Category Archives: Cathedral Groups

Mothers’ Union considers disturbing topic

Posted on

At a recent meeting of Mothers' Union, the topic of discussion was deeply disturbing but extraordinarily eye opening! Shara Golden, the guest speaker, has been a Mother's Union member since 1991 and has served on the National Executive. Last year, she was appointed by the World Wide Mothers Union to be one of six women to participate in the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.

Shara's background in Human Rights and Labour Relations was instrumental in leading her to her current focus on Human Trafficking and Gender Based Violence. She has been doing presentations on" Human Trafficking - Canada and the World", for chapters of Mothers Union throughout NB and NS.

As difficult as the subject is to acknowledge and to learn about, Shara says it is one that must be discussed openly and plans must be put in place to help those who are impacted by the growth and spread of this particular trade. It is reputed to be the second most profitable industry after the drug industry.

Perhaps one of the most alarming statistics quoted by Shara was that there have been 3 reported instances of human trafficking in New Brunswick. Equally alarming was the 63 reported cases in NS. Yes, the 723 in Ontario is bad, but our minds immediately focus on Toronto and we think of the large metropolitan area, where bad things happen. Right? But NB and NS??? That is, for most of us, in the realm of the unbelievable; but these are statistics that force us to sit up and look around us.

UN Commission on the Status of Women

L-R: Leah Chipepa, Zambia; Rachael Anderson, MU Events and Digital Communications Manager, England; Shara Golden, Canada; Ekua Swanzy, Ghana; Beverly Jullien, MU Chief Executive, England; Felicia Yeboah Asuamah, Ghana.

An initiative known as The Clewer Initiative of the Church of England has been established and is working on strategies for detecting modern slavery and protecting its victims in the UK, where literally tens of thousands of people are living in some form of slavery having been guaranteed "a better life." Shara recounted the story of one such female who had come from a foreign country to a job which was advertised as an opportunity for one such better life. She was sent to work 16 hours a day, seven days a week for an upper middle class "Christian" family with three children and a very large house. No time off and all of the responsibility for the running of the household, this family took her to Church every Sunday where she heard over and over that "freedom is a gift of God." She was "passed on" in service to three other families before the Home Office conducted a raid and she was finally freed.

According to Archbishop Welby, people often choose not to see and thus, the initiative's hashtag became #weseeyou. Mothers Union worldwide are working with the Clewer Initiative to end slavery by 2030. The focus is on identifying resources and forming partnerships; on holding governments accountable and raising awareness.

What about Canada? In Ontario, the number of girls involved in human trafficking or the sex trade is reputed to be in the thousands. Some are as young as 12 years old. They are often runaway kids, foster kids, but also from middle class families. They all seem to share one common trait: they are looking for love and a secure and better future. One survey conducted by the Toronto Star, identified purchasers of services as coming from all walks of life - doctors, lawyers, teachers, judges, accountants, etc. Most people turn a blind eye and prefer to think "it doesn't happen in my world." Yet a Manager of Escorts/Pimp is able to earn up to $280,000 per year from one sex worker. Little wonder that young men 18-24 are seeing this as a potential career.

The law and those in the legal profession from police officers to lawyers work tirelessly to close down operations but cases are often stayed or withdrawn due to lack of evidence. The girls will not testify for fear of the repercussions promised and will not leave for the same reason. In Canada, there is a prevalence of trafficking of Aboriginal girls.

Many, many more statistics and stories were shared by Shara's but her final question to the group was "What can MU in Canada or more specifically NB do?" The Diocesan Council in NS is putting together a resolution to present to Synod this coming Spring. She left the group with a challenge to start talking about Human Trafficking and looking for ways to open disussion and become involved in being a part of working towards the 2030 goal of MU. In her words, "we have an obligation to do something." What will that something be?

Read Shara's report from the 62nd Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women in the September 2018 issue of the Canadian Mothers' Union newsletter.

Gail MacGillivray

Isabelle Hockin speaks to ACW

Posted on

About 30 ACW members gathered on February 20th to hear Isabelle Hockin talk about her experiences with learning when and how to let go.

