Category Archives: Cathedral Faces

Weddings in the Cathedral: Katie & Greg

Posted on

The month of June has long been known for its brides, but why, we wondered, were “June brides” so popular?

Well, it turns out that the tradition of “June Brides” dates back to Roman times when Juno and her husband Jupiter were celebrated on the first day of June. Juno was the goddess of marriage and childbirth.

Continuing on to Victorian times the availability of fresh flowers made June a good month to wed. And since baths tended to be taken in the warmer months of May and June in medieval times, those sweet smelling bouquets came in handy!

The Celtics also had a hand in promoting June! Young couples would be paired on Cross-Quarter Day or May 1st. They would then be expected to date until the next Cross-Quarter Day on August 1st. But alas, impatience led to more and more June weddings!

Finally, a June wedding in farming communities was a good thing. If the bride fell pregnant, she would still be in good shape to work the fall harvest!

All of this information got us to thinking about all the weddings that have been celebrated in Christ Church Cathedral! We are looking back and sharing some of those weddings and special memories from the bride and groom! Read all of the wedding reflections, and stay tuned for more!

* * * * *

Were you married in the Cathedral? Or do you have a story of relatives who were? We would love to hear your story and see a photo! If you are willing to chat with a member of the Communications Committee and be included in an upcoming series of articles, please contact the Cathedral Office. Phone (506) 450-8500 or email <office at christchurchcathedral.com>.

Katie & Greg

December 29, 2010

Katie (Catherine) and Greg Young Morris were married by The Very Reverend Keith Joyce almost 13 years ago. They shared these memories:

"Our wedding day fell right between heavy snow storms, and we were fortunate not to have to cancel. The actual day, however, was beautiful and sunny. Katie sported her winter boots in many of the outdoor wedding photos.

We enjoyed music by organist Dr. Willis Noble, and Katie's brother and sister-in-law Neil Young and Talia Profit performed a breathtaking version of Mount Eerie's 'Oh My Heart'. In the provided photo, the happy couple is exiting to the "Prince of Denmark's March" by J.A. Clarke.

Our wedding bulletin featured the following bible quotation:

I went to my garden, dear friend, best lover!
breathed the sweet fragrance.
I ate the fruit and honey,
I drank the nectar and wine.
Celebrate with me, friends!
Raise your glasses—"To life! To love!
-- Song of Solomon 5:1 (The Message translation)

Katie and Greg's three young children can often be seen playing instruments and dancing on Sunday mornings during Come Worship services!

Farewell to outreach volunteer and unsung hero Sandy Robb

Posted on

Sandy Robb - a former guest who turned into one of our most willing outreach volunteers!

Sandy Robb was a survivor.

Most people would have crumpled helplessly under the weight of the obstacles she faced. She was an unwed teenage mother, an alcoholic, a precariously employed cook, homeless more than once, beset by chronic illnesses, in and out of the hospital.

Yet, by the time she died in her sleep recently, she had fought to become a well-housed and sober senior citizen, offering no-nonsense advice as a peer support worker at a downtown medical clinic that helps addicts to recover. She had become well-known to politicians and the media as an effective advocate for the poor and the homeless in our city.

She was also a longtime, valued volunteer with the Monday Morning Outreach program at Christ Church Cathedral where she baked delicious cookies and knew most of the people in need who attended.

Sandy, at the City of Fredericton Unsung Hero awards ceremony in 2018. Pictured: Cathedral Outreach Committee Chair Penny Ericson, Fredericton South MLA David Coon, and Sandy Robb.

Outreach Committee chair Penny Ericson was a dear friend. “I've lost my buddy,” Penny said sadly. “We learned so much from Sandy. She had a big heart, and she was always ready to speak up for what was needed by the less fortunate in our city.”

It's one of the reasons Sandy won an Unsung Hero award from the City of Fredericton in 2018, being acknowledged for helping to shape this community for the better.

“Sandy was a force to be reckoned with - such a kind and generous person in her own way,” recalled retired Parish Nurse Kathleen Snow who worked closely with her at the outreach drop-ins. “A true Christian in many ways.”

Rev. Kelly Burke from New Maryland United Church, who has helped Cathedral volunteers with outreach activities for 15 years, agreed.

Sandy, helping to pack goodie bags for a COVID-safe Monday Outreach in 2020.

“So much life and goodness flowed from that woman,” she said. “She was a wise and challenging teacher for us all. Well done, good and faithful servant.”

“Sandy was the best kind of woman, and it was a pleasure to get to know her at outreach,” added volunteer Susan Colpitts, echoing comments from other volunteers. “She will be missed by all of us who were fortunate enough to share space with her.”

