Shrove Tuesday has always been a celebration for the Cathedral congregation.
Join us at Cathedral Memorial Hall, 168 Church Street, on 04 March, 2025 between 4:30-6:30 pm. The meal will include pancakes, sausages, and beans followed by gingerbread with toppings. Coffee and tea will be available. Admission is by freewill donation.
We need a few extra helpers to make it happen again this year! Can you assist as a table server? It's always a smooth-running and enjoyable event with lots of smiles and “thank you”s, and it’s a great way to see old friends and new visitors. Contact Jim Morell or the Cathedral Office to volunteer. Email <office at christchurchcathedral.com> or phone 506-450-8500.
See photos from past pancake suppers, and more activities and events from the Guild of St. Joseph.
Our Cathedral family has had an ongoing relationship with our brothers and sisters in Christ who live in Belize, since our first mission trip in 2005 with the Cathedral Puppeteers. The Mission and Outreach Committee is now looking to gauge interest in potentially organizing another mission trip.
God expects all Christians, and His church, to take the love of Christ into the world. One way in which we can do this is through mission. Part of this mission involves helping others, perhaps less fortunate than ourselves. From past experience we also know that both the preparation and the actual mission trip have a very positive effect on the spiritual growth and faith of individuals. For several it has been a life-changing and faith-growing experience.
Our most recent visit to Belize was in 2018, but we have kept an active relationship with St. Hilda's school and various scholarship students over the years. The school principal, Ms. Jane Martinez, has expressed a desire to have us return.
At this time, no dates have been determined, but if we were to consider a return in 2026, preparations will need to commence very soon. If there is enough interest, we will put together a steering committee and will organize sessions to share more information. Among other things, a team leader will be required and a commitment from others to participate on the home team as well.
For now, our ask is, for any of you who may be interested, to reach out to the Cathedral Office with your contact information.
Learn more about our support for St. Hilda's School, and our scholarship program for high school students in Belize.
Archbishop David Edwards has appointed the Rev. Debbie Edmondson as chaplain at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital in Fredericton for a one-year period, with the possibility of renewal, beginning 01 February, 2025.
Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Debbie grew up in Keswick Ridge, New Brunswick, where she still makes her home with Phillip, her husband of 45+ years. They have two sons and daughters-in-law and four grandchildren, who are a tremendous source of joy.
She is a life-long Anglican, with, as she describes, “a well rounded Ecumenical background.” Drawing on her rural roots, she leads workshops and retreats with humour and a down to earth sense of the sacred. Debbie was ordained as a Vocational Deacon on 01 February 2009. She completed training in Spiritual Direction with the Haden Institute in conjunction with Mount Carmel Spiritual Center in Niagara Falls in 2014.
Debbie has always been involved with her church community through groups and activities from teaching Sunday School to serving on Vestry to being a Layreader and then being called to Ordained Ministry, which she feels is an ongoing learning and awakening experience. On 01 February, 2025, Debbie was appointed as chaplain at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital in Fredericton by Archbishop David Edwards. Debbie is also the Cathedral Hospital Visitors Coordinator, the Diocesan Representative for the Anglican Fellowship of Prayer and a member of the Diocesan Spiritual Development Team.
When many people think of churches, they think of buildings filled with people on Sundays and holidays, but empty and closed for most of the week.
At the Cathedral (and indeed, in many churches), that isn’t the case.
Christ Church Cathedral was given recognition as a National Historic Site in 1981. Along with being a stunning example of Gothic revival architecture, the Cathedral also played a part in the designation of Fredericton as a City by Queen Victoria. Due to its historic and architectural significance, our Cathedral is a popular tourist destination in Fredericton. It is located in the heart of downtown Fredericton, near the Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge.
Each year, thousands of tourists visit the Cathedral. In July and August alone, we typically welcome between two and three thousand visitors. Free guided tours are provided seven days a week during the summer months, thanks to a funding community funding grant from the City of Fredericton. Throughout the rest of the year, between September and June, visitors are invited to visit the Cathedral on weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., learning about the architecture and history using self-guided tour booklets which are available in four languages (English, French, Spanish and German). Private tours are sometimes arranged upon request for groups - it’s not uncommon for us to receive special requests from conference organizers or Fredericton Tourism staff.
Another benefit of the Cathedral being open to the public on weekdays is to give people a quiet place to pray. Some churches in our area are not able to remain open throughout the week. We welcome attendance at morning and evening prayer, held at 8:45 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. Monday to Friday, and lasting approximately fifteen minutes each. Throughout the day between those times, anyone is welcome to visit for prayer or reflection.