Isabelle started with a real life example of when to let go when you don't really know how by recounting a humorous story of finding Lois Baker in the kitchen with her hand stuck in a teapot! Not knowing how to let go!

In actual fact, Isabelle's words focused more on letting go of emotions as opposed to things like teapots. She pointed out that human nature often seems to lead us to "holding on tightly instead of letting go", when letting go can lead us to a life of unexpected freedom. By not clutching tightly to what we have, by not trying to choreograph others and by surrendering those challenges to God, we can learn the joys that freedom brings.

Using examples from her own personal experiences in the past, present and looking to the future, she explored how letting go had had a positive effect in her own life.

One of her most recent letting go experiences that she shared was her letting go of her fear of the unknown by volunteering for the Out of the Cold project at Bishop's Court. Like many of us, Isabelle referred to "living in our own bubble". We know about homeless people but we don't necessarily extend that to knowing them without a push in that direction. In her case, it was hearing Bishop Edwards talk about the Out of the Cold project that was her nudge. She began volunteering at the house she had previously called home and is learning to know the people that are now calling it their home out of the cold. She recalled having one of the guests say to her "this is a lovely home. I'd like to have a home like this some day!" It brought to mind the notion that individuals don't turn into what they tell themselves to be but often into what others tell them they are. By letting go of her fears, her life has been enriched!

She wrapped up her talk by noting that there are still things that she sees in herself every day that she needs to work on letting go. This certainly resonated with the audience! She ended with this quote from St. Paul:

I'm not saying I have it all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward - to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.  Philippians 3:13 - The Message

Gail MacGillivray

2018 Mothers’ Union Biennial Conference

Posted on

The Canadian Mothers' Union Biennial Conference was held at the Villa Madonna Retreat House in Rothesay, NB on November 16-18,2018. Neither snow, nor ice pellets, nor freezing rain could keep all of the registered participants away! Some of us arrived a day early to get ahead of the storm and others arrived a day later in its aftermath. The snow on the tree branches on Saturday morning created a picture of a glistening winter wonderland. The grounds at the Villa Madonna are truly majestic in every season and it was the perfect venue for this gathering.

Our conference program on Friday evening was a moving presentation by VP Shara Golden on the topic of gender-based violence, both around the world and here in Canada. The stories and statistics she shared with us were both disturbing and haunting.

UN Women reports that 4.5 million people worldwide are victims of forced sexual exploitation and that 98% of these are women. More than 700 million women alive in the world today were married as children. The organization USAID states that 60 million girls are sexually assaulted at or on their way to school each year. According to the Family Violence Prevention Fund, growing up in a violent home may be a terrifying and traumatic experience that can affect every aspect of a child's life, growth and development; the result may be post-traumatic stress disorder which may include bed-wetting or ongoing nightmares. Women who experience physical abuse as children are at a much greater risk of victimization as adults and men in this situation have a far greater (Zx+) likelihood of perpetrating abuse themselves.

Attendees

Leonard Usher, Archdeacon Sarah Usher, Bishop David Edwards, and Shara Golden

The United Nations 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is an international campaign that takes place each year from November 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) until December 10 (International Human Rights Day). Throughout the campaign, Mothers' Union members join with others globally to raise awareness of, and to advocate for an end to, gender-based violence in all forms and in all societies.

At the conclusion of Shara's presentation, members were asked to write a prayer on a small note to attach to the Prayer Tree in the Chapel that was aglow with white mini-lights. Bishop David Edwards then led us in the service of Compline and we were all very pleased that he could join us.

On Saturday morning, President Alice Kennedy got the business meeting underway with a firm smack of the gavel. After efficiently dealing with the items on the agenda, we divided into four small groups to discuss the assigned topics which concerned our Newsletter, Website, and inclusion of Lone Members.

