The Very Reverend Michael J. Pitts

Greetings from the Dean,

The Bible readings of the Eucharist in this period between Easter and Pentecost focus our attention on the mission of the church. In St John's Gospel, when the risen Christ meets the disciples he says to them:

"Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you."

As I read the stories and writings of the early church, I notice again and again how the Spirit empowers people to continue the work of Christ in the world. But I also notice how the people who respond to this vocation consistently involve other people in the task. The work of the Gospel is undertaken by a network of partnerships.

Here at Christ Church Cathedral, over the past years, we have developed informally partnerships in several areas of our life. In the strategic plan on which we are now working, and which should soon be ready for publication, we are trying to make that process of mission through partnership more explicit and intentional in our community life. Here are some of the partnerships in which we are presently involved.

With commerce
As you can see from the page about the development, we are closely connected with the commercial life of the city around us. Indeed, much of the present life and ministry of the Cathedral depends on the income derived from our partnership with commerce in the office tower, shopping mall and our investments. However this partnership need not be one way only. Our relationship with commerce gives us both the possibility of understanding the commercial life of our society, and also, where necessary bringing critique to bear on the nature and functioning of commercial institutions.

With the cultural and musical life of the city
Several series of concerts and recitals, together with the renting of the cathedral for outside concerts, and occasional art exhibitions bring us into contact with professional musicians and students of music, artists and others. This partnership could be developed in the area of drama and film.

For social service and social justice
The cathedral has been implicated in several social service projects organized in our city on an interfaith basis. A new group is currently looking at ways we can be more involved in the work of social justice. At a local level, they are concentrating on finding ways of working with the Native people of our city and province. At an international level, they want to join in the process of education and information giving about global economic and investment practices.

In the mission of the local church and diocese
We presently have a deacon on our staff who works partly with the Cathedral, and partly with the Mile End mission, an experimental store front church presence in part of inner city Montreal. Volunteers from the Cathedral now work in the mission, and recently joint work on preparation for Confirmation was undertaken.

In pastoral care
In a complex world some of the needs for pastoral care need either more time than the small staff of the Cathedral has available, or especially need more highly trained specialized care. Difficult cases are referred to the Montreal Pastoral Care Center, an ecumenical institution, which we also support financially.

In communication
Radio Ville Marie, which broadcasts of the FM band at 91.3khz in Montreal and 100.3khz in Sherbrooke, is a non-denominational religious broadcasting service offered 24 hours each day by a non-profit organization. The content of the programming is spiritual in a broad sense. The Cathedral has a mini-studio linked to the broadcast studio, and each week offers Choral Evensong, which is broadcast live on Sunday at 4pm. We also offer programming on Good Friday and other special occasions.

In preserving our heritage
Through the Dean, the Cathedral has been implicated in the creation of the Quebec Religious Heritage Foundation and the Quebec Religious Heritage Fund. The former has been financed by the provincial government to the extent of $100,000, and currently is assisting projects of heritage restoration in over 650 buildings of different faith traditions in Quebec. The Cathedral has benefited from the Foundation in the process of repairing the masonry, roof and windows of our building, which is considered one of the more important heritage sites in the province. The Heritage Fund is a new venture, which hopes to draw other financing for the work from non-government sources.

In education
We are linked, and hope to be linked more, with the Universities and the Diocesan Theological College in providing educational opportunities and programs for Cathedral members and others. Among those involved are eight Cathedral members considering and being considered for a vocation to the priesthood of the church.

With the wider church
For many years the Cathedral has been linked in a prayer partnership with the Diocese of Caledonia in the far north west of Canada. As well as daily mutual prayers, there have been visits of support and information giving in both directions. We have links with a parish in the Diocese of Haiti, where visits have been made, and financial help given. We take part in the Diocesan partnership in mission with the Diocese of South West Brazil, and again there have been visits in both directions. Through the particular concerns of members of the congregation, we also keep contact with the church in Rwanda and Honduras.

Partnership in Mission is a two way process. In each of these relationships we both give and receive. As your explore this web site you are part of this partnership. It is good to have you here.