Category Archives: Ministry

Penny Ericson to receive Order of New Brunswick

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The dedicated and talented chair of the Cathedral Outreach Committee, Penny Ericson, is being inducted into the Order of New Brunswick for her many accomplishments achieved during decades in this province.

Penny is a professor emeritus from the University of New Brunswick and a retired Dean of the Faculty of Nursing. She has been recognized for "outstanding achievements and leadership in improving the health, social and cultural well-being of her community and province."

Premier Blaine Higgs announced the 10 new recipients of the Order of New Brunswick during New Brunswick Day celebrations in Fredericton.

“It is with the greatest respect and admiration that I congratulate the newly appointed recipients of the Order of New Brunswick," said Higgs. "By awarding the province's highest civilian honour to individuals who use their skills and talents to serve others, we are recognizing exemplary New Brunswickers who, through their dedication and generosity, have made a real difference in the lives of people in their community and their province.”

At the Cathedral, we are immensely appreciative of Penny’s contributions.

The old adage "ask a busy person" was probably created with Penny Ericson in mind.

Aside from being a busy wife, mother and grandmother, she has successfully worn many hats in Fredericton: nursing instructor and university dean of nursing; nurturer and builder of such organizations as a research centre into family violence and a hospice for palliative care patients; long-time supporter of the arts, culture and heritage in Fredericton; advocate for housing initiatives to help the homeless and precariously housed.

Some would say that the common thread in her many and disparate activities is her leadership ability. Penny Ericson is the type of person who is always undaunted by obstacles and challenges. "It can't be done" or "we've never done that" are simply not in her vocabulary. Her approach is to swiftly size up a situation and go around, over, under or through any obstacles to achieve her stated goal. This might mean arguing her case, marshalling forces, overcoming opposition, hatching creative solutions. She always does so with shrewdness, tenacity, wit, grace and boundless energy.

It helps enormously that Penny is one of those rare people whose intelligence and charm allow her to be equally at home chatting amiably with an archbishop, a premier, a carpenter, a panhandler, a child. Her interest in people and her sincerity shine through in each conversation.

Others would say the common thread in her activities is her caring, empathetic attitude. If she spots a problem, she wants to solve it. If she sees a need, she wants to meet it. For example, she is the longtime Chair of the Outreach Committee here at the Cathedral. She has raised the congregation's awareness about the issue of poverty in our city and has rallied people there to contribute funds, food and used clothing to assist people in need.

Penny spearheaded a weekly drop-in at the church hall for people in need, but she knew it was not enough to simply hand out sandwiches and coffee. She arranged for the parish nurse, nursing students and law students to take part, knowing that the guests often needed to be put in touch with services in the city. She built community by bringing in musicians to play live music and friendly visitors to talk with guests and, more importantly, to listen to them. All are poor, and many have had difficult lives marred by family violence, addictions, criminal records, illiteracy, and so on. It illustrates her holistic approach to improving people's lives.

However, she is not only the stand-back supervisor of this program. She has worked as long and as hard as any volunteer on the team. She has always been willing to do the behind-the-scenes "grunt work" such as baking muffins, cleaning the kitchen sink, packing goodie bags of food and treats during the pandemic when in-person gatherings were impossible, and gathering jackets, boots and socks to keep the folks warm and dry.

Penny's warm welcome and big smile are much appreciated by the guests; she was lauded as "simply amazing" by one recent recipient of her kindness at the church hall. She has often helped folks outside of the formal hours of the program, e.g. talking with them on the telephone, driving them to medical appointments, helping them find a lawyer, file their income tax, or look for an apartment in a city where affordable housing is hard to find.

Some people have a big heart for the poor and the homeless, but Penny Ericson follows it up with concrete action, fund-raising, and hands-on efforts. She is a most deserving candidate for the Order of New Brunswick award.

The Order of New Brunswick celebrates the individuals who have served the province, its people and communities through a high level of excellence and achievement in their field. Since the first ceremony was held in 2002, over 190 New Brunswickers have received the award.