Past Presidents

Past Presidents in attendance: Left to right: Margaret De Carvalho (2013-2016), Celia Dodds (2009-2012), Kathleen Snow (2005-2008), Ethel Nelson (1997-2000), Ginny McEwen (1989-1992)

Our Saturday afternoon program featured two presentations. One speaker was the Venerable Sarah Usher from Whitehorse, Yukon, who is the co-ordinator of the Northern Clergy Familes Fund. She spoke of life in the north, which included the hardships of the cold, the expense of goods from the south, and the loneliness that someone who counsels others must endure. She explained the mandate of the Council of the North and the many challenges it faces. She told us that closing churches was not a viable option for the north, as so much of the work that clergy does is outside church walls and is the result of trusting community relationships. She also shared many humorous stories of everyday life growing up in Teslin and her love for that community where she and her husband plan to retire.

Our second presenter was Shawn Branch, Parish Development Officer for the Diocese of Fredericton, who spoke to us about Christian leadership both inside and outside the Church community. His interactive delivery of valuable tips and observations was conveyed with great talent and wit and gave us all food for thought.

A Silent Auction was held on Saturday evening, which was a fundraiser for the Mothers' Union Travel Fund. This was followed by a rousing game of Mothers' Union Jeopardy. With a bag of prizes on the line for the winning team, the competitive spirit of the four teams was out in full force and the game was a big hit.

Canadian Mothers' Union

The conference closed on Sunday with a Eucharistic Service led by our Canadian Mothers' Union Chaplain, Canon Tom Stradwick. Continuing on the "getting out of the boat" theme which we first heard in his message to us at the Canadian Council installation in Riverview, NB in May of 2017, Canon Tom again extended the challenge to us, reminding us that we are called to get out of the boat, be on the water, take risks, and venture out to share God's
message with the wider world. This supported our conference theme which was "Our God is on the Move." The offering at our closing service was in support of the Northern Clergy Families Fund.

Our next gathering for Canadian Mothers' Union members Canada-wide will be our National Conference which is slated to be held in Fredericton, NB in the spring of 2020.

Susan Colpitts-Iudd
and Bonnie Greenwood

from the Mothers' Union National Newsletter - Autumn 2018

2018 Christmas Mothers’ Union Outreach

Posted on
This past spring the Cathedral Mothers' Union, with the help of members of the congregation prepared a little over 200 'care packs' and handed them out to University of New Brunswick students prior to their final exams.  The packs were well received, and we are hoping to continue our outreach prior to the Christmas exams - preparing even more care packs if possible.  But we need the help of our congregation family!
Sunday, December 2nd from 1-4pm at the Cathedral Hall, we will be baking cookies, writing and decorating a note of encouragement, and packing the care packages to be delivered the following week.  It is our hope that many will be able to join us to help bake cookies, package cookies, write and/or decorate the notes, or pack the care pack bags.
If you are unable to join us on 02 December, donations of individually wrapped packages of hot chocolate or other flavoured drink mixes, individually wrapped candies/treats, or home baked cookies (we are planning on chocolate chip, sugar cookies, and ginger cookies - avoiding nuts) would be very much appreciated, and can be dropped off at the Hall marked MU anytime before December 2nd.
One student came back after receiving a care package and told our member that the hand written note was the best part!  If you'd like to complete some of the notes with some cheerful words of encouragement for the student prior to their exams, packs of blank cards are available.  Please return them by December 2nd.
Many thanks!  If you have any questions, please contact Diane Nash at (506) 455-9698 or <diane.nash at gnb.ca>.

Celebrating Women – February 2018

Posted on

Women Making a Difference - February 2018On a warm and sunny February afternoon – yes we did have some of those! – approximately 35 women gathered at the Cathedral Hall to hear Kathleen Snow’s presentation entitled Women Making a Difference – Where We are Planted.

Most Christ Church Cathedral congregation members know Kathleen as our Parish Nurse, a member of the 11:45 am Praise Choir, and an active member of Mothers’ Union. Kathleen has been involved with Mothers’ Union for over 30 years. She has served as the local Branch Leader, the Diocesan President, the National President and has gone on to work with the Worldwide Mothers’ Union. As she told the group gathered on February 17th, these roles have provided her with the opportunity to meet some amazing women of faith around the world who truly are making a difference where they are planted!

