“Almost 200 meals were served … [to] a mix of Centre 105 donors and program participants,” executive director Taylor Seguin said, adding that the event raised just over $10,000.

“On behalf of Centre 105’s management board, staff team, and volunteer team, we would like to sincerely thank everyone who attended and donated,” he said. “Times are tough in our communities, but with your support, Centre 105 is able to continue to provide essential services … to the most vulnerable individuals in our community.  Thank you!”

Centre 105, one of five Community Ministries of the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa, is located at 105 Second Street in Cornwall in the parish hall of the historic Trinity Anglican Church.  It began under the leadership of the Rev. Peter Cazaly (now retired) in 2017 and continues to provide a sanctuary and support for those in need of a hot meal and a safe space to rest or socialize, and referrals to other essential services. The Centre also provides a place for people to do laundry, and in 2024, renovated to add showers.

Amongst those enjoying a delicious breakfast and the social event were members of Cornwall City Council and administrative staff.  “One can never underestimate the value of the contribution of the work done by Centre 105,” said councillor Denis Sabourin.

In attendance were several Anglican Diocese of Ottawa clergy, including the Rev. Canon Dr. Peter John Hobbs, director general of Community Ministries; the Rev. Mark Lewis, the Ven. Peter Crosby, and the Rev. (Retired) Peter Cazaly.

“God’s favourite people are the marginalized, so that is where the church should always be,” said the Rev. Jon Martin, incumbent of St. John’s Kanata North Anglican Church.  Mentioning crises in housing, financial instability and mental health, Martin said, “I think it is essential that Christian communities do everything they can to address those issues and support those struggling with them.”

The next Centre 105 fundraising activity is the Centre 105 Annual Christmas Concert and Holiday Reception Fundraiser, scheduled for Dec. 15 between 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. at Trinity Anglican Church.

For more information on Centre 105 or to donate,please go to: www.centre105.ca

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The mini-conference was organized by both lay and ordained members of the Anglican faith community.  It was inspired by a similar four-day retreat “You Are Leaven: Fermenting Cultures of Spiritual Formation,” which was supported by the national church and brought Anglicans from across Canada together in Mississauga, Ont. last April.  The one-day “You are Leaven Ottawa” mini-conference featured a wide variety of workshops on three themes — Everyday Spirituality, Practices of Prayer and the Spirituality of Church Operations.

Archdeacon Rhonda Waters said the mini-conference provided an opportunity for people to discover innovative practices to take back to their parishes. She mentioned that the workshop leaders and facilitators from both the clergy and the laity were volunteers who wished to share practices they use to enable spiritual development.

The Rev. Dr. Jonathan Martin, another member of the organizing committee, explained the conference was intended to examine ways that church communities can encourage spiritual development through everyday activities. “God is already present,” he said.

As people arrived at St. Clare’s, they enjoyed a time for light refreshments and socializing before the Rev. Colin McFarland from St. Margaret’s, Vanier in Ottawa called everyone into the opening worship by playing the “Washerwoman of Ireland” on his fiddle.

The morning session on Everyday Spirituality was divided into workshops for smaller groups:

• Pretzels with Auntie Patti – Pattie Robillard shared her family’s Lenten tradition of making pretzels, an ancient symbol representing two arms crossed in prayer
• 10,000 steps for Jesus – Ron Hubbard shared his practice of spiritual walking
• Spiritual Formation through Role Playing Games — the Rev. Geoff Chapman guided participants through a session of Dungeons & Dragons, exploring themes of identity, morality, choices and the joy of imaginative play
• Doodling — the Rev. Fresia Saborio and the Rev. Dr. Neil Mancour of the Diocese of Montreal, explored ways of using paint, crayons and collage, doodling and drawing as a medium for expressions of soul and prayer
• The Creative Connection: Art and Spirituality — Karen Daley’s group explored arts and crafts as an expression of prayer, study of scripture, and focused thought

*Editor’s update: In case you missed this event, Julian of Norwich is hosting a mini mini-conference, Spiritual Dimensions, with some similar sessions on April 5. 

Heather Mallett, a parishioner at St. Thomas the Apostle in Ottawa, facilitates creativity workshops herself and told Crosstalk she was especially interested in learning “different ways to meld creativity and spirituality.”

The Rev. Fresia Saborio said people are able to connect with the Divine and the Sacred in more ways than can be imagined, with shapes, colours and forms used to make the connection.

