Dear Cathedral Friends,

From early to mid-summer I was privileged to be invited by the Dean to join and assist Canon Doug and all of you in the ministry of our beloved Cathedral, and for this and for all of you, Deborah and myself are deeply grateful.

It has been twenty-seven years since we left the Cathedral where I was Dean throughout the 90s. However, I did get to occupy the Cathedra as the Bishop of Ottawa and then another seat in the sanctuary as the Bishop Ordinary to the Canadian Armed Forces. So, our Cathedral has a special place in our hearts but primarily because of all of you who gather and minister from there and, like us, have been personally supported and grown in that community.

I found myself in the sanctuary with dear friends as well. Canon Doug has been a kind and supportive colleague for some time and I have been blessed to serve with your honorary assistants, Joan Riding who was my assistant curate at Christ Church Bells Corners before I came to the Cathedral, and Michelle Staples who I served with in the diocese and then the military chaplaincy. I was glad to be there when our new bishop +Kathryn was present. I was her parish priest some time ago and had the privilege of ordaining her. Another dear friend is Denise Gomes who, with the servers, ensures the order and beauty of the liturgy along with the oft unseen Altar Guild. What a blessing they are and thank you to those who arrange the flowers; the first things I notice.

And, of course, there is our beautiful music. Thank you James and Andrew, choirs and cantors and those behind the scenes, like choir families. Having been on Cathedral staff before, I know of what sacrifices are made behind the gift of music.

 When I see the care taken in the liturgy and in the service that follows, as we carry on with the week, a poem, ‘The Exilir’, which has become a hymn, comes to mind. It was written by the Elizabethan poet George Herbert (1593-1633):

Teach me my God and King,
In all things Thee to see,
And what I do in anything
To do it as forThee.

Deborah and I have been blessed to be with you and will be again. “We give thanks to God always for you all, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before God and Father your work of faith and labour of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3)

+Peter
The Right Reverend Peter R Coffin
 August, 2026

Just inside the east entrance door on Sparks Street is the prayer net. It is becoming a beautiful piece of contemplative art as individuals tie on ribbons representing their prayer for a person or situation. All are welcome to participate.

The Cathedral Choirs have been invited to be the choirs in residence at Westminster Abbey from July 19-25, 2027. This trip will give them the rare opportunity to sing daily services in the historic place where kings and queens have been crowned for almost a thousand years; with sixty-five people, including singers and chaperones, travelling to London, the cost of the trip will be significant!

To raise funds for this exciting venture, there will be a silent auction, held in conjunction with a concert by the choirs on Saturday, November 7, for which we are seeking donations. Donations can take the form of handcrafted items, themed gift baskets, tickets to musical or sports events, or gift cards for institutions such as museums and art galleries, or businesses like clothing and gift stores, restaurants, spas, hotels, etc. If you or someone you know has connections to an Ottawa business or cultural institution, please consider donating something to our event. As we are planning on using an online bidding system, we would like to receive donations by early October. 

If you would like to donate something, use the link below and fill out the form, or contact one of the members of the silent auction organizing team (Neil Crawford [nmcrawfor@gmail.com], Sara Jamieson [sjamieson257@gmail.com], Aidan Schenkman [aidan.shenkman@gmail.com]).

In June 2025, General Synod elected then-bishop of Ottawa, Shane Parker, as primate of the Anglican Church of Canada and voted to approve the six pathways for transformational change aimed at updating and streamlining church structures for the demands of the 21st century. One year into a triennium of significant change, the Anglican Journal sat down with Archbishop Parker to discuss the church’s progress so far and his experience leading it as primate.

Our Cathedral
All those who are ill or suffering, and those who care for them.
Our Diocese
The Right Reverend Kathryn Otley, Bishop; staff at Ascension House, including the Archives; Our Diocesan Partners: Communion Forest, Compass Rose; St. Bartholomew's, Ottawa, The Reverend Canon Catherine Ascah.
Canadian Cathedrals
Christ Church Cathedral, Vancouver, BC, The Very Reverend Christ Pappas.
Anglican Church of Canada
The Most Reverend Shane Parker, Primate; The Most Reverend Anne Germond, Metropolitan; The Right Reverend Richard Reed, Bishop; The Right Reverend Adam Halkett, Bishop of Missinippi, and the clergy and people of the Diocese of Saskatchewan.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
The dean, council, and congregations of the West Central Area of the Synod of Alberta and the Territories.
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, August 30th | Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost | Readings: Exodus 3:1-15; Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45c; Romans 12:9-21; Matthew 16: 21-28

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 3578.  It will be posted at our reception desk and listed here each week. 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.