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Celtic pilgrims
Pilgrimages are becoming increasingly common these
days, as people wanting to trace spiritual roots take off for places like
Jerusalem, Rome, Oberammergau, Mecca and the Ganges River.
Celtic Christianity, emanating from Ireland, Wales and
England, is also becoming a focal point for exploration, and a Vancouver
Island group is encouraging this trend. The website for Island Pilgrims,
canadac.com/celtic/celticv.html, notes that the organizers are
“working to deepen our own knowledge of all aspects of Celtic
Christianity, and to share its rich heritage with others.”
The concept originated in 1998, when husband and wife
Chris Mather and Vanessa Hammond had the opportunity to share Celtic
Christian spirituality with the congregation of Fairfield United Church.
They have since done tours to key Celtic points of interest almost every
year since then. The next is scheduled for September 6 – 20.
St. Ann’s today
In the June Island Insight Roundup, we included news about Church of our Lord,
Victoria’s oldest continuing congregation, which mentioned some
anniversary celebrations taking place on the grounds of historic St.
Ann’s Academy, across the street.
Well, St. Ann’s itself is marking 150 years, as
well as getting the word out that the ancient and imposing structure
continues, despite its ‘deconsecrated’ status, to lend its
influence to “community enrichment, spirituality and charity.”
Between 1858 and 1973, when it was closed due to
high costs and declining enrollment, St. Ann’s was a Catholic school
for girls. The timeline on stannsacademy.com shows that the Humbolt Street
site was the first home of St. Andrew’s Cathedral, which was later
relocated to its present site at Blanshard and View streets.
The academy itself was started in a log cabin off-site;
and construction of the present facility, developed in three phases, began
in the 1870s.
In the 1980s, the provincial government bought the
buildings and property for $1.2 million, turned it over to the Provincial
Capital Commission, and declared it a heritage site.
But it was not until the 1990s that the restoration
took place and the facility was opened to the public.
Today, school and visitor tours are available on a
continuing basis, with faithful explanations of the facility’s
spiritual and educational heritage.
The chapel, deconsecrated from specifically Catholic
use, is an inter-faith site, and a popular location for weddings –
along with the gardens. The auditorium is available for meeting and event
rentals.
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Going bananas!
That is the theme of this summer’s vacation Bible
school at Central Evangelical Free Church in Courtenay. The August 18
– 23 sessions will take place each morning from 9:25 to 12:30, at the
church property, 2700 Inverclyde Way. The banana theme is related to the
promise of ‘an exotic African safari adventure!’ Enrollment is
limited to 100 children.
Not related to the banana theme is the fact that
Central is seeking an associate pastor working in the area of youth and
music. Info on both items is at 250.338.7727.
One pastor’s blog
Pastors’ weblogs are frequently interesting to
read. No exception is the one posted July 18 by Leland Botzet, senior
minister at Arrowsmith Baptist Church. He talks about his wife, Nancy, on
the occasion of their 27th anniversary. Here is part of his post:
“We have grown together, struggled together,
laughed together, cried together, raised children together, sacrificed
together, been blessed together.” Then, he adds a post his daughter,
Jennifer, had put on her blog, entitled “On my parents’ 27th
anniversary, 27 things I am thankful for.” There is more. But
don’t just take our word for it; check it out at:
netministries.org/see/churches.exe/ch30343.
Sundays in the park with God
Inter-church Sunday evening services have become a
summer fixture in Beacon Hill Park. They continue each week during August,
at the Cameron Bandshell. The services run 6 – 7 pm. A pre-church
barbecue begins at 4:30 pm.
Church under the sky
Emmanuel Baptist will leave its tree-surrounded Cedar
Hill Cross Road campus for one Sunday only, August 24, to worship outdoors
in another tree-surrounded venue: Mount Douglas Park. The 10 am worship
that Sunday will be followed by a church picnic. The church, at several
intervals during the year, also offers English as Second Language (ESL)
10-week courses. Info on both items is at 250.592.2418.
– Lloyd Mackey
August 2008
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