Before introducing the attendees to these women, Kathleen challenged the group to come up with a list of characteristics of women who make a difference. Most attributes were positive but the odd less- than-positive one did manage to creep in reinforcing the notion that no one is perfect! Here are some of the attributes identified: nurturing, strong, thoughtful, supportive, determined, flexible, organized, committed and bold.

... flexible, organized, committed and bold ...

One of the women that Kathleen went on to speak about was Claudette Kijeme of Burundi. Claudette is a Mothers’ Union Worker who has been leading a Literacy Program focused on women. Since the program started in the year 2000, almost 74,000 people have been trained and are now functionally literate. Literacy Circles have been established in many regions of Burundi and surrounding African countries and the testimonies of women (and men) who have participated were very moving. Life constraints have been removed through literacy. Women can successfully manage their market stalls and not be cheated because they couldn’t count change properly. Literacy became a main tool to empower women. As more and more men became involved, they came to see that women were not worthless as culture had dictated and relationships between husband and wife improved. They now recognize the importance of literacy for their children, a distinct advantage for future generations. Not surprisingly, Claudette’s work led to her being invited to address the United Nations Council on the Status of Women as a member of the worldwide Mothers’ Union contingency several years ago.

Sheran Harper of Guyana developed the Mothers’ Union Parenting Programme which also started in the year 2000. This support program for parents is now run worldwide by Mothers’ Union. Sheran trains facilitators to run the Program aimed at improving family relationships. Kathleen trained under Sheran who visited Fredericton in 2008.

Although Kathleen spoke of other women making a difference in far off places, she reminded everyone that in our midst there are women making a difference. Dawn DeCourcey, a Fredericton resident, quietly runs a program called the Fundy Peace Foundation (FPF). While visiting a school in Kenya as a representative of the Foundation, Dawn realised that even though children may obtain the necessary high rankings to get into high school, they are often too poor to attend. In response, FPF set up a scholarship fund to assist students. It was also noted that few females complete elementary school and become eligible for high school. The Masai Mara Project has raised over $10,000 to help address this need.

So many women making a difference. Blooming where they are planted and continuing to sow the seeds of help wherever they are needed through their faith and their relationships with others. It was noted that as our faith grows, we often look to demonstrate that faith and the love of God to others. These women have all succeeded and continue to succeed in living out their faith each day!

Gail MacGillivray

A new Mothers’ Union book of prayers!

Posted on

The Central Fundraising & Communications (F&C) Committee of Mothers' Union has produced a new prayer book for its members - 'words for every occasion to encourage and inspire, whether in public services, branch devotions or personal prayer time.'

This is the story of the little team that could! God gives us more than we can ask or imagine.

In my role as a member of the Central F&C Committee, I attended our initial meeting in May of 2016 which was held in Derbyshire. The goal of this first meeting was to discuss ideas about what the committee could do to raise funds for the worldwide Mothers' Union while at the same time enhancing communication with its members. The suggestion of producing a new Mothers' Union prayer book as an income-generator as well as a resource to our members was discussed.

The Prayers We Breathe prayer book was and is a wonderful resource; I have used it often over the last 20 years for both personal and corporate prayer. We suggested producing a new book of prayers written by MU members from all over the world. We were excited about the notion, and several members of the committee were quite enthusiastic about the project.

God gives us more than we can ask or imagine.

The F&C Committee meets 3 times annually; we meet in person once a year, and the other meetings are held via Skype. In late May of 2017 we met again in person and the idea of the prayer book was discussed again. Three of the members - Mari Thomas (Wales), Moira Thom (Northern Ireland) and I were keen to put our time and effort into the project. We were given approval by the committee to proceed and off we went! Our little team of three was on its way.

Last June we contacted Mothers' Union members from around the world via email with the assistance of Mary Sumner House. We invited them to submit prayers, and suggested topics to them for the prayers. We were hoping to receive 100 prayers for the book, and gave the members one month to submit them. We received feedback that this wasn't enough time, and doubt was expressed that the prayers would come in, but we received well over 350 prayer submissions. Mothers' Union members love to pray and they love to write prayers!

Mothers' Union members love to pray and they love to write prayers!

