This Sunday there will be a quiet, said Holy Eucharist at 8:30 am with the blessing of palms. The 10.30 am Choral Eucharist with Palm Procession will be sung by our Boys, Girls, Lay Clerks and Choral Scholars. The pivot from triumph to tragedy is rendered in music by James Whitbourn (“Set me as a seal”), John Ireland (“Ex ore innocentium”), and Edward Elgar (“Ave verum corpus”). The introit and eucharistic setting are from the Solemn Masses of Louis Vierne and Jean Langlais. The Very Reverend Beth Bretzlaff will preach.

Readings: Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 31:9-16; Philippians 2:5-11; Matthew 26:47-27:26

The 10.30 am service will be livestreamed on our YouTube channel. Please be aware that technological issues sometimes occur.

James Calkin performs Julius Reubke’s “Sonata on the 94th Psalm”. In his magnum opus of 1857 Reubke (1834-58) left one of the great programmatic works of the German symphonic tradition – every bit an equal to the better-known compositions of Franz Liszt. Based on the 94th psalm, themes of wickedness, pride, sorrow, vengeance and justice are vividly and powerfully depicted.

Our Cathedral is open from 9 am to 3 pm, Monday to Thursday, and 9 am to noon on Friday and all are most welcome to come in and spend time in the sacred space. During these trying times in our world, it helps to be able to visibly offer a prayer, so a prayer net has been erected in the bell tower. It is much like lighting a votive candle - choose a ribbon and as you tie it on, hold in your heart an intention, a person or a situation; as the ribbons cover the net, our prayers become contemplative art. 

Bishop-Elect Kathryn will be joining us for worship after Easter Sunday as she moves into her new role. In this photo of our Bishop-Elect and our Metropolitan, note the red-purple cassock that Archbishop Anne is wearing. It is tradition that our Cathedral makes a gift to our new bishop, and ours will be her cassock. If you would like to make a contribution in thanksgiving for our Bishop-Elect's new ministry among us, please send an e-transfer to info@ottawacathedral.ca marked "Bishop-Elect's Gift". Thank you! 

The Dean was truly and delightfully surprised by the birthday cake (thanks to Katherine!), the harmonious and enthusiastic singing, and all the good wishes. These pics shows all the decades, in more than one way! What a blessing to celebrate with our Cathedral family.

Our newly consecrated Bishop Kathryn Otley will be at our Cathedral for her first official parish visit, celebrating confirmation and reception. If you are interested in being confirmed, or officially received into the Anglican Church, please be in touch with Canon Doug (doug.richards@ottawacathedral.ca).

Confirmation and reception preparation classes will be held on Thursday, April 16th, 23rd and 30th from 5 to 6 pm in the Lambeth Room. Those who are being confirmed and received are also invited to spend some time with our Bishop–Elect on Saturday, May 2nd from 9:30 to 11:30 am.

This quiet, reflective Eucharist service is held in the Chancel, accompanied by a cantor, and is a wonderful way to fully enter into Holy Week.

Come to the Chancel for a time of prayer, reflection, and silence to calm your soul and open your heart to God's presence. 

The Very Reverend Beth Bretzlaff will celebrate, and The Reverend Katherine Walker will preach at this Eucharistic service, on the night that captures both the self-sacrificial love of the Last Supper as well as the shocking betrayal and abandonment that followed. Sung by the Cathedral Lay Clerks and Choral Scholars, it is one of the few opportunities anywhere in this country to hear Arvo Part’s “Beatitudes” in this devastatingly affective context.

Readings: Exodus 12:1-4, 11-14; Psalm 116:1, 10-17; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-17, 31b-35

This service will be livestreamed on our YouTube channel. Please be aware that technological issues sometimes occur.

Sung this year by our Girls Choir with Lay Clerks, this ascetic service at noon features bracing and arresting music by Sanders (“The Reproaches”), Lotti (“Crucifixus”) and Pergolesi (“Stabat Mater”). The Very Reverend Beth Bretzlaff will officiate, and The Reverend Dr. Jarrett Carty will preach.

Readings: Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Psalm 22:1-23; Hebrews 10:16-25; John 18:1-19:42 (abridged).

This service will be livestreamed on our YouTube channel. Please be aware that technological issues sometimes occur.

The Cathedral will be open for quiet prayer and mediation. Please know that the choir will practice at some point during this period. The labyrinth in the Great Hall will be available for prayerful walking on this holy day. 

Under the direction of Andrew McAnerney, the Lay Clerks and Choral Scholars accompanied by strings and continuo will perform Dieterich Buxtehude’s “Membra Jesu nostri”. This sung devotion by a master of the German baroque comprises seven short cantatas each illuminating a part of the wounded, crucified body of Christ. Feet, knees, hands, side, breast, heart, and face; each tableau of suffering an expression of penitence and a plea for redemption by the faithful on this darkest of days. This will take place in the context of spiritual prayers and sacred readings.