Penny and her fellow recipients will be invested with the Order of New Brunswick on November 2, 2022, in a ceremony at Government House in Fredericton.

-- by Ann Deveau

Read the press release from the Province of New Brunswick.

Penny’s Biography

Emancipation Day (August 1)

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A reflection by Archbishop and Primate Linda Nicholls, Anglican Church of Canada.

On August 1, Canada marks Emancipation Day. This is the day in 1834 when the Abolition of Slavery Act was enacted by the British parliament and became law across all the colonial territories claimed by Great Britain, including lands that today are commonly referred to as Canada. For nearly 400 years, approximately 12 million African children, women and men were abducted and trafficked to the Caribbean, North America and South America. Millions more of their descendants continued to be enslaved for generations, experiencing extreme violence, family separation, and the suppression of religious beliefs and practices. Enslavement denied the dignity of every person, often with the theological support of Christian churches.

Emancipation Day in 1834 marked an important step in a long and continuing journey toward freedom and the dismantling of embedded systemic racism and anti-Black racism that continues in different forms even today. We mark Emancipation Day even as it invites us to ask how that legacy still lives in our midst. The joy of emancipation is tempered by the racial injustice that continues for Black people, Indigenous peoples and people of colour in our communities.

To honour Emancipation Day is to honour those whose resistance, perseverance, and solidarity brought slavery to an end in these lands of Canada and in many other places around the world in 1834. We must also honour those whose resilience continues to call for an end to the legacy of racism and discrimination that denies the full human dignity of every person.

As Anglicans, we are committed to the Marks of Mission including “To seek to transform unjust structures of society.” Emancipation Day calls us all to action.

We must act to address the realities of racism, discrimination, and exclusion in our parishes, in our communities, and in our country.

As a Church, we look forward to the recommendations of the Dismantling Racism Task Force, calling us to specific action to move along our journey to true emancipation for all.

As we recognize Emancipation Day together this year, I invite you to pray with me:

God of Liberation, we offer our prayers of thanksgiving and praise. You have heard the cries of the oppressed and given us freedom. May we remember all of the ancestors who longed for liberty and may we have the courage, strength, and fortitude to continue striving for social justice and equity in the present day. Amen.

From “Prayers of the People”, Canadian Council of Churches Virtual Ecumenical Emancipation Day Service, August 1, 2021 created by Irene Moore Davis — final petition.

Learn more about Emancipation Day.

Written by Archbishop and Primate Linda Nicholls. Originally published on July 22, 2022 on Medium: Ministry Matters.

Congregation and community support for the Outreach Program

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On the last Monday of each month, people in need are welcomed at Memorial Hall by members of the Cathedral Outreach Committee.

Between 8:30 - 10:00 a.m., volunteers hand out goodie bags containing fresh fruit, homemade muffins and cookies, a granola bar, a beverage and other food items such as cheese strings, soup packets and sandwiches.

Members of our congregation prepare food and donate funds to purchase non-perishable food items and gift cards. Other churches, such as New Maryland United Church and St. Margaret's Anglican Church also contribute to the Monday Outreach program.

Visitors, such as David M. being checked in by volunteer Ann Deveau, are always grateful for the treats and a $10 gift card to use at a local supermarket.

Bus tickets are also available as an alternative to supermarket gift cards. The City of Fredericton donated 100 single-ride bus tickets to the Cathedral Outreach Committee, one of 26 community agencies given an allotment of tickets. Outreach guests appreciate the chance for a free ride to attend medical appointments, access training, or look for work. The committee purchases additional bus tickets throughout the year to fulfill the need.

During the Monday Outreach program, visitors are also invited to choose items from a table of seasonal clothing and household items donated by members of the congregation. They are thankful for the the shirts, jackets, footwear, hats, sunglasses, water bottles, towels, and personal care items such as soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste.

Guests are also made aware of other services in the community, such as a weekly breakfast program at Saint Andrew's Presbyterian Church, a free clothing bank at The Drive Baptist Church, and the Greener Village food bank, learning kitchen and income tax services.