Mari, Moira and I met almost every Monday morning via Skype from June to December to receive, acknowledge, compile, edit, and work with our Committee Head Daniel McAllister and MU Trustee Jocelyn Wright to produce the book. A special thank you to Ethel Nelson and Dawn Skene for their eagle eyes in reviewing the prayers, and to Catherine Kyte from Mary Sumner House for her review and edits as well.

This new prayer book contains over 150 prayers and poems written solely by Mothers' Union members. It can be purchased for £3 plus postage by contacting Mothers' union <NewPrayerBook at mothersunion.org> or buy online Dear Lord Prayer Book.

It has taken a lot of time and effort to produce this book in just eight months. Our goal was to launch it at the Worldwide Council meeting in early February and we have met our deadline! The meetings and project have been covered in prayer, and all I can say is that our God is a great God who can make all things happen!

With every blessing, and thank you to all who have submitted prayers. There may be another book to come!

Canadian Mothers' Union
Worldwide Mothers' Union

From the Canadian Mothers' Union Winter/Spring 2018 Issue 3 Newsletter

ALPHA begins 27 September 2017

Posted on

 

Join us for an intergenerational ALPHA which began with an introduction on 27 September 2017 at the Cathedral Memorial Hall, 168 Church Street, 6:00 pm. Dinner is included! If you missed the first session, contact Cheryl Jacobs or (506) 459-5795 or by email cajacobs84 at gmail.com

REGISTER NOW HERE

Do you want to explore the Christian faith more, or do you have family or friends you would like to see do so?  Alpha is an 11 week introduction to Christianity where all questions are encouraged.  It is being offered this Fall on Wednesday nights starting September 27, from 6:00 – 8:30 pm, in the Cathedral Hall.  Supper will be provided as well as simultaneous video and discussion sessions for adults and youth (12-20ish). Please register on a signup sheet at the back, online HERE, by calling (506) 459-5795 or by emailing cajacobs84 at gmail.com.  All are welcome!

FIND OUT MORE HERE

The art of ecclesiastical embroidery

Posted on
Lucy's Sewing Group

Lucy’s Sewing Group meets Fridays to carry on an embroidery tradition. From left: Rita Cyr-Bonga, Jean Davies, Diane Radford, Ann Dalzell and Flo Harvey. ~ McKnight photos

By Gisele McKnight

Every Friday morning, between three and seven women gather at Cathedral Memorial Hall to keep alive the art of ecclesiastical embroidery.

They range in age from their early 60s to late 80s and they call themselves Lucy’s Sewing Group, based out of Christ Church Cathedral.

Together they have a few hundred years of sewing experience. Without them, and others like them, our Anglican church services would be hard pressed to function.

Their ministry is the embroidery of altar linens — corporals, credence cloths, fair linen, purificators and so on. Without purificators, for example, how would a priest celebrate Holy Eucharist?

“It’s definitely a ministry,” said Rita Cyr-Bonga. “It’s very important. I can’t put it into words.”

“From my point of view, I can sew, so I regard that as a gift. Therefore I should use it,” said Ann Dalzell, another of the members.

Production
The process of producing an embroidered cloth begins in Ireland at Ulster Weavers. Lucy’s buys it in a 10-metre roll. They tried the locally available linen, but it didn’t measure up, so they stick with the Irish.

Rita Cyr-Bonga

Rita Cyr-Bonga rolls up a measuring tape after working with a bolt of Irish linen. Lucy’s Sewing Group doesn’t use the cathedral kitchen for eating, only for laying out and cutting metres and metres of linen.

Once it arrives in Fredericton, Rita takes it home for preparation.

“It has to be laundered, washed and ironed, before we use it,” said Jean Davies, who acts as the organizer of the group. “Imagine washing your tablecloth, but 10 metres of it. It’s not a job I would say ‘let me do it!’”

Laundering is to prevent shrinkage later on. Measurements for their products are precise, so this step is crucial.

Then it’s time for cutting the linen into the pieces for which they have orders. Once that’s done, the pieces are hemmed with mitred corners. Then finally, the embroidery can begin.

Flo Harvey explains the process: Fold the cloth in half to find the centre line. Stitch a blue line along it. Fold it the other way and repeat.

