Thank you to people involved in Holy week and Easter services … Extra details not on the web site … Spiritual practice with links to twioHoly Week meditations … Choir seeks new choristers … Forum … Congratulations to Remrov and Jeffrey … New Principal at Dio … Oasis … Book Group … Petition re Mount Royal … Now the green blade rises.
Dear Friend of the Cathedral,
The first half of Holy Week has been glorious. A huge thank you to Patrick and the choir, to the clergy, both of the Cathedral and St Georges, and to Rosemary Cass-Beggs for creating such a moving enactment of Our Lord’s Passion at the end of the Palm Sunday service. We should also thank Tania, Amy and Patrick for the hours of work involved in producing so many special bulletins
The core spiritual practice for Holy Week is to stay as close to Jesus as you can. The full schedule of services is here. If you missed the meditations earlier this week, here are two to start you off: On Tuesday, Tyson Røsberg on “We wish to see Jesus” (John 12:20-21) and on Monday, Vivian Lewin on “Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.” (Matthew 21:22)
Please note three additional details concerning the schedule posted on the web.
The presentation by Rosemary’s liturgical dance group during the 1pm service on Good Friday will reflect on the recent tragedy at the Quebec mosque. This description isn’t in the bulletin and Rosemary wants people to meditate on the search for peace and healing during the presentation.
After the Good Friday services Donald will hear confessions in the baptistery between 3:30 and 5 pm
And a third addition -Jean-Daniel will be organising an Easter Egg hunt after the 10am service on Easter Day.
The wonderful Cathedral choir adds so much to our worship, particularly during the great festivals. The music Committee is trying to recruit new members – You will see fliers and a poster in the church. Here is a message from the committee, asking for our help.
The Cathedral choir is recruiting new singers! Contact Patrick Wedd <> for an audition if you are interested, and help us spread the word by passing the attached poster to the people who might want to join the choir (the choir posters and flyers will be available at Easter service at the back of the church)
I hope you all have a very relaxing day on Monday, so that by Tuesday you are re-energised enough to come to Forum. The meeting is open to all parishioners. Elected and ex-officio members are of course expected to attend. Please send your regrets to the cathedral office () or 514 843 6577/236 by Tuesday morning if you are part of this group and unable to attend. The meeting starts at 6:30. Refreshments will be served from 6 pm. A report from Corporation will be available at the meeting.
Jeffrey Mackie will not be in the chair at this meeting. He has just been invited to join the board of the Quebec Writers Federation and will be attending his first meeting with them that night. Congratulations on this honour. As you might know, Jeffrey is a published poet.
Another member of our congregation, Remrov Vormer has also been recently honoured. He has been been selected as Official Nominee for the prestigious 2017 INAP AWARDS (International Naturally Autistic People AWARDS) on the world stage at the 8th annual ANCA World Autism Festival. The INAP Awards celebrate the talents and abilities of autistic people and the great work done by individuals and organizations supporting our autistic community. He is a nominee in the Category of Visual Arts representing Canada. Congratulations Remrov. This is a well-deserved honour. https://www.naturallyautistic.com/2017-8th-annual-world-autism-festival/
In other exciting news. this week it was announced on Monday that the Rev’d Dr. Jesse Zink has been appointed the next Principal of Montreal Diocesan Theological College (MDTC). Dr. Zink is currently the director of the Cambridge Centre for Christianity Worldwide in Cambridge, England. The centre is a member of the ecumenical Cambridge Theological Federation. He is also an affiliated lecturer in the Faculty of Divinity of Cambridge University. The full announcement with a photograph is attached.
There will be no Oasis concert this Saturday. On Saturday, April 22. Marcus Thompson, viola, and Tomoko Inui, piano, will perform music by Franz Schubert and Rebecca Clarke.
The book group will be talking about “The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy” by Rachel Joyce on Sunday, April 23 at 7 pm. This is a delightful book, described by the Globe and Mail as “Smart, subtle and funny“, and by The Times as “Impossible to put down”. It is a quick and easy read, ideal relaxation after Easter! Our next book will probably be A Constellation of Vital Phenomena, a novel written by Anthony Marra. We will have 10 copies in a bag from Westmount Library, so do join us on the 23rd and pick up a copy. Please speak to Ann, Donna, Jane or Diana for more information.
The federal government is considering which sites in Canada it should recommend to UNESCO as world heritage sites. There is a strong feeling in Montreal that the park on Mount Royal should be a strong contender. A heritage designation would do much to protect our beautiful mountain which is currently not in very good shape. If you agree, please sign the petition using this link to open it. https://lemontroyal.cauzio.org/fr/actions/j-aime-la-montagne-j-appuie-le-mont-royal-a-l-unesco
I noticed yesterday as I cleaned up the small patch of garden at the front of my house that leaves are starting to bud on the shrubs. How appropriate that the choir will be singing Martin Shaw’s setting of “Now the green blade rises” on Easter Sunday”.
Wishing all of you the blessings of Easter and a joyful celebration of Christ’s resurrection. “Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the new leaven of sincerity and truth.”
Happy Easter
Ann Elbourne