Bishop to preside at Diocesan Pride Mass … interview with Jean-Jacques Goulet re the Mass… Invitation to participate in Community Day and Pride March … August happenings … Advance notice for Dorie Cuming Tea Party—an occasion to dress up … Exciting news from Cathedral members Jeffrey, Beth, Joel and Yevgeniya … Help make the Cathedral beautiful with flowers
Dear Friend of the Cathedral
Come celebrate the gift of the LGBTQ community to the life of the Anglican Church in Montreal by joining three events in which cathedral members will play leading roles.
The first is the Bilingual Diocesan Pride Mass on Sunday August 13 at 6:30. Our Bishop Mary will preside, Jean-Jacques Goulet will preach, and various members of the Cathedral and Diocesan communities will participate. Music will be provided by the Cathedral Singers under the direction of Patrick Wedd, 
the Montreal Gay Men’s Chorus directed by Julie Roy, and musicians 
Hannah R. Brockow (harp), Zack Ingles (guitar) and Joseph Hafner (cello). If you would like to be a steward at this mass please contact Sam Keuchguerian. You can read François Glutnay’s interview (in French) with Jean-Jacques about the mass in Presence, by clicking here. [Ann’s English translation is available on request.] Please note that there will be no 12:45 Eucharist on August 13. It will be replaced by a bilingual service for the two congregations at 10 am. This is to make it easier for everyone to attend the Diocesan Pride Mass.
The next event of Pride Week in which we are involved is Community day. Saturday, August 19, 11 am to 5 pm. Come volunteer if you can at the Cathedral’s kiosk. It’s fun watching the crowds go by and talking to the people who stop at the booth. There will be a sign-up sheet in the baptistry.
The final event is Pride parade Sunday, August 20, 12 – 3 p.m. Walk with Christ Church Cathedral to show your support for the LGBTQ community. Meet at the Cathedral at 11:30 or join us at St Mathieu & René-Lévesque. The parade starts at noon.
There are several other gatherings at the Cathedral this month.
After taking a summer break Pain, partage et prière: the French Bible study and prayer group will meet this Sunday, August 6, at 2:00 pm in the Hollis Lounge.
Pain, partage et prière : Le groupe de prière, étude biblique et rencontre réunire le 6 août à 14h00 au salon Hollis après une pause estivale.
Amnesty letter writing next Sunday (August 13) after the 10 am Eucharist. Write letters or sign postcards to speak out against injustice.
Also next Sunday (August 13) Fair trade kiosque supporting justice for producers and farmers. This month’s kiosque will take place on the second Sunday of the month exceptionally, from 11:30 – 12:30 in the baptistery. Stock up on Fair Trade coffee, tea and other kitchen staples.
Hungry minds: Our Cathedral young adult group gathers for Bible study, meals, and social and service events sporadically throughout the summer. To learn more talk to Rev. Jean-Daniel or contact him by email ().
L’Oasis Musicale concerts Enjoy a concert in the magnificent setting of Christ Church Cathedral every Saturday afternoon at 4:30. (Freewill offering.) August 5th: The Romantics: an organ recital with David Simon. Music by Mendelssohn, Gade, Brewer, Vierne, and Simon. See details of all the August concerts here.
The Cathedral Reading Group is reading George Elliot’s Middlemarch during the summer, for discussion on September 17. All are welcome to join the group. Speak to Ann, Jane or Diana.
Also in September, The Dorie Cuming Tea Party, Tuesday, September 1, between 3 pm and 5 pm. An occasion for ladies to dress up in fancy hats and pearls if so inclined, and for gentlemen to sport their whitest handkerchiefs and brightest ties, perhaps with a tie-pin and a pocket watch. Robin Cuming will be the guest of honour. Let Janet know if you would like an invitation.
News from congregation members:
Jeffrey Mackie, poet, talk show host, and Cathedral verger, has been accepted into the Bachelor of Theology program at McGill University. Congratulations!
Beth Adams, artist, writer and publisher, just announced that “Thesaurus of Separation” by Tim Mayo, published by her Phoenicia Press, has been chosen as a finalist for both the 2017 Eric Hoffer Award and the Montaigne Medal, given in honour of the great French philosopher Michel de Montaigne to the “most thoughtful” books from small, independent and academic presses—those that “either illuminate, progress, or redirect thought.” Read about the award here, and do explore Beth’s blogs.
Joel and Yevgeniya Amis are Esperanto experts. Ask them how they met: it’s a wonderful story involving Esperanto. They are excited to announce that Montreal will host the 105th annual World Esperanto Congress in 2020. This week-long cultural event will which bring together between 1,000 and 3,000 Esperanto speakers from all parts of the world. It has been held annually since 1905, with two wartime interruptions. Both Joel and Yevgeniya are members of the local organising committee for the 2020 Congress. Joel will also be in charge of organizing the ecumenical prayer service which will be held in conjunction with the Congress—and his hope is to hold it at our Cathedral! You can hear Joel being interviewed by Tarah Schwartz live on Friday August 4 at 12:30 pm on CTV news, talking about the Congress.
No letter would be complete without an appeal to your generosity. Rob Wells is looking for flower sponsors for Sunday September 17 and for Sundays in October. He has a team of people who will buy and arrange the flowers for you—or you can do it yourself, if you prefer. The suggested donation is $60 to $80. Two or more sponsors can share the same date and cost.
Please continue to pray for our brothers and sisters suffering from the fires in British Columbia and for the fire fighters working under stressful conditions of heat and humidity.
Ann Elbourne
If you want to receive the newsletter by email with it various additions (Forum minutes and reports; posters, photos; etc.) the moment it comes out, simply send your coordinates to the cathedral office.