On Saturday. April 15, the Ukrainian Community of Fredericton gathered at Christ Church Cathedral to celebrate Easter.
A priest travelled from Moncton to hold worship for over 100 attendees of all ages. Many wore traditional Ukrainian clothing and brought baskets for a special tradition - the Easter food basket blessing. They were thrilled to be able to worship in their own language, for the first ever Easter service of its kind in Fredericton.
Archbishop David Edwards, Bishop of Fredericton, gave permission for the Greek Catholic service to be held in the Cathedral. In that tradition, Easter was celebrated on Sunday, April 16 this year, so Ukrainians in Fredericton celebrated the Saturday evening before.
Oksana Tesla, volunteer with the Ukrainian Community of Fredericton, coordinated with the Cathedral. She shared,
"Everything went flawlessly and fabulously! We were singing acapella and the acoustics made the Cathedral sing along. Many community members mentioned to me that they were feeling this bright warm light inside during the service. Thank you so much for opening your doors for our community and we really appreciate your support."
Thanks to Cathedral members Hank Williams and Kurt Schmidt for facilitating the event.
Through the Facebook page of the Ukrainian Community of Fredericton, the group commented, "We are so happy to have such an amazing supportive community here in Fredericton. And the opportunity to celebrate at such an incredible place - the Christ Church Cathedral - is a blessing! ... We cannot thank you enough for such generosity! We felt like we are home at the Cathedral!"
The smell of pancakes and sausages filled Cathedral Memorial Hall on February 21st during the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper. After a two-year hiatus, the Guild of St. Joseph returned with many volunteers to host the supper. The men of the Cathedral greeted, cooked, served and cleaned during this much-loved event.
The "Holy Joes" as the Guild is affectionately called, graciously served almost 200 Cathedral parishioners, friends and members of the community. Many were thrilled to resume the longtime tradition, which celebrates the beginning of Lent.
Gathering together in the middle of winter gave a much-needed lift to everyone's spirits. Conversation filled the air, as old and new friends gathered over the delicious shared meal.
Gary Barfitt, President of the Guild of St. Joseph, shared this message:
"The Guild of St. Joseph would like to say thank you to all who made the revival of our Pancake Supper such a resounding success this past week. We served almost 200 patrons. A special word of thanks to those who supported us in so many ways, including providing gingerbreads, serving at the tables and those who helped with the clean-up after the supper. We could not have done it without all the volunteers. The very generous freewill contributions at the door will be put to good use as Guild members continue their work."
Luke's gospel refers to a house being swept and put in good order, but it doesn't say anything about defrosting a freezer or cleaning a popcorn machine.
“We have a checklist of necessary tasks to be done during the seasonal cleaning of the kitchen at the church hall,” Kitchen Committee chair Kathy McBride said.
A five-member team recently defrosted the freezer; discarded dubious food items; cleaned the refrigerator, microwave, toasters, coffee machine and stove tops; scrubbed the sinks; wiped down the cupboard faces; cleaned the window ledges; tidied the drawers and cupboards; checked the dishwasher; disinfected the counter tops, and completed other such “good housekeeping” jobs.
“Our kitchen is a big, beautiful, well-equipped space which can be used for shared meals, funeral receptions, teas, luncheons associated with meetings,” Kathy explained. “Users are good about keeping it tidy from one event to the other, but a thorough cleaning is needed two or three times a year.”
Before the pandemic, the seasonal cleaning was done in rotation by the ACW, the Outreach Committee, the Guild of St. Joseph, and the Saturday morning breakfast workers. As with many people, places and things post-pandemic, a lot has changed.
“This time three members of our committee, joined by two friends from the congregation, worked hard to make the kitchen sparkle,” Kathy said. “We want to operate a clean, safe, efficient kitchen for everyone to enjoy,”
Groups that use the kitchen regularly are asked to fill out a departure checklist located in a pink binder on the kitchen counter. This binder is reviewed a couple times a month so that problems, such as a leaky faucet or a lack of vinyl gloves, can be addressed promptly.
With the cleaning chores done, Kathy has a couple of final comments. “Please always label and date anything you put in the fridge or freezer. And, if you left a container, platter, pie plate, cookie tin or whatnot at the hall when donating food for an event, please come back and get it.”
The committee meets on the third Wednesday of each month. Kathy welcomes questions at any time, and notes that she will put out a call for volunteers the next time seasonal cleaning is scheduled.
