St. Luke's Cathedral

In the latter days of the season of Lent, the novel corona virus sweeping the world reached pandemic proportions. Our government moved swiftly to respond to the crisis and as a result churches found their doors firmly shut, even at the approach of Easter. With a deep commitment to mark and celebrate the holiest time of the Christian year, Archbishop Anne approached the Cathedral asking if we could find a way to stream to the internet services for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Day. "Certainly!" was our immediate response; then we had to figure out how. Dean Jim and Canon Stephen Mallinger had to quickly map out how services could be held, and recorded, with a maximum of five people

With our doors ordered closed and the requirement to maintain physical distance in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, St. Luke's has had to find new ways to continue in ministry and ensure its essential operations. The question arose: How then shall we meet? The answer was a popular one in this time of self-isolating and travel bans, the online conferencing app Zoom. After a modest payment and a quick review of a “Where to Start” video, Dean Jim had the program up and running, and integrated with the Cathedral's digital calendar. Since then Zoom has been used for regular meetings of the Cathedral wardens and clergy, as well as a session with our Advisory Board. We have hosted the first virtual

As you may know, the St. Luke’s family regularly supports the efforts of the Salvation Army to share food with our neighbours. The First Sunday of every month, at the Cathedral, is designated “Salvation Army Food Bank Sunday”. The items are received and blessed the same day, and delivered to the Salvation Army by a volunteer. Dean Jim spoke with Major Sean Furey who advised that donations to their Food Bank had ceased with the impact of COVID-19, but that the need continues. Communicated through our weekly Cathedral Updates email, Dean Jim advised that items of non-perishable food and small personal care items would be picked up from individual homes, on a particular day, from those who wish

As requested by Arthur Funeral Homes, Cheryl Linklater Halverson, in support of our local women’s shelters and International Women’s History Month initiated “Fill a Pail - For a Fresh Clean Start” programme. Members of the congregation, and friends, were invited to be a part of this community outreach project by purchasing a completed pail for $30, making a monetary donation in the amount of your choice, or purchasing items to be included in a pail. This program was well supported by our St. Luke’s Cathedral family and friends. Thank you to everyone who generously supported this project to help women and their children get a fresh clean start in their new homes. [endif]--![endif]--

Since its earliest days, the St. Luke's congregation has enjoyed the rich blessing of music in its worship; in Sunday services, at baptisms, weddings and funerals, on high holy days, and in penitential seasons. As a cathedral, music has lifted up diocesan gatherings, clergy conferences, synods, ordinations and episcopal consecrations. So when the Cathedral's principal organ fell silent earlier this year and was found to be, after nearly fifty years of stalwart service, beyond repair, the parish leadership knew what had to be done. We would seek the best instrument to continue this important ministry well into the future. It was vital to determine what best means in this context. After much p