Heather S., a visitor to Monday Morning Outreach for many years, called Sandy “a wonderful woman” who helped her to get free furniture when she finally found housing. “She was always reaching out to somebody, so it's heart-breaking to think that she's gone.”

For the May 29th voucher day, Sandy sent a loaf of sandwiches and a newcomer who needed a pair of shoes. By the time the woman happily laced up a gently used pair of sneakers, eager to thank Sandy, our spunky and extraordinary friend had slipped out of this world.

Condolences are offered to Sandy's family, friends and to all who will miss her. Her legacy of kindness, common sense and advocacy will live on.

- by Ann Deveau

Click here to read Sandy's obituary. There will be a celebration of Sandy's life in Doaktown, Saint John and Fredericton at a later date.

Two articles about Sandy have appeared on the Cathedral website in the past:

Sandy Robb – A Fredericton Unsung Hero (2018)

Portrait of a (formerly) homeless woman – Sandy Robb (2017)

In 2017, Sandy participated in the short documentary film ‘The Rest Will Follow’, a collaboration of DocTalks, the Community Action Group on Homelessness and Housing First.

Weddings in the Cathedral: Kathryn & Roger

Posted on

The month of June has long been known for its brides, but why, we wondered, were “June brides” so popular?

Well, it turns out that the tradition of “June Brides” dates back to Roman times when Juno and her husband Jupiter were celebrated on the first day of June. Juno was the goddess of marriage and childbirth.

Continuing on to Victorian times the availability of fresh flowers made June a good month to wed. And since baths tended to be taken in the warmer months of May and June in medieval times, those sweet smelling bouquets came in handy!

The Celtics also had a hand in promoting June! Young couples would be paired on Cross-Quarter Day or May 1st. They would then be expected to date until the next Cross-Quarter Day on August 1st. But alas, impatience led to more and more June weddings!

Finally, a June wedding in farming communities was a good thing. If the bride fell pregnant, she would still be in good shape to work the fall harvest!

All of this information got us to thinking about all the weddings that have been celebrated in Christ Church Cathedral! We are looking back and sharing some of those weddings and special memories from the bride and groom! Read all of the wedding reflections, and stay tuned for more!

* * * * *

Were you married in the Cathedral? Or do you have a story of relatives who were? We would love to hear your story and see a photo! If you are willing to chat with a member of the Communications Committee and be included in an upcoming series of articles, please contact the Cathedral Office. Phone (506) 450-8500 or email <office at christchurchcathedral.com>.

Kathryn & Roger

September 18, 1993

Kathryn Collet (nee Galey) shared these memories of her wedding to Roger Collett almost 30 years ago:

"The service was officiated by my Dad, the Rev. Canon Leonard J. Galey, Rev. Canon E.F. (Ted) Eaton, Rev. Fr. Stanislas Paulin and Dean John Wright"

Memorable moment: "There were so many clergy there, there was no way we weren't getting married that day!"

 

Weddings in the Cathedral: Cindy & Mike

Posted on

The month of June has long been known for its brides and it’s coming right up! Why, we wondered, were “June brides” so popular?

Well, it turns out that the tradition of “June Brides” dates back to Roman times when Juno and her husband Jupiter were celebrated on the first day of June. Juno was the goddess of marriage and childbirth.

Continuing on to Victorian times the availability of fresh flowers made June a good month to wed. And since baths tended to be taken in the warmer months of May and June in medieval times, those sweet smelling bouquets came in handy!

The Celtics also had a hand in promoting June! Young couples would be paired on Cross-Quarter Day or May 1st. They would then be expected to date until the next Cross-Quarter Day on August 1st. But alas, impatience led to more and more June weddings!

Finally, a June wedding in farming communities was a good thing. If the bride fell pregnant, she would still be in good shape to work the fall harvest!

All of this information got us to thinking about all the weddings that have been celebrated in Christ Church Cathedral! For the next few weeks, we are going to share some of those weddings and special memories from the bride and groom!

* * * * *

Were you married in the Cathedral? Or do you have a story of relatives who were? We would love to hear your story and see a photo! If you are willing to chat with a member of the Communications Committee and be included in an upcoming series of articles, please contact the Cathedral Office. Phone (506) 450-8500 or email <office at christchurchcathedral.com>.

Cindy & Mike

September 24, 2005

Cindy Pope (nee Goucher) and Mike Pope shared this memory of their wedding:

"We married at the cathedral on September 24, 2005. Everything was absolutely perfect. From the verger, Hank, saying “It’s showtime!” as the doors opened in front of me, to Father Keith’s reflections on our relationship, to having my childhood minister, Father Jim Irvine overseeing Communion and close friends adding readings and song. Pure magic."