Thank you to all who assisted with the corn boil on 11 September, volunteering their time or assisting with food preparation.
After 10:30 worship, we served corn, watermelon, sweets and lemonade on the Cathedral lawn. The warm day made it very enjoyable to spend time chatting with others in the congregation, as well as some newcomers to Fredericton. We also appreciated sitting in the shade at the Calithumpians' picnic tables!
We hope to have more social events in the future, to foster connections within our Cathedral community, and we hope to see you there!
Members of the Cathedral congregation are invited to gather after 10:30 a.m. worship on Sunday, 11 September for food and fellowship!
Corn on the cob, treats and lemonade will be served on the Cathedral lawn. Feel free to bring a lawn chair or picnic blanket. If the weather is poor, we will bring the festivities inside Cathedral Memorial Hall.
Are you able to prepare a plate of sweets to share? If so, please contact Kirsten McKnight at the Cathedral Office by email <office at christchurchcathedral.com> or phone (506) 450-8500.
Thank you to our volunteers - many hands make light work!
Our prayers were answered as Sunday, June 23rd dawned bright and clear, if not a little windy; it was the day of our combined 10:30 am worship to be followed by our Picnic & Pies event on the Cathedral grounds.
Lunch on the lawn
The setup crew were at work by 9:30 am and within an hour had all the tables ready for the hot dogs, drinks, watermelon, pies, and cake; the barbecue was all organized and ready to go. Chairs were brought out and placed around the area. Various games were put out for the children: badminton, ring toss, horseshoes, bats and balls. Signs were put up, a last minute check done, and then, the first hymn could be heard; the crew rushed inside to join the service.
The service over, everyone streamed out of the Cathedral into the bright sun. Some headed right for the food, while others gathered in little groups to chat and get caught up. The hot dog table developed a steady line of parishioners anointing their dogs with their chosen condiments. The popcorn machine was an immediate hit; bags of popcorn were seen clutched in the hands of children and adults alike. Parched throats had a choice of iced tea or lemonade, not to mention those juicy slices of watermelon that were so refreshing. And then there was the pie table, covered from end to end with amazing, delicious pies: strawberry-rhubarb, blueberry, Saskatchewan, lemon meringue, apple, cherry, butterscotch ― often with more than one of each flavour. Decisions were not easy and took some time, with many opting for half a slice of this and half a slice of that. Or just coming back for seconds and thirds. No calories at a church picnic!
Doris and Audrey
With their plates loaded with food, people settled into groups around the grounds. Young families spread out on the grass while little ones explored nearby. The shade seekers congregated on chairs under the big oak next to the pie table―a smart move perhaps on two counts. Some opted for being out in the sun, no doubt letting its heat evaporate any memories of our winter past. Conversations ebbed and flowed, people wandered from group to group meeting friends old and new.
While the big people ate and chatted, the children checked out some of the games and toys. A badminton net had been set up, but the wind proved too much for that game. But it was not too windy for balls to be tossed and caught or tossed and hit. There was not much interest in the horseshoes, maybe just as well. However, the ring toss game did garner some interest, initially for its original purpose, but in the end it was the sand in the box that proved to be more fun; the rings were later found buried in the cup under quite a layer of sand.
Safety is always important at any gathering, so colourful little pinwheels were stuck in the ground in front of pegs and ropes to warn people of a tripping hazard. This worked well until one of the youngest members of our congregation found them; a pinwheel clutched in each little fist, he happily stumped around the area, the wheels spinning wildly. And no, no one did trip over any of the pegs.
Lynn, Bonnie, Gail and Isabel
There was a last minute run on the pie table, but then, it was over. Pleasantly satisfied with food, conversation, and companionship, people drifted away home. And then, the cleanup crew sprang into action. Many hands make light work, and in no time tables were cleared, wiped, and loaded for transport. Toys, games, dishes, odds and ends were gathered up and tossed into cars and vans. The grounds were cleared and everything back to the church hall in no time.
Of course an event like this doesn’t just happen. It takes a great team effort of volunteers to make our congregational events successful and special; from our task teams on set up, service, and clean up, to all our food donation volunteers that are so very important. For Sunday’s Picnic & Pies we had over 22 volunteers from within our task teams and more than 21 food volunteers, who donated hot dog buns, chips, watermelons, and those 15 delicious pies! In addition, the Anglican Church Women (ACW) donated a lovely light cake in honour of Hank Williams and Norma Jean Belyea, which was enjoyed by all. The few pieces of pie that were left over, along with some iced tea and lemonade, were offered at the afternoon reception at the Cathedral Hall. A sincere thank you to all our volunteers―we greatly appreciate all your efforts!