Worship including Holy Eucharist is held in the Cathedral on Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m., Sundays at 8:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 4:00 p.m. Choral Evensong once a month, plus regular Taizé worship. Special services are held on weekdays throughout the year, such as during Advent, Christmas, Lent, Holy Week, and days such as the Ascension, New Year’s, and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (visit our calendar for schedules), along with weddings and funerals upon request. Baptisms, First Communions and Confirmations are typically held on festival Sundays. Many services are livestreamed.
Because of the magnificent architecture of the Cathedral, many photographers drop by to take photos inside and outside, and individuals and photography teachers can schedule sessions within the Cathedral. We encourage photographers to share or tag us in their Cathedral photos.
Speaking of photography… did you know that several movies and television programs have used the Cathedral to film scenes? Theatre performances have also been held inside and outside the Cathedral (Godspell and Camelot, to name just two!). During the summer months, the Calithumpians Theatre Troupe performs family-friendly performances on the Cathedral lawn, as well as hosting summer camps. Children are welcome inside the Cathedral.
Accessible gender-neutral washrooms (one with a changing table) are open to the public.
Many musical events and concerts are held at Christ Church Cathedral each year. In addition to regular rehearsals of our Cathedral Choir, Youth Choir and Worship band, the community choral group Bel Canto Singers hold weekly rehearsals in the Cathedral. Because of the fabulous acoustics, we are a favoured venue for classical and choral music. We have hosted concerts for local groups such as the Fredericton Symphony Orchestra, Atlantic Sinfonia, the Elm City String Quartet, Bel Canto Singers, Delacroix Classix, and many more. We have also welcomed touring musicians such as the Gerdan Theatre Ukrainian Choir, Choeur Louisbourg, and Dan Bremnes. The Cathedral was the site of Fredericton's 175th anniversary concert, A Celebration of Us, and is often selected as one of the locations for the NB Summer Music Festival. Each year, the Cathedral Director of Music organizes our long-running Summer Music Series, which presents free concerts on Fridays over the lunch hour, featuring a variety of musicians, soloists and groups from Fredericton and beyond.
Even a weekly exercise class is held in the Cathedral! Chair Yoga is held on Friday mornings throughout most of the year. It’s a gentle way to stretch and get in shape, suitable for a variety of ages and abilities. Holding the class in the Cathedral makes it convenient to enter for people with mobility challenges. Our Health Ministry team organizes this initiative, and also holds blood pressure clinics several times a year in the Cathedral.
A variety of groups, speakers and classes also use the Cathedral and lawn on an as-needed basis. These include guest speakers whose lectures are sometimes livestreamed, sacramental preparation courses, training for groups such as servers, and congregational and community groups such as our Sanctuary Guild, Mothers’ Union, Guild of St. Joseph, Anglican Church Women, Diocese of Fredericton, Scouts and Cubs, L’Arche Fredericton, and a guided autobiography group. Fellowship events such as teas and picnics are also held in and around the Cathedral.
You are welcome to visit the Cathedral (for the first time, or more often). You’ll find us at 150 Church Street, and our doors are open weekdays between 8:45 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (excepting holidays, and with an extended 7-day schedule in the summer). Sometimes you’ll have an opportunity for quiet reflection or touring, and other times you’ll encounter some of our dedicated staff, clergy, or volunteers. Say hello! We encourage you to become aware of and involved in activities happening in the Cathedral throughout the year.
As for how Cathedral Memorial Hall is used… the story of that well-used building will have to be a whole separate article!
The slideshow below shows photos of a wide range of activities in and around the Cathedral:
A warm thank you to all who participated in the 27 January ACW meeting, sharing lunch and fellowship.
For 25 years our Anglican Church Women have supported female students at Bishop McAllister College in Uganda. For many years, support was generated by our fundraising projects, augmented by dividends from bank shares held by Bishop and Chapter in trust for the ACW. It now is timely that the shares be cashed and the revenue invested.
The gathering willingly approved and endorsed the ACW Executive Committee’s course of action to invest in the Cathedral Anglican Church Women Education Trust Fund as managed by the DCIF of the Diocese and they accepted the Terms of Reference that this Fund will continue supporting students at this worthy institution.
How is it that Kathleen Snow of Fredericton has just become the worldwide president of the Mothers’ Union?
“It wasn’t me,” she said. “It was God!”
Kathleen is a founding member of the MU chapter at Christ Church Cathedral, asked by the dean at the time, the Very Rev. John Wright, to form the group in the 1980s. They began with five members, and are still going strong, with Kathleen taking on various leadership roles locally and beyond...
Ms. Jane Martinez, principal of St. Hilda's Anglican School in Belize, recently sent this video which includes photos of the students and staff from 2024, and a holiday greeting.
