Three Years for Cathedral Growth, Renewal, and Restoration

The life and work of the Cathedral Church of the Redeemer is often summarized as being a place for the soul in the heart of the city. This isn’t simply empty talk or wishful thinking; it is a reflection of what we try to be every day of the year to the citizens of this great city, and to those who visit from far and wide. In an age of rapid change and uncertainty, more and more people are feeling restless, rootless and disengaged, and believe that a profound spiritual dimension is the missing ingredient in their lives. Many are yearning and searching for connection, for relationships with meaning, and for a place where life’s deepest questions can be engaged.

This Cathedral stands in the very centre of life in Calgary in the midst of places of business, education, civic government, commerce and the arts and, yes, the homeless and disenfranchised too. In the midst of all this we strive to be a place where people can come and have their souls, minds and bodies nourished. We are an oasis of peace, hope, refreshment and restoration in the midst of a busy city and a vital place of abiding hope and goodness in Calgary and the wider world.

But we need increased resources as we seek to help people connect with God and one another through a vigorous program of liturgical and musical excellence, education and outreach, and community leadership within the city.

And so, at my instigation, a small group from within the Cathedral began working in the summer of 2009 to develop a three-year action plan aimed at securing a vibrant, long-term future for the Cathedral. We identified a set of prioritized initiatives, rooted in the established Liturgy of our Faith, but with a view to wider outreach and community partnerships at the core of new programs, and with an increased membership comprising a broad demographic.

The three year $1.5m+ capital campaign sets out our plan, and the funds we need to allow us to begin delivering on our vision of programs and building restoration. It will be the base for securing the second century for this house of God in the heart of our city.

I am very excited about this next phase of the Cathedral’s life, and I believe that now is the time to step confidently and boldly forward and to risk great things to ensure the future of this place for generations to come.

The Rev’d Leighton Lee

May 2010