Page 10 • CROSSTALK • November 2015
ANGLICAN CHURCH WOMEN
‘Freedom 2015’ Less than $1 million away for Arctic diocese By Art Babych The Anglican Diocese of the Arctic is hoping that by the end of this year it will be free from its decade- old debt for the rebuilding of St. Jude’s Cathedral in Iqaluit, Nunavut. But for “Freedom 2015” to become a reality, the diocese needs $723,000 by the end of 2015 to clear off the $10.3 million debt incurred following the destruction by arson of the iconic iglooshaped St. Jude’s. To help the northern diocese pay off the debt, the Anglican Church Women (ACW) of the diocese of Ottawa hosted another of its several fundraising events in support of the St. Jude’s on Sept. 20, at St. Stephen’s Church, drawing about 100 people.
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ACW representative Marni Crossley presents her group’s freewill offering to Diocese of the Arctic Suffragan Bishop Darren McCartney. The event coincided with a visit from the Suffragan (assistant) Bishop of the Arctic diocese, Darren McCartney, who is based in Iqaluit. He was in Ottawa to attend the ordination to the priesthood on Sept. 21 of Deacon Aigah Attagutsiak, an Inuk who serves both Inuktitut and English congregations at St. Margaret’s Anglican Church in Ottawa. McCartney, who preached
Diocesan Altar Guild Annual Meeting
By Debbie Tweedle Approximately 80 people gathered in the sanctuary of St. John’s for the Holy Eucharist lead by the Bishop John Chapman and assisted by The Rev. Karen Coxon and The Rev Mervyn Dunn. The meeting was the first for the new Executive comprising Debbie Tweedle, President, Sandra Clark, Treasurer and Ellie Young, Secretary. A short business meeting was held where the Altar Guild members voted to donate the Offering to the West-end Anglican Churches for Hospice for a Reflection Room in the Ruddy-Shenkman Hospice. Following the meeting, Dr Phyllis Paryas gave an in-
Art Babych
Dr. Phyllis Paryas speaking at the Annual Meeting of the Diocesan Altar Guild Members. sightful presentation on Labyrinths of which St. John’s has two after which members were treated to a wonderful lunch put on by the Altar Guilds of the Parishes of March.
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at both services at St. Margaret’s earlier in the day, accepted the invitation to come to the ACW fundraising event, speak to the group and receive the freewill offering for the cathedral. He also watched the screening of the documentary, Soul of the Arctic, with those gathered. The movie, produced by Northern-Ireland television network UTV, focuses on the Irish-born McCartney
and his wife, Karen, and their life together in what was described as “1.5 million square miles of freezing desolation in the high Canadian Arctic.” The documentary includes a segment in which McCartney drives a snowmobile over the ice and snow from Iqaluit to Pangnirtung, a distance of 300 km, to preside at a confirmation ceremony. “In the earlier years of my ministry, Karen and I spent some time working in the Arctic and we know the terrain and the people well, ” he says in the movie. “It’s a stunningly beautiful place, but temperatures can fall as low as minus 50 so we have immense respect for their background as nomadic hunters living in remote camps.” In a question-and-answer period following the movie, McCartney spoke of the anguish he felt while being pastor in Pangnirtung from
2003 to 2006 and why he and his wife had to return to Ireland. “I needed to get out to clear my head,” he said. As pastor, “I had 17 suicides in three years in a community of about 1,500 people,” said McCartney. “In that environment, in that culture and in that role you are very close to people, and so there was a lot of pain and I suppose secondary trauma for me. ” Suicide rates for Inuit youth are among the highest in the world, at 11 times the national average. McCartney said although he needed to get away, he was hankering to get back after a while. The couple returned to the north when McCartney was elected as suffragan bishop of the Arctic in June 2012. Originally published for the Anglican Journal. www.anglicanjournal.com
Sanctuary Surplus Goes to a Good Home By Leslie Worden, Corresponding Secretary When Suffragan Bishop Darren McCartney came to Ottawa for our recent ordination, the Altar Guild of the Diocese sent him north with a suitcase full of vestments. This picture shows some of the Chasubles, cassocks and clergy shirts which were offered and accepted by Bishop Darren, on behalf of his northern clergy, many of whom are non-stipendiary. The Altar Guild was also able to offer a choice of chasubles to the Rev Aigah Attagutsiak, for her priesting and for her ministry among us.
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Leslie Worden
A collection of vestments that were offered and accepted by Bishop Darren on behalf of his Northern Clergy.