On February 17, the Dessert and Games Night (all ages) will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Cathedral Memorial Hall, 168 Church Street.
Drop in and stay as long as you like.
Games will include:
a kid-friendly area that will rotate games every 15 minutes (Charades, Pictionary, musical chairs, and cribbage)
a quiet room for bridge and cribbage
a wide selection of board games that you can take back to your table, or
just come enjoy delicious dessert and good company.
Admission is by donation.
All of the donations will support the Belize high school scholarships and St. Hilda’s Anglican School in Georgeville. Since 2005, Christ Church Cathedral has been supporting and sending mission trips to St. Hilda’s. The school has a wonderful, caring staff.
For more information, contact the Belize Mission Committee at [email protected]
A new family has arrived in San Ignacio, Belize, to assist Father David Alenskis (who, along with his wife, Mary Beth, has some baby news to share)! Evan, Missy, and Annabelle Hansen from Charlottesville, Virginia plan to be in San Ignacio for the next year.
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.
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 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.
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
A new family will be helping Father Alenskis for the next year in San Ignacio, Belize. This link has some photos of their rented home as well as some photos from St. Andrew’s church and the youth group going around town singing Christmas carols at people’s doors. You may find it funny to see everyone in T-shirts and shorts at Christmas!
Can you step out in faith to help Fredericton’s needy?
Christ Church Cathedral supplies teams of volunteers who work at the Fredericton Community Kitchen on Saturdays year-round to help the cook at supper time. Duties include preparing and serving food, doing dishes, and cleaning up after the evening meal.
The time commitment is a mere two hours – from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. – and each team is assigned 13 Saturdays annually. Depending on the size of your team, you will not have to take part every time.
Jason Parsons is co-ordinating the cathedral's efforts for this worthwhile cause.
“I'm busy with my work and my three children, but it's a small commitment of time,” he said. “It really gives all of us a chance to be the hands and feet of God in our city, and the people who come for supper are so grateful for the work we do.”
If anyone is interested in joining a team, Jason can be reached at 455-9638 or jayparsons at rogers.com
Experience isn't necessary, and the work isn't hard. You might be peeling potatoes, buttering rolls, making juice, cutting pieces of pie, scrubbing pots, putting away clean dishes, and so on.
“One of our longtime volunteers told me that, too often, church can be about money and politics, not about helping people. He likes giving back in this way as a form of mission,” Jason said.
He also wanted to heartily thank all those who volunteered during 2018. “Some people have been faithfully helping out for many years,” he said. “It's greatly appreciated.”
SANTA'S ELVES - Marilyn O'Hara (left) and Mary Lou Cotter busily pack 85 gift bags for people in need who attend the Monday morning drop-in at Cathedral Hall. Bags contain many donated items such as warm socks, a knitted hat or scarf, candy canes, granola bars, tissues, candy, chips, pens, hot chocolate mix, toothbrushes, hotel-size toiletries, Christmas poem, and a handwritten Christmas card with a $15 gift card inside.
The Christmas gathering on Monday, 17 December also features a reading of the Christmas story from Luke by the Dean, homemade cookies from St. Margaret's Anglican Church, gift bags for children provided by New Maryland United Church, live music played by local musicians, along with sandwiches, cookies and fruit donated by members of the cathedral family. The Outreach Committee thanks one and all for such a great outpouring of kindness!
Sixty-three guests turned out on a snowy Monday morning for the annual Christmas drop-in for people in need. A huge amount of delicious food was provided by volunteers from the cathedral congregation, St. Margaret's Anglican Church and New Maryland United Church; the parish nurse looked after health needs; two local musicians played Christmas carols; Dean Geoffrey Hall read the Christmas story from Luke's gospel; each attendee received a gift bag with seasonal treats, warm socks, hats or scarves, a handwritten Christmas card and a gift card worth $15. Leftover food and gifts were donated to the downtown health clinic, the shelter, Transition House and the community kitchen. Thanks to all who helped make the day special!
Bishop and Chapter have approved in principle the sending of a letter of intent to enter into a partnership that would support four of the homeless population. The final approval would be subject to the proponents being able to secure adequate federal, provincial and local support as well as the Chapter’s approval of a 20-year lease.
Three years ago, a survey was conducted to ascertain the extent and type of homelessness that exists in Fredericton. The data made it clear that a programme needed to be created to move the homeless into safe housing. The cost to the taxpayer for keeping an individual “on the street” is $55,000 per year. The cost for assisting an individual in safe housing is $22,000 per year.
