Dear Friend of the Cathedral
Last week we told you about some awards at Dio’s recent convocation, including the Lachlan Gibb Cup, an award for excellent preaching, which was won this year by Tyson Røsberg and in earlier years by Bishop Mary Irwin-Gibson, Rhonda Waters, Jen Bourque, and Donald Boisvert. We are so lucky to have amazing preachers at the cathedral. Donald preached last week and Jen will be preaching this Sunday at all three morning services.
There is a very big event coming up on May 30th – the launch of the Capital Campaign and unveiling of a Parks Canada plaque. Sheena Gourlay and Les Stutzman are looking for volunteers to help between 9:30 and 1:30
Betsy Hirst has sent this information about the event. Please note the request for an RSVP if you plan to be there. It would be sad if the wine and food ran out!
“Our major fundraising campaign is being publicly launched on Tuesday, May 30, immediately after the unveiling by Parks Canada of a plaque commemorating the national historic significance of the cathedral. Both ceremonies will take place in Raoul Wallenberg Square just behind the cathedral. Guests are being invited to the main doors on St. Catherine Street for 10:00 a.m. for the unveiling and 11:00 for the launch ceremony, which will allow them time to tour the cathedral briefly as they make their way to the venue. However, people reading this newsletter have probably seen the interior of the cathedral, ? so they may prefer to go straight to the square for the start of either or both ceremonies, at 10:15 and 11:15 respectively.
“Participants expected include well-known heritage supporters Phyllis Lambert and Dinu Bumbaru, Honorary Committee members Sheila Goldbloom and Jonathan Birks, as well as Dean-Emeritus Paul Kennington, who is making a special trip back here for the occasion. Also present will be Eugene Riesman, the Montreal builder who, together with former Bishop Andrew Hutchison, arranged for the location of Wallenberg Square on cathedral property. Our architects will reveal their plans for the renovations that will be paid for by the campaign. The MC will be Katie Malloch, known for her long broadcast career at the CBC.
A string trio from L’Oasis Musicale (Jennifer Thiessen, viola; Geneviève Liboiron, violin; and Andrea Stewart, cello) will provide music before, between and after the ceremonies. There will be a buffet lunch and wine bar after the launch. All are warmly invited to attend. RSVP to 514-843-6577, ext 246 or campaign@montrealcathedral.ca “
A new Ulysses Guide “Discovering Montreal’s Religious Heritage has just been published. The Cathedral is on the Downtown Walking Tour, “The Road to Christianity” which is scheduled to take 4 hours; but as it covers 11 churches, starting from St John the Evangelist and L’Église Jesu, and finishing at St Jax, while taking in the Cathedral, Marie Reine du Monde and St Patrick’s Basilica along with St George’s and St James United, I think that’s pretty optimistic! However, there’s a nice write-up about the cathedral. If you see exhausted looking people wearing hiking boots slumped in the pews you can guess that they’re half way through the Ulysses tour.
I mentioned last week that Paul Kennington is organising a pilgrimage in England, August 6 – 17, 2018. The group will stay in 4 centres, Canterbury, Cambridge, Oxford and Winchester and visit several other religious centres. Full details will be available in October 2017. Register your interest now by emailing Dominic Barrington at dominic@lightlinena.com. A US$150 per person discount voucher will be sent to all who have registered interest by June 30th, 2017.
Corporation’s report to Forum contained several interesting items. We express our gratitude to members of Corporation who are working flat out to keep the cathedral running smoothly in the face of many challenges.
An important message has gone out to parking pass holders which is relevant to all of us who have cars and occasionally park in the forecourt. Tania, our administrator wrote:
“As you likely know there will be construction / renovation work happening at Christ Church Cathedral beginning very shortly. This work will have an impact on parking in the forecourt.
“Please be advised that from June the 5, 2017 and for four weeks thereafter parking will be extremely limited as half of the forecourt will be torn up so that the roofing membrane of the underground shopping mall will be replaced. In July 2017 construction work on the spire will begin and parking space will again be limited.”
Finally, here are reminders of dates for your diaries – I fear I may be almost the only person left who actually has a paper diary so I should probably say dates for your smart phones.
May 20th at 4:30pm: Musique pour orgue du Canada et de l’Europe. Hans Uwe Hielscher, organ. An entertaining Suite by Denis Bédard, composer at the forefront of contemporary Canadian music, followed by Romantic organ music with works by Jongen, Rheinberger, Guilmant and Cor Kee. For details visit our website http://www.oasismusicale.ca/
Pain, partage et prière: The French sharing and bible study group will meet on May 28th at 2:00 p.m. in the Hollis Lounge.
Hungry Minds: Bible study and supper for students and young adults meets on Wednesdays at 6pm in the Undercroft.
June 4, 4pm: Ordination. Jean-Daniel will be ordained priest and a number of young people will be confirmed during this service. A reception will follow the service
The Cathedral Reading Group will meet on June 4th at 7:30 to discuss A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra. All are welcome. For more information please see Jane or Ann.
Sunday June 11th between the English and French services we will have a Cathedral picnic.
Sunday, June 11th at 6 pm. La Cathédrale, le soir/ Contemporary Evening Communion Service. Second in a monthly series that is drawing attention from many parts of our city.
Sunday June 18th at 12:45 there will be an intercommunity French Eucharist followed by a picnic – an opportunity for francophones and francophiles to establish ties and build friendships.
No letter would be complete without a call for volunteers, so here are two on-going requests: Rob Wells is looking for flower sponsors and Patrick and the music committee are looking for singers.
With best wishes for a happy long weekend
Ann Elbourne
If you would like to receive this Newsletter weekly with the attachments (Forum documents, pilgrimage flyer, etc.) simply send your name and email address to the church office…. cathoff [at] bellnet.ca