SHINY KITCHEN – Kathy McBride (centre), chair of the cathedral's kitchen committee, chats with Linda Waugh (left) and Mary Allwood (right) from the ACW who were preparing to serve refreshments following a presentation. They appreciated the recent seasonal cleaning of the kitchen at the church hall by the “Holy Joes.”
The kitchen at the Cathedral church hall is spick and span, and the aim is to keep it that way.
A team from the Guild of St. Joseph recently tackled the greasy stove vent; cleaned the refrigerator, microwave, and two stoves including ovens; scrubbed three sinks; wiped down all the cupboard faces; washed the windows; tidied the drawers and cupboards; checked the dishwasher, and disinfected the counter tops. The freezer will be defrosted shortly.
“Our kitchen is a big, beautiful workspace which is used frequently for shared meals and preparation of light refreshments,” Kathy McBride, chair of the cathedral's kitchen committee, said. “Users are good about keeping it tidy from one event to the other, but a thorough cleaning is done three or four times a year.”
The committee, which meets monthly to ensure a clean, safe, efficient kitchen,has come up with a few tips for users to follow. For example:Always rinse your coffee cups and dishes if you don't have time to run them through the dishwasher.
Always date and label any items that you store in the refrigerator or freezer.
Don't leave any items uncovered in the fridge (e.g., dish of margarine, pitcher of milk, etc.)
At the end of each event, fill out the kitchen departure checklist. It's in a sparkly pink binder in a top drawer near the serving window.
The one-page checklist offers a quick run-through of important points, such as is the dishwasher turned off, is the door locked, who is laundering the dirty dishcloths?
“As a committee, we review the entries in the binder regularly,” Kathy said. “Has someone reported that we're running low on vinyl gloves? Do we need to replace a broken teapot? Of course, anything more urgent, such as a plugged sink, should be reported to the sexton or the office at once.”
Kathy said the kitchen is usually kept tidy, but the tips have been posted on the fridge as reminders and for the benefit of occasional or external users of the facility.
“It's about common sense and pride in our kitchen,” she concluded. “We appreciate everyone helping to keep the kitchen clean and safe for all to enjoy.”
Luke’s gospel refers to a house being swept and put in good order, but it doesn’t say anything about cleaning grease from the vent above a stove.
“It’s a really dirty job, but it’s one of the necessary tasks to be done during the seasonal cleaning of the kitchen at the church hall,” said David Crowe of the Guild of St. Joseph.
A six-member team from the “Holy Joes” recently tackled not only the greasy vent but also they defrosted the freezer; cleaned the refrigerator, microwave, and two ovens; scrubbed three sinks; wiped down the cupboard faces; washed the windows; tidied the drawers and cupboards; checked the dishwasher, and disinfected the counter tops.
“Our kitchen is a big, beautiful space which is used frequently for shared meals such as the Saturday breakfast and spaghetti Tuesdays, funeral receptions, the Monday drop-in for people in need, teas, luncheons associated with meetings, and so on,” David explained. “Users are good about keeping it tidy from one event to the other, but a thorough cleaning is needed a few times a year.”
The cathedral’s Kitchen Committee, on which David serves, manages the kitchen jointly and shares the workload. The ACW takes a turn doing the “big clean,” as does the Outreach Committee, which operates the Monday morning gathering. The volunteers who work at the Saturday morning community breakfast are also assigned a season.
It’s a case of many hands make light work.
“It’s a case of many hands make light work, and each group’s turn comes up once a year, but the kitchen sparkles at least four times annually,” David said. “The Kitchen Committee is diligent about running a clean, safe, efficient kitchen for everyone to enjoy.”
Groups that use the kitchen regularly are asked to fill out a departure checklist located in a pink binder in the kitchen. This binder is reviewed a couple times a month so that problems, such as a leaky faucet or a lack of vinyl gloves, can be addressed promptly.
With the cleaning chores behind him, thanks to a solid effort by his team, David has a suggestion. “If you left a container, platter, pie plate, cookie tin or whatnot at the hall when donating food for an event, please come back and get it,” he said. “We wash, dry and stack these items on the window sill in the kitchen for a few months, but unclaimed items are given away eventually.”
The committee meets on the third Wednesday of each month. Committee chair Lois Baker welcomes questions at any time.