The Community Action Group on Homelessness (CAGH) was created to include government representatives, community leaders, and charitable organizations who serve those in need. The Housing First project aims to provide housing for 40 homeless individuals who will require assistance from social workers as well as citizens who will help them to re-integrate into the community. The move to secure housing is crucial, but the second crucial factor is helping the new tenants to learn how to care for and respect themselves and others. The CAGH group identified church communities as the bet group of people to assist these individuals as they re-connect with society.
The Road Home: A Plan to End Homelessness in Fredericton is the result of extensive research and planning. It outlines strategies and actions that will lead to an end to chronic homelessness in Fredericton. The goals of the plan involve affordable and supportive housing development, as well as community collaboration and the adoption of a Housing First systems approach. The time has come to stop merely managing homelessness: with the Road Home, we will work toward ending long-term persistent homelessness in our community.
Faith MacFarlane, a social worker leading this project, and Jason LeJeune, a business man in Fredericton, are key leaders in moving this project forward. Mayor Mike O’Brien chairs a city-based committee on ending homelessness in Fredericton. Each of these three individuals have met with groups of our congregation to explain the purpose and process of making this happen.
Funding for this project will come from the Federal and Provincial budgets as well as from the private sector. Jason has raised over 1.4 million dollars to date to help pay for the homes designed for one occupant. The City is donating available land, as are private citizens and churches who have available space. The new homes need to be built near a grocery store and a bus stop!
Churches are being approached by the proponents of Housing First because of our faith commitment to help those in need, and our charitable status. The financial piece includes the following:
The land and four housing units (Regent/Albert Street) will be signed over to us at no cost (mortgage free), and as church property, would be tax free.
The Cathedral will receive from the the Province of New Brunswick (PNB) a rental payment of $700/per unit/month on behalf of the occupants; this money would be set aside as “designated” in our accounts and may be used for maintenance; plus $11,000 per unit will be put in an endowment fund managed by the Fredericton Community Foundation such that interest from this $44,000 fund will be available for repairs over time.
PNB social workers will select the tenants who are judged to be good candidates re-integrating into society. A social worker will be assigned to each tenant, and services of a social worker will be available 24/7. The social worker will terminate the tenancy if required. In the event of a vacancy, we will continue to receive rent payments from the PNB until the next tenant is assigned.
The requirements for the Cathedral are two-fold:
- Designate an overseeing/liaison committee to work with the key stakeholders and partners of the Fredericton Housing First Fund. This committee will primarily deal with the legal issues that need to be agreed upon and signed.
- The second committee will be for Friendly Visitors who will assist the tenants in settling in and reconnecting with community life.
We will be asked to provide “Welcome Home baskets” that will include
dishes, towels, cleaning supplies, basic pantry supplies, etc. We are not responsible for appliances and furniture.
CAGH is hoping that government funding and agreements will be in place in time to begin implementation by the fall of 2019. The John Howard Society is ready to start now.
We will be asked to sign a 20 year agreement, but if our circumstances change we will be able to withdraw amicably at any time.
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>.
This year's crop of angels has arrived at the Cathedral!
Paper angels from the Fredericton Food Bank are waiting to be chosen from small trees in the cathedral and in the hall foyer. Each of the 60 angels indicates a specific gift for a needy boy or girl in our city.
Unwrapped gifts, with the paper angels, firmly attached, should be brought to the church or the hall on Sunday, 02 December. Drop-off boxes will be set up near the angel trees in advance.
If you cannot bring your gift on time, please take it to the drop-off box in the hall no later than Monday, 03 December. It might seem early, but it's the Food Bank's deadline for our deliveries, allowing them time to distribute the gifts to the families they serve.
The Fredericton Food Bank has more than 700 children on its list this year. The Outreach Committee thanks you for your generous support in making Christmas special for 60 of them.
The Community Action Group on Homelessness (CAGH) was created to include government representatives, community leaders, and charitable organizations who serve those in need. The Housing First project aims to provide housing for 40 homeless individuals who will require assistance from social workers as well as citizens who will help them to re-integrate into the community. The move to secure housing is crucial, but the second crucial factor is helping the new tenants to learn how to care for and respect themselves and others. The CAGH group identified church communities as the bet group of people to assist these individuals as they re-connect with society.
