The need for discernment in these uncertain times was the theme of an all-day gathering March 30 at Christ Church Cathedral.
The event began with the annual Blessing of Oils and Renewal of Vows of Ministry. About 40 listened as Archbishop David Edwards preached about the pandemic, its aftermath and the role of the church in that.
“I am reminded of the letter I sent out two years ago, when it all began, about the government closure for two weeks, and saying ‘I think we’ll be back by Palm Sunday,” he said with a wry laugh.
Spring is returning to Fredericton, and concerts are returning to the Cathedral!
Known for its wonderful acoustics, Christ Church Cathedral is considered an excellent venue for musical performances. This spring, we are pleased to be the host venue for a number of concerts featuring local musicians.
09 April, 2022 -- The Fredericton Symphony Orchestra invites you to welcome the change of the season on Saturday, 09 April at 7:30 p.m., at Christ Church Cathedral. Our concert “FSO Big & Bold” features an overture by Canadian composer, Sir Ernest MacMillan, “Nimrod” from Edward Elgar’s Enigma Variations, “Norsk Kunstnerkarneval” by Johan Svendsen, and Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No. 6 in D Major. Tickets available online.
24 April, 2022 -- After a two-year break, Choeur Louisbourg (The Louisbourg Choir) will be back on stage with a spring tour of New Brunswick, with 4 concerts including Sunday, 24 April, 3:00 p.m. at Christ Church Cathedral in Fredericton. Cathedral Organist and Director of Music Thomas Gonder will accompany the choir at all locations. For this first concert since the beginning of the pandemic, artistic director Monique Richard has chosen a repertoire that is meant to be balm for the soul. The program will be devoted to two major works for choir and organ: Requiem by Maurice Duruflé (1902-1986) and Lux aeterna by Morten Lauridsen (b. 1943). Tickets, at a cost of $30.00, will be on sale at the door. Admission is free for students. Learn more.
14 May, 2022 -- The Capital Camerata Singers, a Fredericton chamber choir under the direction of Anne Sessa, will present a concert on Saturday, 14 May, at 7:30 p.m. in Christ Church Cathedral. Known for their blend and artistic expression, the Camarata Singers perform the very best in choral a cappella music, from Renaissance to contemporary choral arrangements and Spirituals. Tickets are available at Westminster Books and at the door. $20 (adults), $15 (students/underemployed) and $30 (families).
03-05 June -- Unfortunately, the New Brunswick Choral Federation’s Choral Fest has been cancelled for 2022. Details.
11 June, 2022 -- Bel Canto Singers (program and ticket information to come)
We look forward to welcoming you to the Cathedral to enjoy these spring musical events. In July, we will resume our own Summer Music Series with concerts an noon each Friday throughout July and August. Stay tuned for an announcement about the lineup.
This post reflects direction for staying safe to the end of June 2022 and continues to be a model of our regard for each other.
The Government of New Brunswick has lifted its COVID-19 mandates, but we are still requesting care for others. Procedures and recommendations for the Cathedral and Memorial Hall are listed below.
2. Self-monitor If you have any symptoms of illness – even mild – please stay at home. Livestreams and recorded video are available from our YouTube Channel. Worship and sermon podcasts are available: listen or subscribe.
3. Entering and exiting Please be understanding of those who may wish to maintain some personal space. Keeping personal traffic flowing at entrances will be helpful.
4. Seating Greeters may be able to help you find suitable seating if you prefer to remain distanced.
5. Hand sanitation Please continue to be attentive to hand washing and the use of hand sanitizer, especially before and after contact with high touch surfaces.
6. Communion Before the administration, the presider will wash thoroughly by going briefly to the sacristy. At Communion, approach in one line up the center aisle, with your mask in place. The host only will be safely delivered to your hands. Return by way of a side aisle. If you need to remove a mask, please consume the host after leaving the Communion station, removing it briefly.
7. Offering The offering will be received by way of a plate near the back of the Cathedral and collected by greeters following worship.
Thank you for your continued care and concern for others.
Cathedral Memorial Hall is open to the public, for rentals and congregational use. Pandemic precautions are encouraged.
We're pleased to rent space to community groups participating in the arts, youth programs, addiction recovery, and inclusive programming. Cathedral groups include crafting, child/youth activities, emotional support, Bible studies, service groups and exercise. Individual rentals for private events are also available. Those wishing to rent the Hall should contact the Office to book space and specify set-up needs. Phone (506) 450-8500 or email <office at christchurchcathedral.com>.