Typically, approximately fifty people in need attend the Cathedral's Monday Outreach program each month, with many regular visitors. While a majority of the guests are men, the program also sees women of all ages and occasionally children.

Throughout the pandemic, visitors have been appreciative of the continued support. Due to pandemic precautions, the program has been held as a drop-in program on the steps and lobby of Cathedral Memorial Hall. Guests look forward to a time when they may again be able to gather inside the Hall for music, conversation, and a buffet table.

One grateful guest delivered a card to program volunteers, which read, "On behalf of myself and people I've once known, I'd like to say how thankful I am to have received the blessings and gifts over the years. Thank you and from the bottom of not just my heart but others as well. You are angels."

Celebration at St. Hilda’s

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Graduates of St. Hilda's Anglican School were thrilled to receive their diplomas from Standard 6 (grade 8) at the end of June.

Principal Jane Martinez shared photos of the happy students, which you can see below. She previously sent photos of a worship service held for the graduates in the school's chapel.

Upon this completion of publicly funded education, students are at a crossroads. High tuition costs for high school mean that many students will not have the opportunity to further their education, and must enter the work force as young teenagers. Unemployment in the country is high, there are many large single-parent families, and almost half of Belizeans live below the poverty line.

In 2010, Cathedral mission team members established a high school scholarship program which has allowed St. Hilda’s students to apply for a scholarship to continue their education past grade 8. Some of the graduates supported by the Cathedral have gone on to post-secondary education. Currently, four students attending high school benefit from Cathedral scholarships. The pandemic has been a tumultuous time for our scholarship students, with several of them facing illness or significant family distress.

Thanks to generous donations from members of the Cathedral congregation, we also send funds to the elementary school each year to contribute to ongoing needs for the students and teachers at St. Hilda's. Contributions towards the Belize missions are welcome and appreciated. You may give and receive a charitable tax receipt by making an online donation or submitting a donation marked 'Belize' through the Cathedral office or offering plate.

Visiting Belize to form relationships with the teachers and students has been a transformative experience for many of the Cathedral members who have participated in mission trips. Learn more about our relationship with students and teachers at St. Hilda's in our archive of Belize articles, and please keep the students, teachers and families in your prayers.

Canada matches gifts to PWRDF for world hunger

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PWRDF world hungerIn response to the hunger emergency unfolding around the world, including many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, 12 leading Canadian aid agencies are joining forces as the Humanitarian Coalition to raise funds and rush assistance to people on the edge of famine.

One of those agencies is the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, itself a coalition of 15 Christian aid organizations working to end hunger around the world. PWRDF is participating in this appeal through its membership in the Foodgrains Bank.

The Canadian Government has committed $250 million to address the global food crisis, and announced last week it will match donations to the Humanitarian Coalition’s member charities 1:1, up to $5 million. Donations made by July 17, 2022 are eligible.

According to the World Food Programme, 50 million people are facing emergency levels of hunger and the number of severely food insecure people has more than doubled in the last two years. The reasons for this sudden increase include:

  • Extended drought and other climate shocks that are wreaking havoc on food supplies and livelihoods.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic has had severe economic consequences in many countries.
  • The conflict in Ukraine is having a direct impact on access to basic food supplies.

“This unprecedented global hunger crisis compels us to action,” says Richard Morgan, executive director of the Humanitarian Coalition. “Our member charities are rallying together to save lives, but we also need Canadians across the country to do their part. We are grateful to the federal government for matching the public’s donations. Together we can provide food, water and urgent care to families on the brink of starvation.”

PWRDF has been supporting programs in many of the countries where the situation is most dire, including Kenya. PWRDF is in partnership with Church World Service in an area of northern Kenya. “Children have already died because of hunger, millions of animals have died and women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities are having to fend for themselves,” says PWRDF Executive Director Will Postma. “Our support, your support, can help stop hunger and restore livelihoods.”