On this night, we gather in darkness and kindle the Easter fire, hear the foundational scriptures of our faith, and celebrate that all things are made new in the Risen Christ. The Reverend Canon Doug Richards will officiate.

Readings: Exodus 14:1-15:1; Isaiah 55:1-11; Ezekiel 36:24-28; Romans 6:3-11; Mark 16:1-8

On Easter Day there will be a quiet, said Holy Eucharist (BCP) at 8:30 am, a Festal Eucharist (BAS) at 10:30 am, and The Reverend Canon Doug Richards will preach.

The music of the Queen of Festivals demands and inspires freshness and vitality. Here at CCC Ottawa our choirs, organists and guest musicians will offer an explosion of sound from contemporary and late twentieth century sources. From the organ Charles Tournemire’s “Improvisation sur Victimae Paschali” and C-M Widor’s “Toccata”. From our Boy and Girl Choristers, Lay Clerks and Choral Scholars Michael McCarthy’s “Vidi Aquam”, Jonathan Dove’s “Missa Brevis” and Martin Baker’s “Christus Vincit”. Not least, the singing of the entire community in hymns and descants of splendour and celebration!

Readings: Acts 10:34-43; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; Colossians 3:1-4; Matthew 28:1-10

The 10.30 am service will be livestreamed on our YouTube channel. Please be aware that technological issues sometimes occur.

Our Cathedral
All those who are ill or suffering, and those who care for them; that all may experience the power of Holy Week.
Our Diocese
Diocesan Administrator, Bishop Michael Bird; Bishop-Elect, The Venerable Kathryn Otley; Diocesan Partners, Alongside Hope, The Anglican Foundation; all retired clergy of our diocese; Area Parish of the Valley, The Reverend Matthew Brown, The Reverend Nick Forte, The Reverend Gillian Hoyer, The Reverend Christine Muise.
Canadian Cathedrals
The Cathedral Church of St. James, Toronto, ON, The Very Reverend Stephen Hance.
Anglican Church of Canada
The Most Reverend Shane Parker, Primate; The Most Reverend Anne Germond, Metropolitan of Ontario; Theological colleges and training programs within the Ecclesiastical Province of Canada: The Atlantic School of Theology, Montreal Diocesan Theological, College, and Queen’s College.
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
The Right Reverend Dr. Larry Kochendorfer; The Right Reverend Carla Blakley; Congregations of the Northwestern Ontario area of the Manitoba-Northwestern Ontario Synod.
Moravian Church in Canada
People and ministries of Millwoods Moravian Church, Edmonton.
Companion Diocese of Jerusalem and the Middle East
St. George's Cathedral and the Diocese of Jerusalem, The Most Reverend Hosam Naoum; peace in the Land of the Holy One.

Our Clergy and the Cathedral Intercessory Prayer Group will pray for all requests sent to info@ottawacathedral.ca during the week.

Scripture Readings for Sunday, April 5th | Easter Day | Readings: Acts 10:34-43; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; Colossians 3:1-4; Matthew 28:1-10

Children's Worship Activities | Weekly worship bulletins, books and other activities are on the shelves at the entrance to the Cathedral. There is also a table in the Great Hall to use and the labyrinth to walk. If your child is interested in being a junior server, member of a choir, or a reader, please speak with our clergy.

Hearing Assist Sets | Are available at every service from our sidespeople.

Newsletter Deadline | Wednesdays at noon.

General Info | Please visit our office, call 613.236.9149, or email info@ottawacathedral.ca. Office hours are Monday to Thursday 9 am to 3 pm, and Friday from 9 am to noon, except on statutary holidays and during holiday seasons.

Parking | Street parking is free around the Cathedral on Sundays. Cathedral parking at the Vista on Sparks is off Queen Street, immediately east of the Cathedral, on the P1 Level. You MUST have the code to enter the parking garage and to re-enter and access the elevator (glass door across from the Cathedral's new east steps). The code is 4120. It will be posted at our reception desk and listed here each week. When it changes, there will be ample notification. If you enter the garage and there are no spots available, you will need to exit and find parking nearby. 

It is easy to be moved by the sacred beauty and warm welcome of Christ Church Cathedral — a place some encounter briefly, and others come to call their spiritual home. It is a place that nourishes the soul through worship and music, care and community, and it exists because of generosity: the generosity of those who have gone before us, and the generosity of those who give today.

To share hope faithfully and sustainably, our Cathedral must be well resourced. As an expression of joy and gratitude, you are invited to consider how you might respond. Click below to explore an invitation to give, to see what your giving makes possible, and to learn how it is easy to give. Thank you for responding to this place that sustains you by offering your own gifts in return.