The design of St. Clare’s lends itself to events such as this with the various areas of the church and technical equipment used for different groups and activities. Registration, coffee breaks and lunch as well as workshops were held in the hall, with other workshops using smaller spaces of meeting rooms, the Memorial Chapel, Nave, and the kitchen.

The other morning session Practices of Prayer was divided into four workshops.

• Introduction to Contemplative Prayer Practices – The Rev. Canon Kevin Flynn offered a brief overview of the variety of contemplative practices with a focus on yoga.
• Spiritual Autobiography – The Rev. Mark Lewis and the Rev. Pat Martin offered participants a tool to help consider the critical moments in their lives and faith journeys
• Gospel-Based Discipleship – The Rev. Ben Stuchbery shared a highly adaptable prayer practice from the Indigenous church, which anchors people’s common life in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus through a shared engagement with a passage from the gospels.
• Praying with Music – Joshua Zentner-Barrett led an exploration of the spirituality of music in worship, engaging with psalms, short songs, instruments, and more.

After the whole group gathered together for lunch and some social time, they again broke into smaller groups for the Spirituality of Church Operations workshops:

• Shaped by the Altar Guild – Meghan Kitt led a group exploring expressions of beauty, hospitality, inclusion, and devotion in the altar guild and its work.
• Sacred Hospitality – The Rev. Dr. Jon Martin introduced the founding principles of sacred hospitality and the challenge to be open to the transformation that comes from genuine engagement and connection to the world around us.
• Change as Spiritual Formation – Archdeacon Rhonda Waters led a group exploring ways to respond to change in spiritually life-giving ways for both individuals and parishes.
• Spiritual Formation for Pastoral Caregivers — The Rev. Canon Hilary Murray led a group exploring the Divine call and how it is actualized through pastoral care and ways that it can deepen spiritual formation and one’s relationship with God.

The day ended with everyone coming together for a closing worship service with Joshua Zentner-Barrett leading them in music and even a small foray into dance.

Dr. Sarah Johnson, director of Anglican Studies at St. Paul University, reflected on the day’s aims and activities in a homily. Reminding those gathered that the church is not its buildings, it is made of people listening to and filled with the Holy Spirit. “Our aim today was not to become educated in strategies and techniques. Our aim was to share with one another how the Spirit is forming us through scripture and prayer and song, through … writing and drawing, through role playing and pretzel making and more. Our aim was to receive from one another practices that we can bring back to our own communities that nurture openness to the work of the Spirit within us, among us and beyond us.”

With files from Leigh Anne Williams

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After enjoying some social time, everyone gathered for worship with Bishop Shane Parker celebrating the Holy Eucharist, assisted by Archdeacon Peter Crosby, the interim Incumbent of the Parish of North Dundas. Susan Rutters provided music for the service.

“The Altar Guild is a lay ministry that serves God in His house by preparing the sanctuary for worship, maintaining and caring for the sacred vessels, altar linens and vestments and serving the clergy and the parish,” said Debbie Tweedle, a member of the Diocesan Altar Guild (DAG) executive.

Henry Reinders from the Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFB) was the guest speaker, providing an interesting presentation on the important work done by this Christian organization to help alleviate hunger around the world. St. Clare’s Anglican continues to provide land adjacent to the church for growing and harvesting grains, with the proceeds from sales provided to the CFB.

A short business meeting followed the worship service. At last year’s meeting, Debbie Tweedle and Sandra Clark indicated that this year’s meeting would be their last, as they would be stepping down after 10 years as the DAG executive. No volunteers stepped forward to take over the executive roles, and so as decided at last year’s meeting, the DAG will fold and remaining funds in the bank account will be distributed evenly between five charitable organizations (Canadian Foodgrains Bank, Children’s Treatment Centre Cornwall, The Well, Hollyer House and the Council of the North) as voted on by attending members, Tweedle said in a post-event email.

She noted that the Facebook group will be “monitored for another year and that Jim McLean is still providing altar supplies.” Tweedle mentioned churches who have priestly items for sacred surplus should contact the Rev. Canon Doug Richards by email

doug.richards@ottawacathedral.ca or by phone (613) 236-9149 ext. 19. She noted that items to be donated need to be described, clean and in good condition. She requested that churches with surplus altar supplies post them on the Facebook Group “with a photo and details of the item, including who to contact, in the Altar Supplies Album, under Media.”

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