Read the post at PWRDF

How you can help

All donations made by individuals to PWRDF’s Humanitarian Coalition Hunger Relief Appeal by July 17 will be matched by the Government of Canada. To donate online, visit pwrdf.org/give-today then choose Humanitarian Coalition Appeal to End Hunger. You may also send a cheque payable to PWRDF to 80 Hayden Street, 3rd floor, Toronto, Ontario, M4Y 3G2 or used your boxed set blue envelopes. (Please note Appeal to End Hunger on the memo.) You can also donate by phone at 416-822-9083 or leave a voicemail toll-free at 1-866-308-7973 and we will return your call.

Graduation at St. Hilda’s

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It's graduation time in Belize!

The Principal of St. Hilda's Anglican School, Ms. Jane Martinez, recently sent a few photos from year-end activities, and a video of students singing during a worship service in the school's chapel for the Standard 6 (grade 8) graduates. Watch it below.

St. Hilda’s, an elementary school in the rural village of Georgeville, educates approximately 200 children between kindergarten and grade 8. Christ Church Cathedral has had a special relationship with the staff and students for many years. 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 gone on a mission trip to Belize, and hundreds of people in Fredericton have supported the work through organizational support, donations and prayers. As part of the Cathedral's ongoing financial commitment to St. Hilda's, we send funds each year to contribute to ongoing needs for the students and teachers.

These Standard 6 (grade 8) students have completed their final year of public education in Belize.

In addition to providing support for the elementary school, the Cathedral provides scholarships for selected St. Hilda's graduates. In Belize, the average child leaves the education system after Standard 6 (equivalent to Canadian grade 8), when they are approximately 13 years old. High tuition costs prevent many children from attending high school, because unemployment in the country is high, there are many large single-parent families, and almost half of Belizeans live below the poverty line. In 2010, Cathedral mission team members established a high school scholarship program which has allowed St. Hilda’s students to apply for a scholarship to continue their education past grade 8. Some of the graduates supported by the Cathedral have gone on to post-secondary education. Currently, four students attending high school benefit from Cathedral scholarships.

Please pray for the students and teachers at St. Hilda's elementary school, our high school scholarship students, and their families. Contributions towards the Belize mission are welcome and appreciated. You may give and receive a charitable tax receipt by making an online donation or submitting a donation marked 'Belize' through the Cathedral office or offering plate.

Your support makes a big difference in the lives of these children!

News from St. Hilda’s Anglican School

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We hold our friends in Belize in our hearts, praying for the students and teachers at St. Hilda's Anglican School, as well as the scholarship students who have moved on to High School. Ms. Jane Ramirez, Principal at St. Hilda's, recently sent us this note about activities at the school.

Greetings Kelley,

I pray that this email reaches you in good health. It has been some time since we communicated so I just wanted to send a greeting and give you some updates about what is happening at St. Hilda's Anglican School.

We are now back fully face to face for four days each week. It has been a challenge especially since Covid19 is still among us. We have had a few teachers and students who became sick. Thankfully, no one has gotten extremely ill. We have protocols in place to help prevent the spread of the virus.

We are looking forward to the new school year. It is my prayer that our preschool will open in September. We already have 18 students waiting. We are on the finishing touches and are grateful for your continued prayers and support. We have had some difficult days but God has been faithful. He has been good. We are nearing the time of our graduation which will be held on June 22nd. Our school year is almost over! Yeah! I am really looking forward to some vacation time in July.

Please greet our Friends of St. Hilda's. Sending our love and appreciation. I will be forwarding the reports for the scholarship recipients as soon as I receive them.

I pray the best for you all and look forward to hearing from you.

Blessings,

Jane

Episcopal Church of Roatan / Nelson and Kara Ministry (May 2022 Update)

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New update May 2022

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. (Philippians 1:3-5, NIV)

We give all glory and honour to the Lord for your partnering with us. Without your support and especially your prayers, our ministry would never have been possible.  We give our heartfelt special thanks to all of you for your sacrificial giving.

Mother‘s Day Celebrations

We know it has been a long time since we last visited you as a family and personally shared with you about our incredible ministry in Roatan. It has not been easy for us or for you either.

