Join us for Choral Evensong on Sunday, May 14 to celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III.
Worship will begin in the Cathedral at 4:00 p.m. with Dean Geoffrey Hall presiding and Archbishop David Edwards preaching. Music will be provided by the Cathedral Choir and Organist Thomas Gonder.
All are welcome and invited to attend.
Are you relatively new to the Cathedral family -- or "new at heart"?!
If so, you are cordially invited to a welcome, dessert and information-sharing event on Wednesday, 10 May in Cathedral Memorial Hall, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Come along to hear about the various ministries supported by individuals and groups from the Cathedral, and discover the many opportunities to participate, experience, share, or join. We'll introduce you to the wonderful work(s) undertaken by so many of our Cathedral members, and we'll find a way to match your gifts and abilities with one or more of the programs, groups or activities in our Church family. We'll even invent such a way if we have to!
All are welcome, including and especially any newcomers -- those who've joined within the last year or so -- and newcomers at heart!
Known for its wonderful acoustics, Christ Church Cathedral is considered an excellent venue for musical performances. We are pleased to be the host venue for concerts featuring local musicians this spring.
12 May, 2023 -- The High Tide Winds will perform a classical music concert on Friday, 12 May at 7:30 pm at Christ Church Cathedral. Performers are Julie Grant on flute, Margaret Isaacs on clarinet, Charlie MacKinnon on French horn, Fran Robinson on oboe and Catherine MacDonald on piano. The group will perform pieces from Carl Reinecke, Heinrich Herzogenberg, Malcolm Arnold, Paul DeWailly and Gabriel Faure. Admission is by donation. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. Phone Fran Robinson at (506) 461-5817 if you have any questions.
27 May, 2023 -- Fredericton's Bel Canto Singers and the Sussex Choral Society are joining forces to present Gabriel Fauré's iconic Requiem and other works in Christ Church Cathedral. Fauré’s Requiem mass, well-known as a comforting and tender vision of the afterlife, will include soloists and chamber musicians, along with the Cathedral’s historic Casavant pipe organ. The choirs will also present a number of contemporary pieces, some jointly and some individually. Artistic Director: Christopher Lane. Accompanists: Thomas Gonder and Betty Weatherby. Saturday, 27 May, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $20 general admission, $10 students. Available online, at the door, or from choir members. Visit the Bel Canto Singers website for details.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Cathedral to enjoy these musical events!
The Cathedral Summer Music Series will return in 2023 with concerts at noon each Friday throughout the summer. Stay tuned for an announcement about the lineup.
The Beaverbrook Art Gallery and the Provincial Archives have collaborated on an exhibit showcasing artistic treasures from the archives.
The exhibit, AR(T)CHIVES: Visual Treasures from the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, is open to the public until May 28, 2023. Gallery admission is required.
"Archives are more than simply repositories of paper documents, ledgers, and census volumes; they often hold artistic treasures that tell an entirely different story than one containing only the written word. In partnership with the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, we are pleased to present some of the most beautiful and fascinating visual records of New Brunswick (and Canada, for that matter) that you may ever see."
An illustrated booklet, available at the gallery, includes several works featuring Christ Church Cathedral, including architectural designs of the stonework, a pencil sketch showing the Cathedral and the Parish Church, and a watercolour sketch for the Reredos. Visit the exhibit to explore other treasures!
Thank you to all who submitted annual reports and attended the Annual Congregational Meeting on 26 February, 2023.
Click to read online copies of the Cathedral Annual Report and view the Narrative Budget, "Turning Resources into Grace", a magazine-style brochure which tells the story of our ministry with photos.
We are pleased to announce the election of Jane Hand as Health and Pastoral Care Chair, and Bonnie Greenwood as Mission and Outreach Chair. Victoria Hachey was reelected for another term as as Finance and Administration Chair.
Delegates to Synod are Rosa Macaulay, Catherine Schmidt and Claire McKnight. Substitute delegates are Jim Clowater, Randy Audfroid and Nat Fetter.
Appreciation to all who offered for positions.
The position of Property Chair is vacant and a Bishop’s appointment can be made. Please consider serving in this position.
Bishop and Chapter members, Synod delegates, clergy and staff are listed in every Sunday bulletin. A digital copy of the current week's bulletin can be found at the top right-hand corner of our website (refreshed every Friday afternoon).
Join us for yoga this winter and spring!
The Cathedral Health Ministry is pleased to announce a new series of chair yoga classes led by experienced yoga instructor Monique Smith.
Ideal for both young and old, chair yoga is a unique way to exercise while sitting in a chair. Classes will be held in the Cathedral, making it easy even for those with mobility issues.
