are at a crossroads. High tuition costs for high school mean that many students will not have the opportunity to further their education, and must enter the work force as young teenagers. Unemployment in the country is high, there are many large single-parent families, and almost half of Belizeans live below the poverty line.

In 2010, Cathedral mission team members established a high school scholarship program which has allowed St. Hilda’s students to apply for a scholarship to continue their education past grade 8. Some of the graduates supported by the Cathedral have gone on to post-secondary education. Currently, four students attending high school benefit from Cathedral scholarships. The pandemic has been a tumultuous time for our scholarship students, with several of them facing illness or significant family distress.

Thanks to generous donations from members of the Cathedral congregation, we also send funds to the elementary school each year to contribute to ongoing needs for the students and teachers at St. Hilda's. Contributions towards the Belize missions are welcome and appreciated. You may give and receive a charitable tax receipt by making an online donation or submitting a donation marked 'Belize' through the Cathedral office or offering plate.

Visiting Belize to form relationships with the teachers and students has been a transformative experience for many of the Cathedral members who have participated in mission trips. Learn more about our relationship with students and teachers at St. Hilda's in our archive of Belize articles, and please keep the students, teachers and families in your prayers.

2022 Summer Music Series

Posted on June 24, 2022August 26, 2022

Our Summer Music Series returns with nine noontime concerts, held each Friday between 01 July and 26 August. Join us inside historic Christ Church Cathedral as we present a series of concerts featuring choral music, soloists, fiddle, guitar, viola, organ and piano. View the poster.

Each concert will run from 12:10 - 12:50 p.m. All welcome!

Face masks are encouraged as a way of showing care for others.

Free admission, donations encouraged. Proceeds will support the Organ Renovation Fund. Tickets are not required, but online donations will receive a receipt for tax purposes emailed immediately.

July 1
J. Thomas D. Gonder, organ

July 8
Natalia Lubimova, viola and J. Thomas D. Gonder, piano

July 15
J. Thomas D. Gonder, organ
(unfortunately, the Metropolitan Choir School from London, Ontario is no longer able to attend)

July 22
Steven Peacock and Gerry Van Wart, guitars

July 29
Katherine Moller, fiddle and Tom Richards, guitar

August 5
New Brunswick Summer Music Festival ~ The Elm City String Quartet

August 12
Olivia Spahn-Vieira, soprano and J. Thomas D. Gonder, piano

August 19
Luke Noftall, baritone, and J. Thomas D. Gonder, piano
(unfortunately, Olivia LaPointe is no longer able to perform)

August 26
Christian Vanicek, piano and organ

* * *

Make a donation to the Organ Renovation Fund
(tax receipt emailed immediately)

Graduation at St. Hilda’s

Posted on June 23, 2022July 15, 2022

It's graduation time in Belize!

The Principal of St. Hilda's Anglican School, Ms. Jane Martinez, recently sent a few photos from year-end activities, and a video of students singing during a worship service in the school's chapel for the Standard 6 (grade 8) graduates. Watch it below.

St. Hilda’s, an elementary school in the rural village of Georgeville, educates approximately 200 children between kindergarten and grade 8. Christ Church Cathedral has had a special relationship with the staff and students for many years. Cathedral teams have travelled to Belize five times: in 2005, 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2018. Over 60 Cathedral members ranging in age from 15 to 79 have gone on a mission trip to Belize, and hundreds of people in Fredericton have supported the work through organizational support, donations and prayers. As part of the Cathedral's ongoing financial commitment to St. Hilda's, we send funds each year to contribute to ongoing needs for the students and teachers.

These Standard 6 (grade 8) students have completed their final year of public education in Belize.

In addition to providing support for the elementary school, the Cathedral provides scholarships for selected St. Hilda's graduates. In Belize, the average child leaves the education system after Standard 6 (equivalent to Canadian grade 8), when they are approximately 13 years old. High tuition costs prevent many children from attending high school, because unemployment in the country is high, there are many large single-parent families, and almost half of Belizeans live below the poverty line. In 2010, Cathedral mission team members established a high school scholarship program which has allowed St. Hilda’s students to apply for a scholarship to continue their education past grade 8. Some of the graduates supported by the Cathedral have gone on to post-secondary education. Currently, four students attending high school benefit from Cathedral scholarships.

Please pray for the students and teachers at St. Hilda's elementary school, our high school scholarship students, and their families. Contributions towards the Belize mission are welcome and appreciated. You may give and receive a charitable tax receipt by making an online donation or submitting a donation marked 'Belize' through the Cathedral office or offering plate.

Your support makes a big difference in the lives of these children!

News from St. Hilda’s Anglican School

Posted on June 14, 2022June 23, 2022

We hold our friends in Belize in our hearts, praying for the students and teachers at St. Hilda's Anglican School, as well as the scholarship students who have moved on to High School. Ms. Jane Ramirez, Principal at St. Hilda's, recently sent us this note about activities at the school.

Greetings Kelley,

I pray that this email reaches you in good health. It has been some time since we communicated so I just wanted to send a greeting and give you some updates about what is happening at St. Hilda's Anglican School.

We are now back fully face to face for four days each week. It has been a challenge especially since Covid19 is still among us. We have had a few teachers and students who became sick. Thankfully, no one has gotten extremely ill. We have protocols in place to help prevent the spread of the virus.

We are looking forward to the new school year. It is my prayer that our preschool will open in September. We already have 18 students waiting. We are on the finishing touches and are grateful for your continued prayers and support. We have had some difficult days but God has been faithful. He has been good. We are nearing the time of our graduation which will be held on June 22nd. Our school year is almost over! Yeah! I am really looking forward to some vacation time in July.

Please greet our Friends of St. Hilda's. Sending our love and appreciation. I will be forwarding the reports for the scholarship recipients as soon as I receive them.

I pray the best for you all and look forward to hearing from you.

Blessings,

Jane

Honouring the Queen with a Jubilee Tea

Posted on June 8, 2022June 29, 2022

On Saturday, 04 June, 2022, the Cathedral Branch of the Mothers’ Union (with the support of the ACW and other Fredericton MU branches) hosted “The Queen’s Jubilee Tea” to commemorate the 70th year since Her Majesty’s accession to the throne.

The Cathedral looked beautiful with the red, white and blue bunting combined with the Pentecost decorations!

Approximately 60 people attended and greatly enjoyed the abundant sandwiches and sweets. We listened to British music and sang “God Save the Queen” while sipping tea, sampling the Jubilee cake, and enjoying the fellowship of those who were in attendance.

It was a wonderful celebration that was held in conjunction with similar events hosted by MU Branches around the globe.

Many thanks for the financial donations, to those who provided the fancy sandwiches and sweets, and to those who volunteered their time to make tea, decorate and serve at this event.

-- Susan Watson, Co-Branch Leader, Mothers' Union - Cathedral Branch

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The Queen’s Jubilee Tea