However, we continue in Roatan doing the ministry to which God has called us and that has been possible thanks to your prayers and the financial support that you have given us personally and as churches.

We have wanted to visit you personally and it has not been possible due to the governments’ COVID -related travel restrictions.

We are excited to share with you that next year, in 2023, we will be visiting you in your parishes and sharing our experiences with you.

We know that time passes quickly and we will share the dates with you as soon as we have them.

We thank God for your partnership in our ministry, especially in prayer.

Financial Support Appeal

On the financial side, we continue to be very positive and to pray and praise God with faith and thanksgiving. We also ask you to continue to pray about our finances, that for the next year and in coming years our support will stabilize and be sufficient to cover our needs. 

At the moment our balance is very low; in fact, we have a deficit of CAD 7249.00. Therefore, please consider sending a special offering in order to balance our finances for our expenses and the ministry in Roatan.

To donate now, please click on the following link (or copy and paste it into your browser):

https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/13778

Or you can visit the Diocese of Fredericton’s website (www.anglican.nb.ca) then go to “Donate” for various ways to give online. Be sure to select “Honduras Mission Fund”.

Cheques should be made payable to “The Diocesan Synod of Fredericton” and sent to: Anglican Diocesan Synod of Fredericton, 

168 Church Street Room 20, Fredericton, N.B. E3B 4C9

Phone: (506) 459-1801

All cheques should have “Honduras Mission” noted on the reference line.

We greatly appreciate your prayer and financial support to date and trust that you will continue to support us.

We want to share with you our prayer needs, and at the same time you can share your needs with us so we can pray for you, as the Word says to pray for each other.

Please continue to pray for:

1.   For our family: Nelson, Kara and Kelly as we continue serving the Lord in Roatán, and Stephen in Winnipeg. 

2.   Continued and stable financial support for the next years as we continue to serve the Lord in Roatán, Honduras. At the moment our balance is very low, so we have a deficit of CAD 7249.00. 

3.   Our congregations: St. Peter by the Sea in Brick Bay, and Emmanuel in Coxen Hole, that we can continue growing, worshiping, and focusing on Jesus Christ. 

4.   Please pray for the Rev. Robert Browning and for his ministry to English-speakers in Eastern Roatán.

5.   Evangelism and practical outreach in the local communities.

6.  For leadership for the Church in Roatán that embraces the challenges as we serve in the Kingdom of God.  

7. The Episcopal Church in Honduras and our Bishop Lloyd Allen, who continues leading our Diocese.

8. For Carmen, Arlin, Charon, Ingris and Alexy, that they continue in University here in Roatan.

Thank you to all who have faithfully prayed and faithfully given to support this incredible work of ministering to the people in our congregations.

Matthew 25:40: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Your prayers and continued support enable us to continue touching people’s lives with Jesus’ love.

Empowering the Church

Learning, Growing and Serving

Nelson and Kara Mejia

Bishop McAllister College: Rector’s Newsletter – May 2022

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Rector’s Newsletter – May 2022

Dear Friends

Greetings from all of us Bishop McAllister College and Anglican Seminary! When we received news that all schools would fully reopen in January 2022, we were excited, but decided that the best approach was cautious optimism. I’m happy to report that as we are well into 2nd term, things are completely back to normal.  Students of all classes are back! Yay!

Reporting Day

Early January was a busy time, trying to organise the school, call teachers back (some hadn’t taught in two years) and prepare them for what was to come. Workshops were quickly organised as brief refresher courses but also to prepare teachers that there would be a great need for remedial work, and potential discipline issues they might face amongst their students, and how they might address them. We were told to expect a dropout rate of up to 30% due to teen pregnancies, early marriage, work, low morale and loss of interest in pursuing education. The good news is that things went quite smoothly in those early weeks. At Bishop McAllister we experienced a 20% dropout rate, but in some areas it has been as high 50%, all this is pretty much a rural issue where children face greater hardships and challenges. Government officials in those areas were told to go out in their areas and push children back into school. (In other words force parents who have liked having their children dig in the gardens or engage in other petty income generating tasks, to send their children back to school). We continued to experience a few students dropping out, up until the end of first term. As much as we tried to encourage them, they couldn’t either cope with being back in the restrictive environment of a school, or rekindle their interest in getting an education.