On Sunday 6 March, the first Sunday of Lent, as part of our Ad-LENT-ures 2022 offerings, the Cathedral and the Cathedral Youth Group (CYG) were pleased to host a screening of the first episode of The Chosen. More than twenty people gathered in the Cathedral Main Hall and were introduced in a new way to four important scriptural figures -- Mary of Magdala, Nicodemus the Pharisee, Matthew the tax collector, and Simon the fisherman.
The Chosen claims to be the largest crowd-funded media project in history, and aims to film and produce seven full seasons of eight episodes each, portraying the life of Christ and the disciples. All of the episodes can be streamed -- for free -- from The Chosen standalone app.
If you missed episode 1, watch it at home and join us on Sundays to enjoy fellowship and watch more episodes!
The Cathedral/CYG will be screening the first season of The Chosen on Sunday evenings during Lent, from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. in Cathedral Memorial Hall. Here is the tentative schedule:
6 March ~ Episode 1
13 March ~ Episodes 2 & 3
20 March ~ Episode 4
27 March ~ Episode 5
3 April ~ Episodes 6 & 7
10 April (Palm Sunday) ~ Episode 8
Please come along to any or all of the evenings for the viewings and a brief time of discussion afterwards. And bring friend(s)! Refreshments provided.RSVPs requested, to Kurt Schmidt -- by email to <k.schmidt at cccath.ca> or by text to 506-259-3711.
The Annual Congregational Meeting will be held on Sunday, 20 February at 12:00 p.m, in the Cathedral following worship, and simultaneously via web conference. A representative from each family in the congregation is urged to participate.
Members of the congregation can participate in two ways:
1) Attend the meeting in-person.
2) Participate online via Zoom using the link in the Cathedral calendar. If you've used Zoom on your device before, you're all set. If not, you'll be given instructions for installing the Zoom application. Zoom participants will be able to view speakers at the lectern, vote using on-screen polls, and ask questions through a moderator.
Listen to Kurt Schmidt speak on Sunday, 28 November 2021 about the 2021 ADVENT-ures.
Happy New Year! — The new Church year is upon us!
Why not add something to your devotional life to mark a fresh start?
Choose from the following list of diverse opportunities on the Advent weekdays to deepen your prayer or study or worship. You are encouraged and invited to add at least one new Advent-ure to your schedule!
MONDAYS
Christmas—The Day God Took off the Mask: Video series with Bishop Bill Hockin and friends. Talks & music, made available beginning at 12:00 noon on each of the first three Mondays of Advent. Details and YouTube link at billhockin.ca.
Waiting for God: Reflective study of Simone Weil’s essay, “Forms of the Implicit Love of God,” led by Alan Hall. In person, 7:00-8:00 p.m. in the Cathedral Sacristy. Please RSVP to Kurt Schmidt.
TUESDAYS
Art & Faith: Short guided meditation on a work of art related to the prior Sunday’s Gospel and in the tradition of Ignatian (imaginative) contemplation. 5:30-6:00 p.m. on Zoom. Link through the Cathedral Calendar or from Kurt.
THURSDAYS
Taizé worship: A simple and contemplative half hour of prayer, song & silence. 2 & 16 December on Zoom, 9 & 23 December in person and livestreamed in/from the Cathedral. 5:30 p.m. start. Link through the Cathedral Calendar or from Kurt.
FRIDAYS
Advent Lessons & Carols “miniseries”— UPDATE: The in-person versions scheduled for 10 and 17 December have been cancelled due to scheduling conflicts with our performers. View recordings from 2021 and 2020 on the Cathedral YouTube channel.
ONGOING / DAILY
Honest Advent: “Advent stations” art exhibit in the Cathedral, available for personal reflection & devotion, Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and Sundays 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon. Images by Scott Erickson which consider the seasonal theme of the vulnerability of incarnation, and which respond to the question, “Is Christ’s incarnation still happening in our midst?”
Divine Office: Regular (and short!) weekdaily prayer opportunity in the Cathedral. Morning Prayer at 8:45 a.m., Evening Prayer at 4:45 p.m.
Holy Eucharist: Wednesday mornings, 10:00 a.m. in the Cathedral.
Questions or expressions of interest can be communicated to Cathedral Director of Christian Formation, Kurt Schmidt by email or by phone/text to (506) 259-3711. Thanks & Blessings!
The Cathedral Branch of Mothers' Union has advent wreath candles available for purchase again this year. Contact a branch member or the Cathedral office by email or phone (506) 450-8500.
Visit the Cathedral on Sunday, 03 October for an exciting collaboration between Atlantic Sinfonia String Orchestra and Thomas Gonder, Cathedral organist and Director of Music. Looking Back is part of MusicUNB, an annual concert series that features chamber and cutting-edge classical music performances.