Mike and Cindy now have two teenage daughters, Alexandria (Alex) and Taylor.

Keith Joyce – My Journey Here

Posted on

This article about the former Dean of Fredericton (1999-2014), Rev. Keith Joyce, was recently published in the NB Anglican.

By all accounts, the Rev. Keith Joyce’s childhood was one of adventure, culture and world travel. The youngest child of missionaries, his young life included a myriad of moves, schools, languages, Atlantic crossings, provinces and new countries.

Keith was born shortly after his parents were forced to leave China in 1951, where they’d spent 25 years...

* * *

Read the full article, written by Gisele McKnight and published in the January 2023 edition of the NB Anglican.

Memoirs: Archbishop Harold Nutter

Posted on

'It Remains for Me to Say', a book containing the memoirs of Archbishop Harold Lee Nutter is available for purchase at the Diocesan Synod Office for $28 (plus postage if required). Drop by the Synod Office upstairs in Memorial Hall, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. or email <office at anglican.nb.ca> for details. The book, edited by Archbishop Nutter’s son Andrew (Bruce) Nutter, tells a fascinating story of a long Anglican life.

A description of the book is below.

It Remains for Me to Say
The Memoirs of Archbishop Harold Lee Nutter

edited by his son Andrew with a foreword by David Adams Richards

After he retired the Archbishop recorded his memoirs for the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick in 1992. They have had to be extensively culled but tell a fascinating story of a long Anglican life.

Harold Nutter was born in Welsford and named after his uncle whose name is included on the memorial at Vimy Ridge following his death in the Great War. His mother died of tuberculosis when he was nine. Unlike other boys of his age, interested in hunting and fishing, Harold began studying Greek at the age of twelve. His father, who ran the village grocery store, found his son’s unusual interest difficult to explain to fellow villagers.

In his first year at Mount Allison a devastating fire destroyed the men’s residence just before Christmas in 1941. Harold had been assigned to a top floor room with four other boys, but several days before the fire, the Dean of Residence moved him to another room on the same floor. Sadly, all the boys from that earlier room died understandably leaving Harold to wonder why he should be spared.

Later he was the recipient of five honorary degrees, a member of the Order of Canada, and a social reformer under New Brunswick premier Louis Robichaud. He was offered the Lieutenant Governorship of the province, and a seat in the Senate.

The Archbishop was sounding alarm bells in the later part of his episcopate over the wayward and woke direction of his beloved church. His writings now seem prescient.

Cathedral Faces: Jason Parsons, Verger

Posted on

As part of our Cathedral Faces series, we are sharing biographies of our staff members and clergy. These dedicated individuals contribute a lot to our community, in ways seen and unseen, and we are thankful for their work.

Professionally, Jason is an Army Officer in the Canadian Armed Forces in his 27th year of service. He belongs to the Royal Canadian Regiment which has a historical relationship with the Cathedral. Currently he works in downtown Fredericton at the Carleton Street Armouries as the Regular Force Adjutant attached to the Royal New Brunswick Regiment.

He holds a Bachelor of Military Arts and Sciences Degree from the Royal Military College at Kingston Ontario and a Diploma in Theology from Thorneloe University. He has also completed numerous theological courses with Wycliffe College as part of the Master of Theological Studies, due to changes in military educational funding and free time he has put the degree on hold. As an Infantry Soldier and Officer he has deployed to the former Yugoslavia, Haiti, Afghanistan, and Latvia with domestic operations to the Quebec Ice Storm, the Swiss Air disaster, and local emergencies.

Jason is married to Susan and together they have three children, Gabe, Nate, and Ivy. Jason came to the Anglican tradition in 2013 and has an ecumenical background within other Christian traditions. Jason began as Verger on 01 July 2019.

His role with the military has seen some increased demands combined with additional family commitments has seen the role of Verger take on an increasingly shared role with Hank Williams, whom Jason affectionately refers to as the Verger Emeritus. He is grateful for Hank’s willingness to share this role. Should anyone be interested in joining them in this shared role, they are encouraged to speak with Jason.

Cathedral Faces: Geoffrey Hall, Dean

Posted on

As part of our Cathedral Faces series, we are sharing biographies of our clergy and staff members. These dedicated individuals contribute a lot to our community, in ways seen and unseen, and we are thankful for their work.

Geoffrey Hall has been Dean of Fredericton since September 2014. As a priest of the Diocese of Fredericton, he is the appointed priest at Christ Church Cathedral and serves a canonical role in the Diocese outlined in Canon Four s.5 and in the Bishop and Chapter By-Law.