Teachers Workshop

First term went very well and we closed smoothly after 14 weeks. The length of the school term has been increased from 12 weeks to 14 weeks, to allow extra time for catching up on missed work. Students were fairly cooperative in those early weeks with wearing masks and following SOP’s.

Student Assembly & Vaccination Clinic

Of course, things have relaxed now in second term, pretty much reflecting society. We have lost the battle when it comes to enforcing mask wearing etc., apart from when someone needs to access the offices. The good news though was that all the older students (18 and above) were fully vaccinated in the first term, and we have been told a campaign will be launched sometime this month for all the other students.

This term has already been busy with the election of student leaders and sports days, so I feel confident enough now to say we are truly back to normal.

Prefectorial Campaigns & Swearing In

We have accomplished some good work on various projects across the campus. School entrance and compound has been completely transformed.

The new Administration Building Annex is now fully complete apart from landscaping (next rainy season). It consists of five sections, (L -R) Rector’s office, Receptionist, Board Room, and Accounts Offices. For the first time in our history this building is equipped with toilet facilities. We are really stepping into the modern world now.

As much as we would have loved us to make further progress on the music department it wasn’t possible. I was reminded of some forgotten areas (out of sight out of mind) where work had begun but then focus shifted to the library project in 2016. All this time the girls in the Seminary (primary section) have been living in the dust of an unfinished dormitory. So, we returned to that project to improve their living conditions. We plastered the walls inside and out, finished the veranda and floors. We also embarked on building them stairs to their main compound, so hopefully they will soon no longer have to use the goat path they made for themselves, winding up the side of the hill.

We also made some progress on one of their classroom blocks that was unfinished reaching the roofing stage on two additional classrooms, staffroom and computer room. Slowly, slowly we continue take steps forward.

Hopefully we will be in a position to resume work on the music department, where are all three main building are ready for roofing.

It is hard to believe how many years have passed, and how quickly they passed. I have now entered my 25thyear here at Bishop McAllister College. It has been a rich and rewarding ministry, that I’m so very thankful to have been called to be a part of it. God’s grace has been with us through out and I’m so grateful for that, and for how He has worked through all of you to make this ministry possible. The school has truly blossomed and it wouldn’t have been possible without your financial support and countless prayers. But most importantly I thank you for your support of the student sponsorship program, so many young lives have been changed and opportunities given as a result. I know the past couple of years may have been discouraging, with the closures, and students abandoning their studies, as well the tough conditions many of you also faced. Thank you so much for sticking with us, and continuing with your support of this important program.

Lastly thank you so much for your support of myself. You have been with me throughout, and I can’t thank you enough. Pray for me as I take these next few months and think about my future.

I pray that God will continue to bless you and keep you, now and always!

“To God be the Glory!”

God Bless!

Paul

Honouring the Queen with a Jubilee Tea

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On Saturday, 04 June, 2022, the Cathedral Branch of the Mothers’ Union (with the support of the ACW and other Fredericton MU branches) hosted “The Queen’s Jubilee Tea” to commemorate the 70th year since Her Majesty’s accession to the throne.

The Cathedral looked beautiful with the red, white and blue bunting combined with the Pentecost decorations!

Approximately 60 people attended and greatly enjoyed the abundant sandwiches and sweets. We listened to British music and sang “God Save the Queen” while sipping tea, sampling the Jubilee cake, and enjoying the fellowship of those who were in attendance.

It was a wonderful celebration that was held in conjunction with similar events hosted by MU Branches around the globe.

Many thanks for the financial donations, to those who provided the fancy sandwiches and sweets, and to those who volunteered their time to make tea, decorate and serve at this event.

-- Susan Watson, Co-Branch Leader, Mothers' Union - Cathedral Branch

The Queen’s Jubilee Tea