“When you’re finished, you have a cross in the centre,” said Flo, adding that’s where the embroidery will go.

A design is selected — either from their catalogue or one the customer provides — and the linen is placed over the pattern for tracing. Flo uses a light table at home and a washable ink pen to do the tracing. Then it’s ready for embroidery, once those blue stitch lines are removed.

When the embroidery is complete, it’s time for another laundering and ironing, and delivery to the customer.

While the group meets and sews each week, much of the work is done at home.

White-on-white embroidery design

White-on-white embroidery design

Output
Lucy’s produces altar linens for the diocese, and as time and hands permit, they take on projects from elsewhere, even from as far away as the United States on occasion. They made four altar cloths for the Cathedral’s mission to a church in Belize, for example.

In an average year, the group will produce 40-50 purificators, five corporals, five fair linens, two credence cloths and two stiff palls. Turn around time is two months to several months, depending on the workload.

“We have a waiting list and we just do it as we go,” said Jean.

White-on-white embroidery design

White-on-white embroidery design

Their price list hasn’t changed in a long time. A purificator is $12.50; a fair linen (altar cloth) is about $250. The latest roll of linen cost $306 Cdn, and fortunately, church linens are duty-free.

Their profits are donated to a variety of charitable causes.

Just a spark
Repair of altar linens is a tricky business. If a stitch is loose on a hem, it can be mended. But if it’s a hole in the cloth, its usefulness has ended.

“Traditionally we don’t mend altar linens,” said Ann. “There can be no broken threads on the altar. The only exception is hems.”

That’s why it’s important to snuff a candle, not blow it out. A spark can make a hole, and the only method of disposal is to burn it.

Lucy McNeill

Lucy McNeill in an undated magazine article

Lucy’s origins
In an earlier era, ecclesiastical embroidery involved silk and gold threads on silk cloth. Some churches in the diocese still have these treasures. Now, however, the work of Lucy’s is white on white — white thread on white linen.

Ann, though, had the privilege of restoring Margaret Medley’s colourful embroidered frontals at Trinity Church in Dorchester about five years ago.

“The whole tradition started with Margaret Medley,” said Ann. “By the time she was in the country 12 months, she had started an altar guild.”

Margaret Medley's embroidery

Photos of Margaret Medley’s embroidery

Margaret was the wife of Bishop John Medley.

Lucy’s Sewing Group, though, is not part of an altar guild. The roots of this group lie with Lucy McNeill, a somewhat stern but gifted embroiderer who lived next door to Cathedral Memorial Hall.

“Lucy was a rather formidable person,” said Ann. “People don’t realize she was very keen to get small group sewers going in our parishes. Lucy has had a terrific impact.”

Lucy once wrote a front-page article for Embroidery Canada, after which the magazine asked her to continue contributing.

Her answer: ‘I am not at all interested in domestic embroidery.’

She did, however, author a 32-page book called Sanctuary Linens, Choosing, Making and Embroidering, published by the Anglican Book Centre in Toronto in 1975. Two editions were published, but it’s rare to find one these days.

Some in the current group worked with Lucy.

“We were doing this work under her helpful hand and met at her house once a week,” said Ann. “We just kept on afterwards.”

Lucy died several years ago.

New members welcome
Jean was recruited about 15 years ago by the dean’s wife.

“She said, ‘You sew. Why don’t you join Lucy’s group?’ I didn’t know what Lucy’s group was.”

Diane Radford is one of the group’s younger members. She has a unique perspective as a member of the sanctuary guild.

“I find it interesting to see the other side of it,” she said. “You have no idea of the work that goes into it until you see this.”

While some might think the embroidery is too intricate or difficult, it’s a craft that can be learned, and the women at Lucy’s are eager to share it. They eagerly welcome new members. And because this group is senior in age, they understand the importance of recruitment.

To contact the group, call Cathedral Memorial Hall: 450-8500.

Lucy McNeill's production list

One of Lucy McNeill’s production list

 Re-posted from the Diocese of Fredericton: The art of ecclesiastical embroidery  27 September 2016