Geoffrey holds a BEd (Major-Secondary Environmental Studies, Minor-General Science) from the University of New Brunswick, Fredericton (1986) and was admitted to the degree of Master of Divinity (MDiv) at Atlantic School of Theology (1990). In the Diocese he has served in the parishes of St. Phillip's, Moncton, Central Kings, St. Paul, the Tobique, Grand Bay, Ketepec, as Archdeacon of St. Andrews (2001-2003) and was Diocesan Archdeacon and Executive Assistant to Bishop Claude Miller (2003-2014).

Originally from Woodstock NB, Geoffrey is married to Kelley and feels called particularly to ministries of Christian proclamation and faith development. He enjoys music and the casual study of things technological, especially that which enables and enhances communication. When not attending to the duties of ministry, spending time with family (two grandchildren!), experimenting with some of what is possible with computer-based technology and the internet and making a bit of wine all keep him more than occupied.

Cathedral Faces: Kirsten McKnight, Office Administrator

Posted on

As part of our Cathedral Faces series, we are sharing biographies of our staff members and clergy. These dedicated individuals contribute a lot to our community, in ways seen and unseen, and we are thankful for their work.

Kirsten McKnight is passionate about creating positive change through community collaboration and inclusiveness.

She holds a B.A. from Memorial University of Newfoundland (History and Political Science) and an LL.B. from the University of New Brunswick. She spent 15 years working as a consultant for The Quaich Inc. with a variety of non-profit organizations on health promotion initiatives, communications and event planning; most notably, the Atlantic Summer Institute on Healthy and Safe Communities, Special Olympics PEI, the Canadian Breast Cancer Network, the Public Health Agency of Canada's Canadian Breast Cancer Initiative, and the New Brunswick Breast and Women's Cancer Partnership. In her personal life, Kirsten has volunteered with a number of youth-focused community groups.

Born in Ontario, Kirsten has lived in five provinces and her strongest roots are in Newfoundland, where most of her extended family lives. Her family owns a record company specializing in traditional Newfoundland music, Avondale Music. Fun fact: in university, she spent several years on-air at the MUN campus radio station. She met her husband Brad, a Pharmacist from PEI, at MUN. They have lived in Fredericton since 2002 and have two daughters: Claire and Charlotte.

Kirsten has grown in faith as part of the Cathedral’s church family: through worship, as a member of the Communications Committee, a Belize mission team member (2013), and a volunteer for programs and events. As Office Administrator, she also sits on the Finance and Administration Committee.

She joined the Cathedral staff in the fall of 2020, following the retirement of longtime Office Administrator Fran Miles. In the course of her duties, Kirsten produces digital and print communications, acts as a liaison between the Cathedral and community organizations, assists Cathedral groups with tasks as-needed, and provides records management and financial assistance. She enjoys meeting people as the front-line contact in the office.

She feels blessed to be a part of the Cathedral’s staff, helping to connect the community for God’s purposes.

Cathedral Faces: Kurt Schmidt, Director of Christian Formation

Posted on

As part of our Cathedral Faces series, we are sharing biographies of our staff members and clergy. These dedicated individuals contribute a lot to our community, in ways seen and unseen, and we are thankful for their work.

Born in Illinois but raised in Littleton, Colorado, Kurt Schmidt has lived in Fredericton since 2006.  He holds a bachelor’s degree from Colorado College (1997—major in Mathematics, minor in African Studies) and an MEd from the Institute for Humane Education in Surry, Maine (2011).

Kurt considers himself an educator at heart, and has spent the last 15 years working as a teacher in diverse contexts and at various levels.  Kurt’s own spiritual journey includes formative periods among his Jesuit teachers and mentors in high school, with monastic friends during university, and alongside members of L’Arche communities in both Canada and the United States.

A lover of music, dogs, poetry and soccer (the real football!), Kurt lives in downtown Fredericton with his wife Catherine (an occupational therapist) and daughter Rachel.

Kurt says he is honoured and blessed to be part of the Staff Team as Director of Christian Formation, serving God and the dynamic Cathedral congregation.

When Kurt was chosen for the position in 2017, we posted an article which described the role as "a turning point for the Cathedral congregation. Kurt’s title is not 'youth leader,' 'teacher,' or 'Sunday School Superintendent.' First and foremost Kurt’s role will be to facilitate, using an intergenerational approach to ministry, opportunities for us to learn from one another. Together, we will help to form, shape, mould and conform one another in Christian faith. Kurt’s job is to help make that happen in our midst."

To learn more about what brought Kurt to Fredericton and the Anglican Church, read Gisele McKnight's article, Kurt Schmidt: My Journey Here, originally published in the NB Anglican. It's an interesting story, which begins, "Had it not been for a conversation with a nun from Chicago, Kurt Schmidt might never had ended up in Fredericton"...