Category Archives: Feature 2

Bishop and Chapter News – June 2025

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Bishop and Chapter met on the evening of 17 June 2025 with 7 of 13 present. The Chapter discussed an article “Five Pitfalls of Strategic Thinking” (Susan Erdey - Episcopal Church Foundation) provided material and an opportunity for conversation pertaining to the task of strategic planning. Minutes of 20 May 2025 had been circulated and were received and approved.

FROM THE DEAN

• a summary of usual items on the Dean’s past month’s calendar
• 2 Cathedral Staff reviews completed, 2 remaining
• deacons’ annual assessment process
• video conference with Canadian Deans on 05 June
• 2 funerals, 3 committals
• expect to take vacation during August

Up-coming

• Summer Music Series
• Poetry on the Lawn

ARISING

• War memorials - from Memorial Hall have been collected by Oromocto NB Military Museum

• Advisory Committee on Appointments - B. Greenwood lead a reading of the Diocesan Guide

DECISION

• Harry Palmer bequest - remaining $12,298 be internally restricted for Christian formation/education and be moved to investment

• Banking - move operating accounts and VISAs to Omnista Credit Union, conditional on application process

REPORTS

Treasurer - May financials: Revenue $60,743 (all sources). Expense $67,095. Offering is behind its budget -$38,912 to date. Celtic Spirituality event income $5,205, $2,702 required and applied from Palmer bequest

Nominating - leadership vacancies: stewardship, safe church officer, addition member of Chapter to Nominating

Administration and Finance - summer tour guide interviews complete with hiring pending reference checks

Christian Formation - brief reports on Art and Faith, Poetry on the Lawn, Godly Play, Thy Kingdom Come, and Celtic Spirituality event. Consideration re resiliency of programming

Health / Pastoral Care - First Aid training on 03 October and if interested contact J. Hand or the Office. Blood pressure clinic held 25 May

Mission / Outreach - Monday outreach guests in May - 73, continuing to express appreciation to A. Deveau and D. Milander and others for their dedication to that programme. Belize Mission information session following 10:30 a.m. worship 22 June. 1 benevolence request processed

Property - meeting with PhD student researching heritage buildings using new 3D measurement technology with our agreement to be involved at no cost. Active items on agenda: Cathedral driveway, south choir room steps, sprinkler maintenance completed, residual invoices paid re Cathedral boiler replacement, south aisle light switch installed at west door. Pointing and roofing deficiencies discovered in April and determining the scope of repair possible continue to be a concern

Welcome and Hospitality - work continues on new member materials; invitations to worship refreshment teams; meeting of worship greeters 12 June with procedure review and discussion;

Fredericton Cathedral Foundation - progress is slow awaiting extent of participation by the City of Fredericton

UPCOMING

Bishop and Chapter: 16 September 2025                             GMH

 

 

Pentecost Sunday can occur year-round

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On a recent Sunday at the cathedral, several multilingual members of the congregation beautifully illustrated that the first gift of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost was, according to Acts 2:4, the gift of language.

Suddenly, many cultures and identities flowed in harmony. Everyone not only heard but also understood one another and God's marvellous power. It was an emotional moment when communication and social cohesion were conveyed in such a positive way. People shared smiles and knowing looks as scriptural excerpts were read aloud in Hebrew, Chinese, French, German, Spanish, Swahili, Ukranian, Welsh and English.

Later, it occurred to me that we have a small Tower of Babel on the steps of Cathedral Memorial Hall for the Outreach Program on the last Monday morning of every month.

Years ago I would greet the people-in-need who arrived for supermarket gift cards and lunch bags with a cheery hello and bonjour. Canada's two official languages easily captured all the guests. Sometimes an Indigenous person or two would attend, and I learned to say qwey to welcome Mi'kmaq or Wolastoqey speakers.

Nowadays the demographics of our Monday visitors have changed quite a bit. Each time I arrive for our gathering, it is important to wave and smile to those waiting. I call out marhaba (hello in Lebanese), hola (Spanish), ni hao (Mandarin), dobryi den (Ukranian), asalaam alaikum (Arabic), namaste (Hindi). In past years I occasionally needed other languages for the group such as anyoung haseyo (Korean) and shalom (Hebrew).

People grin, delighted to be welcomed in their own language even if I am probably mangling some of the pronounciations. They usually set me straight. I do my best to remember their first names. If I miss anybody, they remind me and also they make sure that I add any newcomer's language to my welcome spiel.

It is a real pleasure to watch people from across the world come together and share in God's love as we open our hearts and our hands to people-in-need in this city. Their gratitude is quickly and easily understood, no matter the languages spoken. It is a small glimpse of Pentecost Sunday all year round!

-- by Ann Deveau, Cathedral Outreach volunteer

 

Poetry on the Lawn

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Please join us for the inaugural and special Summer 2025 edition of our Cathedral-sponsored Wednesday Spirituality Series: Poetry on the Lawn!

Twice a month this summer – in June, July & August – we’ll be gathering on the Cathedral lawn on alternating Wednesdays from 3-4:30pm to discuss words of wisdom of wonderful poets.

* Here’s the tentative lineup:

JUNE belongs to two Celtic soul-friends:
• 11 June: David Whyte
• 25 June: John O’Donohue

JULY belongs to two writers-in-residence from opposite sides of this continent:
• 9 July: Luci Shaw
• 23 July: Marie Howe

And AUGUST belongs, very simply, to two greats:
• 6 August (Transfiguration of the Lord): Gerard Manley Hopkins
• 20 August: Mary Oliver

Please feel free to drop in for any or all of these sessions.
• No advance RSVP required – but appreciated!
• No advance reading required – but encouraged!
• Just show up – ready to enjoy some excellent poetry together!

We’ll plan to gather at the picnic tables on the Cathedral Lawn, and to meet inside the Cathedral itself in the event of inclement weather.

Any questions or expression of interest can be communicated to:
Kurt Schmidt, DCF – Director of Christian Formation (half-time)

+ Sharing the Spirit with you in 3D -- as Devoted Disciples Dancing
+ email: <k.schmidt at cccath.ca>

 

 

2025 Summer Music Series

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The annual Summer Music Series at Christ Church Cathedral is back! All are welcome to attend these concerts, designed to fit perfectly within the lunch hour.

Fridays from 12:10-12:50 p.m., 04 July - 29 August, 2025, 150 Church Street, Fredericton.

Join us inside historic Christ Church Cathedral as we present a series of concerts featuring soloists and instruments such as piano, guitar, cello, viola, and organ.

View the poster.

Free admission, donations encouraged. Performers will receive an honorarium and proceeds will support the Organ Renovation Fund. Online donations will receive a receipt for tax purposes emailed immediately.

July 4
Natalia Delacroix, viola

July 14
Luke MacLean, voice

July 18
Steven Peacock, guitar
Emily Kennedy, cello

July 25
Caileigh Sullivan, voice
Heather Fyffe, piano

August 1
Kathrin Welte, voice

August 8
Muriel Falkenstein, soprano

August 15
Christian Vanicek, organ

August 22
Isaac Gould, voice

August 29
Thomas Gonder, organ

* * *

MAKE A DONATION
(tax receipt emailed immediately)