The annual Mothers’ Union rally at St. Mary and St. Bartholomew church in Saint John April 25 began as all MU rallies do — with a banner parade into the sanctuary. 

Worldwide MU president Kathleen Snow, a member of the Cathedral branch, brought greetings to the 61 members in attendance. The service was led by the Rev. Ann Fairweather and the Rev. Caleb Twinamatsiko, diocesan MU chaplain. 

The Rev. Rob Pitman has been appointed as the incumbent in the Parish of Saint Stephen and missioner for community engagement in St. Stephen, each on a half-time basis, beginning Aug. 1.

May 7, 1-3 p.m.  Seniors’ drop in at the Trinity Corner Community Café located in the Holy Trinity church hall, Quispamsis. It’s a great opportunity to meet over coffee and snacks for card games, puzzles, explore the library or just sit and chat.

Saturday, May 9, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.  Join us for the Mother’s Day Tea at the Kingston Parish Hall, hosted by the Parish of Kingston. $15 per person. Spring new-to-you table and bake table. Wear your favourite spring outfit and drop by the photo corner for a picture. 

Sunday, May 10, 1-3 p.m.  Farewell to the Rev. Canon Chris Hayes and family, at St. Andrew’s church hall, Petitcodiac. Light lunch will be served. Come and visit with Chris, his family and the parish. 

Saturday, May 16, 11 a.m – 2:30 p.m.  Mother’s Day lunch and new-to-you bazaar with sandwiches and sweets, $12. Take-home available. St. Andrew’s Church, Petitcodiac.

Saturday, May 23, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.  Spring Community Lunch & Bake Sale at Holy Trinity, 2 Hammond River Rd, Quispamsis, NB (by the bridge). Join us for a great lunch shared with friends. There's no fee to attend and everyone is welcome! A freewill offering to support youth summer camps and other mission activities is appreciated. For information call 506-647-8170.

Saturday, May 30, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.  Annual Spring Tea & Quilt Show at St. Mary & St. Bartholomew church, 646 Westmorland Rd., Saint John. The tea will feature sandwiches and cakes, silent auction, jewellry, crafts, bake table.Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children, available at the door. More information: 506-696-1347.

May 30-31  Join St. Paul’s Rothesay as they celebrate their 150th anniversary. 
30 May | 5:30 p.m. Gala Dinner at the hall, with special guest comedian (and parishioner!) James Mullinger! The evening will also feature gourmet catering from Thandi Restaurant and music from another talented friend and parishioner, John Buckley and friends. 
We are also honoured to welcome back some of the priests and youth ministers who have served our community over the years. 
Tickets: $75 per person. Very limited quantity available. They are available for purchase at the parish office or through this link. 847-1812 or visit stpaulsonthecommon.com/anniversary
May 31 | 10 a.m.  Anniversary Eucharist with our bishop, the Most Rev. David Edwards, who will be celebrant and preacher.

Saturday, June 6, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.   Join us for our 4th annual book and bake sale, hosted by St Luke's, 369 Main St, Saint John. If you have books that you would like to donate, please email us at stlukesportland@gmail.com

Christ Church Cathedral is thrilled to announce that the featured speaker for the 2026 Palmer Memorial Lecture on May 6th is celebrated author and church historian Diana Butler Bass!

The Palmer Memorial Lecture Series comprises an annual talk on matters of current religious significance and spiritually formative impact, hosted in honour and at the bequest of the late Harry and Sandra Palmer, long-time devoted members of the Christ Church Cathedral community in Fredericton, New Brunswick. The Palmer Memorial Lecture is delivered each year by a prominent and engaging figure in the world of spirituality -- someone who is contributing and often leading important conversations about how we can deepen and live out our Christian faith in today's world.

Our 2026 lecturer, Diana Butler Bass, is a popular speaker, an inspiring preacher, and an award-winning author of eleven books. She is trained as a church historian, holding a Ph.D. in religious studies from Duke University, with special emphasis in American ecclesiastical history. Diana is one of America's most trusted commentators on religion and contemporary spirituality, especially where faith intersects with politics and culture. You might know her from her twice-weekly e-newsletter, The Cottage, in which she expresses her courageous and prophetic voice to an increasingly broad audience. Diana's passion is sharing great ideas to change lives -- helping listeners and readers to see themselves, their place in history, and God, differently.

The event will be held on the evening of Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. at Christ Church Cathedral, 150 Church Street, Fredericton, NB.

Tickets are: $30 (in-person) or $10 (online).

For more information, contact the Cathedral Office.

Zoom link  |  Recordings Playlist (YouTube)

Synod staff members are pleased to begin offering the Synod Commons - a regular open forum online for clergy, parish lay officers and staff, and others who are interested.

Session topics will be announced in advance. Each session will typically include a presentation and time for questions (on the topic and, if time, on any topic). Sessions will be held on the first and fourth Tuesdays from 12:10 - 12:55 pm and will be recorded.

• May 5: Parish Ministry Discussion with DMM Canon Shawn Branch

An introduction and look at 'Dinner Church' and how this can help bridge a connection with those who are unfamiliar with church and liturgy. Shawn will be in conversation with a parish that has been hosting Dinner Church for a few years and hear about the impact and reach it has had with people who wouldn't normally attend on a Sunday morning.

• May 26: tba
• June 2: tba
• June 23: tba

Thy Kingdom Come is a is a global ecumenical prayer movement that invites Christians around the world to pray from Ascension to Pentecost for more people to come to know Jesus.

This year's theme is: God is With Us

Since it began in May 2016, God has grown TKC from a dream of possibility into a movement which unites more than a million Christians in prayer, in nearly 90% of countries worldwide, across 85 different denominations and traditions- so that friends and family, neighbours and colleagues might come to faith in Jesus Christ.

Every person, household and church are encouraged to pray during the 11 days in their own way. Let us know how your church or you are praying in this diocese.

We again invite you to pray that God’s Spirit might work in the lives of 5 people who have not responded with their ‘Yes’ to God’s call.

Activities in the Diocese of Fredericton

Let us know what your church or you are doing.

Resources

• Thy Kingdom Come prayer booklet (or use this reformatted version)
• Thy Kingdom Come 2026 resources:
  • Novena - God With Us by Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally
  • Prayer Journal - on praying "Come, Holy Spirit"
  • Five great ideas for how your church can take part in Thy Kingdom Come
• We Seek Your Kingdom lyrics

Atlantic School of Theology has a vacancy for a Project Director: Ecumenical Shared Ministries Training Program.

The Ecumenical Shared Ministries Training Program is a new initiative of Atlantic School of Theology (Halifax) in collaboration with the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism (Saskatoon), St John’s College (Winnipeg), Saint Paul University (Ottawa), Henry Budd College for Ministry (he Pas, M.B.), and the Canadian Council of Churches. 

Click here for more information.  

The application deadline is May 22.

By the time Ted arrived at the football game, the first quarter was almost over.

"Why are you so late?" his friend asked.

"I had to toss a coin to decide between going to church and coming to the game."

"How long could that have taken you?" he asked.

"Well, I had to toss it 14 times."