Ms. Jane also sent this note:
Greetings Friends,
It has been a long and challenging year but a blessing nonetheless. As we come to the end of another year, I want to say how thankful we are to have you as friends praying for and supporting us. Words cannot express the appreciation that we have for your continuous support. Even though we are far in distance, know that you are dear at heart.
I pray that this Christmas season is a blessed and safe one for each of you. We look forward to your continued partnership in the new year. Love you all.
Best, Jane
The Cathedral has a special relationship with the staff and students of St. Hilda’s Anglican School, an elementary in the rural village of Georgeville. Over two hundred children attend the school, ranging between kindergarten and grade 8, in addition to a recently established preschool.
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 participated in a mission trip to Belize, and hundreds of people in Fredericton have supported the work at St. Hilda's through organizational support, donations and prayers.
In 2010, Cathedral mission team members established a high school scholarship program which has allowed students from St. Hilda’s to apply for a scholarship to continue their education past grade 8. Some of the graduates supported by the Cathedral have continued on to post-secondary education, and all have gained knowledge and experience that will help them in their future.
We are grateful for all who have helped to provide scholarships for these teenagers, and support for programs at the elementary school. Learn more about our mission work in Belize.
You can contribute to the mission in Belize through offering envelopes or donate online.
If you are interested in participating in future endeavors benefiting the students in Belize, please contact the Cathedral Office to connect with members of the Belize mission committee.
The Worldwide Mothers' Union has released its Prayer Diary for 2025. Click to download the document. It includes prayers for every day of the year, themes and specific prayer requests, along with places to add your own personal prayers.
From the introduction to the Prayer Diary:
Mothers’ Union members are united through the power of prayer. Prayer is our foundation, our strength, and our inspiration. Each day at midday, Mothers’ Union members all over the world pause to pray. The monthly themes in this Prayer Diary are echoed in our midday prayers.
We invite you to join us as we gather together on our Facebook page for midday prayers. By praying together, we strengthen our bond and remind ourselves that we are always connected in prayer, wherever we are in the world.
The global wave of prayer expresses our commitment to each other, in all the places we work and reside. By joining with and sustaining this wave of prayer, we can be part of something bigger than ourselves. We give thanks for the team of Mothers’ Union members from across the globe who have come together to deliver our 2025 Prayer Diary. The team has worked tirelessly to produce prayer resources that are joined up and help us connect more easily in prayer. We pray that you enjoy listening to the different voices as you partner with us in prayer.
Mothers’ Union is a Christian organisation that has been supporting families worldwide for over 140 years. Started by founder Mary Sumner in 1876 in her local parish, it has grown into an international charity with over 4 million members in 84 countries.
As a Christian membership charity, Mothers' Union demonstrates faith in action. This happens as they work towards stopping poverty, stopping inequality and stopping injustice. Members work at grassroots level around the world. They bring hope and practical support to millions of people every year through parenting, literacy and community development programmes.
Prayer is at the heart of their work. Members come together every day at midday to focus prayers for their communities, fellow members and for those in need, in the belief that the power of prayer is transformational and supports their work around the world.
Despite the name, Mothers' Union is an inclusive organisation with a growing number of men.
The President of the Worldwide Mothers' Union is Kathleen Snow.
The Anglican Church Women, in partnership with Health Ministry, served 30+ guests at a Christmas Luncheon held 11 December.
The theme was ‘Trees’. Members of the congregation loaned items for a display, and the variety of decorative Christmas trees added to the festive lunch enjoyment.
Personal care items and donations were collected for Grace House women's shelter.
Philip Lee, Julie Maston and Doug Milander welcome guests and provide grocery store vouchers.
Monday Outreach in December was held a bit earlier than usual, to provide pre-Christmas assistance to people in need before the holidays.
With generous help from St. Margaret's Anglican Church and New Maryland United Church, the Cathedral Outreach Committee helped 82 people in need in December. People who visited Memorial Hall on 16 December received a holiday-sized grocery card ($20); a treat bag with sandwich, juice, candy, snacks and fruit, and a non-perishable grocery item. They could also select from a variety of free used clothing and footwear, toiletries, toys for kids, and household goods.
The need in our community is great - and ever-increasing! The committee reports that the monthly average served in 2021 and 2022 was steady at 45; 52 in 2023; 66 in 2024. Many thanks to everyone who helped in any way this year!
Volunteers Rev. Kelly Burke and Steve Hayward from New Maryland United Church, Canon Rod Black, Susan Black, Sharon Miller and Janice Irvine-Meek provide food and other items to guests. Not pictured: the many tables of items that guests could choose from!
Learn more about Monday Outreach (typically held on the last Monday of each month) and our other local outreach initiatives.
