1000 Doves ready to take flight

In recent months, people across the diocese have been creating origami paper doves in a project to support the diocesan Refugee Ministry. Now the goal of creating 1,000 doves has been reached  and organizers are preparing to suspend the flock of doves in the nave of Christ Church Cathedral in an art installation that will be unveiled in time for the Feast of Pentecost on May 23.

But there is still time for everyone in the diocese to be a part of the project, says Karen McBride of the Refugee Advisory Panel.

The project aimed to raise both awareness of the Refugee Ministry and funds to support it.

“The emphasis now is on helping the dove makers get sponsors for their doves. That’s where people who haven’t been able to get involved in making the doves can play a very helpful role in sponsoring the doves of others,” McBride told Crosstalk.

“We have suggested $10 to sponsor a dove, so if people want to help by sponsoring one dove or two or three, it would be terrific if they could give a little bit to make the fundraising part of the project as successful as the dove making part of the project,” she said.

There is a donation form on the 1000 Dove Project webpage on the diocesan website.

https://www.ottawa.anglican.ca/thousand-doves-project#donate-dove

And there is still room for more doves for those who would like to make them. The project webpage also has links to written instructions and instructional videos.

 “The 1000 Doves project is a great, fun, and creative way to share with people the very important work of the Refugee Ministry Office of our Diocese.  People of all ages can get involved and making the doves can so easily be done right at home,” said the Rev. Canon Dr. PJ Hobbs. “The Dove, a symbol of peace, of the presence of the Holy Spirit, reminds us of our call to provide a place of peaceful refuge and hope for the future for those who this day face peril.”

Gwynneth Evans participated in a dove-making workshop and shared this thoughtful reflection on the doves: “Noah’s ark has been a vivid image of God’s world that I have loved since childhood. And the good news that the common dove brought back to Noah and his large family gave hope and joy for the next phase of life together…. The doves and the fire of Pentecost offer our diocesan family the opportunity to give and to receive, to share joy and the diverse gifts of the Holy Spirit; to prepare for our next phase of community integration—after our year on the ark. Join the celebration!”