Over the centuries, composers have looked to those before them for inspiration. This program explores the music of a Canadian and a British composer who were inspired by music from years ago, as well as that of the Italian, Respighi, who was a twentieth century composer that bucked the trends of his day to explore music from the past.
Presented by the UNB Centre for Musical Arts. The concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, 03 October. Click here for ticket information.
Due to the ongoing pandemic, Choral Fest is postponed to Spring of 2022. Instead, NBCF is holding a one-day online workshop, Saturday, October 16, on the Choral Fest repertoire, in preparation for next year’s event.
Choral singers are invited to register for Choral Fest 2021, to be held in Fredericton 15-17 October, 2021. We are pleased to welcome this long-running musical event to Christ Church Cathedral and Memorial Hall, and to share that Thomas Gonder, Cathedral Director of Music, will serve as accompanist for the event.
For almost 40 years, singers from New Brunswick and beyond have gathered for the NB Choral Federation’s Choral Fest to rehearse and perform a significant work of choral music under one of Canada’s leading conductors. Choral Fest 2020, like choral events everywhere, was cancelled due to necessary public health restrictions, with singers sacrificing the activity they love to keep their communities safe by preventing the spread of COVID-19.
Thanks to vaccinations and ever-increasing knowledge of how to prevent transmission, the performing arts are coming back to life. The coronavirus pandemic continues to limit activities, but this year's Choral Fest will celebrate the music that we can make together.
Where: Christ Church Cathedral, Fredericton NB When: Friday October 15 to Sunday October 17 Music: - Requiem by John Rutter (selections)
- Aesop’s Fables by Bob Chilcott
- Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above by Robin Bayley
- Ambe by Andrew Balfour
Clinician: Dr. Kiera Galway Accompanist: Thomas Gonder
Singers are asked to pre-register by email or by using the online form available on the Choral Fest website. Spaces are limited. A certain number of spaces are reserved for tenor and bass voices.
Choral Fest 2021 will follow all public health guidelines, and will incorporate additional expert recommendations specific to choral events. Registrants’ health and safety will be the top priority. Details about health precautions can be found on the Choral Fest website.
Choral Fest 2021 is supported by the Fredericton Community Foundation, the City of Fredericton, and the New Brunswick Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture.
The New Brunswick Summer Music Festival is coming to Christ Church Cathedral. The annual classical music festival will host its main series, four evening concerts between 11-14 August, inside the Cathedral.
The festival, now in its 28th year, will run over a two-week period and include a variety of musical events, such as concerts, educational components, mentoring opportunities for young artists, free public events, lectures and exhibits.
The 2021 theme will reflect the difficulties of the past year, showcasing music from composers that were affected by previous pandemics. According to the festival website, “From the Influenza in 1918-19 back to others throughout the nineteenth century, several important composers were adversely set back as a result of the health issues of their day. But their lovely music transcends the difficult circumstances, and we will weave their stories with the music. Featured will be compositions of composers such as Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, Rachmaninoff and others.”
Tickets for the evening concerts in the main series of the festival must be purchased in advance from the NB Summer Music Festival. Ticket prices range between $14.81 – $27.54. The main series will feature well-known performers: David Adams, violin; Sonja Adams, cello; Peter Allen, piano; Christopher Buckley, viola; Sally Dibblee, soprano; Nadia Francavilla, violin; and Richard Hornsby, clarinet. Details about the schedule and performers can be found on the festival website.
An additional event, a free noontime concert on Friday, 13 August, will be held as part of Christ Church Cathedral’s Summer Recital Series, and will showcase a sample of music from the New Brunswick Summer Music Festival. Donations at this concert will be collected, with proceeds supporting the Cathedral Organ Renovation Fund. Please reserve tickets for the noontime concert through the Cathedral website.
The Summer Recital Series returns with nine noontime concerts, concerts, held each Friday until August 27. Join us inside historic Christ Church Cathedral as we present a series of concerts featuring cello, viola, bassoon, organ, guitar and vocalists. View the poster.
Cathedral Director of Music, Thomas Gonder, is excited to host the summer series, his first since stepping into the position in January 2020. He is enthusiastic about the program, saying, "It's my hope that Frederictonians will appreciate, enjoy and be inspired by hearing the abundance of local talent in an outstanding venue. We are blessed to be able to revive this series!"
Seating is limited, so reserve your ticket now to secure your space. Tickets are free but donations encouraged. Proceeds after expenses to the Cathedral Organ Renovation Fund. Online donations will receive a receipt for tax purposes immediately.
Attendees are welcome to wear face masks, and all are asked to be respectful of others' preferences regarding personal space.
Reserve your ticket online at the links below.
August 27 Sally Dibblee, soprano and J. Thomas D. Gonder, organ/piano - Tickets