As Monique explains, “As far as abilities, even beginners will feel welcomed! … The key is to listen to one’s body.”
These weekly classes are sure to provide a stress-free way to exercise your body, mind, and spirit in fun and friendly group sessions.
Chair yoga classes will be held on Fridays from 10:15-11:00 a.m. beginning March 3 and running to the start of June. All classes are drop-in with no need to register. The cost is $5 per session, payable each week. See you there!
Still curious about Chair Yoga? Learn more in the article, Chair Yoga and Why Seated Yoga Poses are Good for You.
The smell of pancakes and sausages filled Cathedral Memorial Hall on February 21st during the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper. After a two-year hiatus, the Guild of St. Joseph returned with many volunteers to host the supper. The men of the Cathedral greeted, cooked, served and cleaned during this much-loved event.
The "Holy Joes" as the Guild is affectionately called, graciously served almost 200 Cathedral parishioners, friends and members of the community. Many were thrilled to resume the longtime tradition, which celebrates the beginning of Lent.
Gathering together in the middle of winter gave a much-needed lift to everyone's spirits. Conversation filled the air, as old and new friends gathered over the delicious shared meal.
Gary Barfitt, President of the Guild of St. Joseph, shared this message:
"The Guild of St. Joseph would like to say thank you to all who made the revival of our Pancake Supper such a resounding success this past week. We served almost 200 patrons. A special word of thanks to those who supported us in so many ways, including providing gingerbreads, serving at the tables and those who helped with the clean-up after the supper. We could not have done it without all the volunteers. The very generous freewill contributions at the door will be put to good use as Guild members continue their work."
Shrove Tuesday is just around the corner and for many Christians, that means pancakes for supper!
Not being a pancake lover, I decided to do a little research on this questionable meal choice. I knew that Shrove Tuesday (also known as Pancake Day, Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras) preceded Ash Wednesday when many folks give up something that they love as a sort of penance during Lent. Historically, it would be rich food of some sort that was given up and your Shrove Tuesday meal would be your last kick at the rich food can, so to speak.
This just made me all the more curious why anyone would choose pancakes as their last tasty meal!
Well, it seems that we owe a debt of gratitude (or not) to a lady in the middle of cooking up a pancake supper. When the Church bells rang in Olney, UK one day in 1445 indicating it was time for confession (where one would be “shriven” or absolved of sin), she ran to the Church in her apron, clutching her frying pan full of pancakes.
And now, centuries later, in many parts of the UK, pancake races are a big part of Shrove Tuesday celebrations. And, not surprisingly, the most famous race of all is held in Olney where local “housewives” don their aprons, hats and scarves, clutch their frying pans and race to the finish line, all the while flipping their pancake at least three times. The first woman to finish the course and arrive at the Church, serve her pancake to the bellringer and kiss him wins the race.
Pancake recipes can apparently be traced back to Roman times. The main ingredients – milk, flour, eggs – were considered “rich” ingredients which, I guess, accounts for their becoming the “rich” meal of choice.
Even if they aren’t my favourite food group, the following description of Shrove Tuesday at the Cathedral may be enough to entice me out this year. I asked Jim Morrell for his memories of Shrove Tuesday meals at Christ Church Cathedral.
Here’s what Jim had to say:
“Male members of the Cathedral (take that Olney!) have been preparing and serving pancakes, sausages and beans for the Shrove Tuesday congregation-and-friends supper for over 60 yeas. One of my childhood memories is eating pancakes that my Dad served to my Mother, brother and me in the original Memorial Hall lower level in the late 1950’s. Not only was it a tasty (mmmm) and plentiful meal for the growing number of post-war baby boomers like me, it was a 'day off' so to speak for our stay-at-home Moms who didn’t have to prepare it. It’s always been lots of fun for those who come to enjoy the food and the conversation and for those who cook and serve.”
Well, Jim, you and the members of St. Joseph’s Guild will be warming up your favourite pancake flipper in no time!
Maybe even I will put aside my pancake dislike and come out for that evening of fun with family and friends. After all, there will be lots of time after supper to grab some chocolate or other rich delicacy on the way home before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent!
by Gail MacGillivray
Celebrate the beginning of Lent by attending Christ Church Cathedral’s Shrove Tuesday pancake supper at Cathedral Memorial Hall on 13 February from 4:30-6:30 pm. Enjoy pancakes, sausages, and beans followed by gingerbread with toppings. Coffee and tea will be available. Admission is through freewill donation. Everyone is welcome, so bring your friends and family!
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