Faith
Formation and Music
Developing a deeper understanding of faith and worship
with our Christian community
Part One: Sacraments -- from beginning to end:
Worship is central to our life at the Cathedral. It reminds us of who we are, children of God, and who we are called to be, followers of Christ. It heals us and gives us strength and courage to respond to the Gospel in all that we do and to know the joy of life God has given us.
Baptism:
Holy Baptism is the initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ’s Body the Church. The water of baptism signifies the transition from the life of sin to a new life of grace. In baptism we become full members of the Body of Christ and are sealed and confirmed as Christ’s own forever.
Holy Baptism at the Cathedral is offered at least four times a year on or near the appropriate feast days: the Sunday after All Saints’ Day, the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus (the Sunday after January 6), the Great Vigil of Easter, and either Pentecost or Trinity Sundays. Please ask one of the clergy staff when the next baptism will be celebrated. Very important: Please contact the Cathedral office so an application can be mailed to you. The application has to be returned to the office at least one week before the baptism so that the certificate can be prepared. There is a pre-baptism gathering for parents and godparents of children being baptized as well as for adults who are being baptized on the Saturday before the service at 10:00 a.m. Please confirm with the office as to the time and date of the pre-baptism conference.
Holy Eucharist:
Holy Eucharist, also known as Holy Communion or the “Mass,” is celebrated each Sunday at 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. and weekdays at noon. The Eucharist is celebrated in Spanish each Wednesday at noon. In the Eucharist, the baptized are forgiven their sins, nourished by the Real Presence of Christ, and then sent out into the world to do the work of God.
Holy Eucharist is open to all baptized Christians regardless of age or denomination. Those
who are not yet baptized are welcomed to the altar rail for a blessing and invited to speak
to the clergy to inquire about pre-baptism preparation. Children are welcomed and
encouraged to receive.
The way for children to receive communion – for those children who do not take a drink of wine from the cup (we ask that parents decide when children are ready to take a drink from the common cup) we will be directing the chalice bearers (those who service the communion wine) to take the wafer out of the child’s hand and to then intinct – or dip – the wafer into the wine and place directly into the child’s mouth. What we want to avoid is children’s fingers and hands coming into direct contact with the wine in the common cup.
Private Communion:
Holy Communion is available on request for members who are sick or confined at home. Call the Cathedral office to make arrangements.
Confirmation, Reception, and Reaffirmation:
Confirmation is the rite of reaffirmation of one’s Baptismal vows made in the context of the faith community and includes the laying on of hands by a bishop. The reaffirmation is an acknowledgement that the individual is an ambassador of Christ, having found new meaning and empowerment in faith.
Since Confirmation is making a mature commitment of faith in Jesus Christ, a person who is presented for Confirmation should be 16 years or older (10th or 11th grade). For a young person wishing to be confirmed, participation in the Journey to Adulthood is required. Information on this program can be obtained from a member of the clergy.
Reception is for those who have been baptized and have made an adult public affirmation of faith in another Christian Communion and now desire to live out their faith within the fellowship of the Episcopal Church.
Reaffirmation is suitable for persons who have already made a mature public declaration of faith with the Episcopal Church and have later left the church or fallen away from active faith and now wish to express their revived commitment to the covenant of their Baptism. It is also suitable for baptized persons who are experiencing a call from God toward a new growth in faith, commitment, or service.
Reconciliation of a Penitent:
Reconciliation of a Penitent (confession) may be scheduled with any of the priests.
Unction:
The sacrament of Unction for healing is available to the sick and those in extreme situations at home or in the hospital. The sacrament of anointing with holy oil is also offered publicly each Sunday by a priest at the Chapel immediately following the service. The laying on of hands for healing is also offered at the Chapel by a layperson during the reception of communion. The ministry of healing is a shared ministry of both lay and clergy here at the Cathedral.
Weddings:
As stated in The Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church: Christian marriage is a solemn and public covenant between a man and a woman in the presence of God. In the Episcopal Church it is required that one, at least, of the parties be a baptized Christian.
Membership in the Cathedral is not necessary to be married here. Members of the Cathedral are given preference and are not charged any building use or clergy fees. To be married as a member one needs to have been a Cathedral member for at least twelve months. Membership is defined by regular church attendance and making (and paying towards) a financial pledge to our ministry and mission.
Episcopalians who belong to another parish in the Diocese of Connecticut may hold a wedding at the Cathedral. Their parish priest is responsible for the premarital preparation. The parish priest is expected to plan the liturgy in consultation with the Cathedral clergy, but the latter will have the final authority in the planning of the liturgy. One of the Cathedral clergy will assist the parish priest during the service.
Non-members are welcome to have their wedding service at the Cathedral. To schedule a wedding, call the Cathedral office and ask to speak with a priest on staff and to receive the most recent copy of our wedding policies. Although you certainly may inquire at this point whether the Cathedral is available for the date you have in mind, you cannot book the facilities until after having met with a priest. Dates may be reserved no less than six months and no more than two years in advance. Weddings are not scheduled during Lent.
Hospital Visitations:
Due to current privacy laws, hospital staff is not allowed to contact the Cathedral office and/or clergy to let us know when a parishioner is admitted to the hospital; neither are they allowed to provide that information to a caller or visitor. Furthermore, in the event that a parishioner is transferred from the hospital to a chronic care facility, that information neither is offered nor provided upon request. In the event that you or a loved one is hospitalized, the clergy would like to offer you a communion visit. In order to facilitate that process, we will need you, a relative or a friend to call and let us know where you are hospitalized. If you have any questions, contact Canon St. Louis at 527-7231 ext. 111 or astlouis@cccathedral.org.
Funerals:
Arrangements should be made with a priest as soon as a death in the family occurs. Assistance will be given in planning the funeral service and making other arrangements, such as interment of ashes in the Cathedral's Memorial Garden. Any parishioner who wishes to make his or her own pre-arrangements may do so by calling a member of the clergy staff.
Interment in the Memorial Garden in the front of the Cathedral building bordered by Church and Main Streets is available for cremated remains (ashes) of Cathedral members and their families and all other persons related to the ministry of the Cathedral. Permission for burial in the Cathedral’s Memorial Garden must be obtained from the Dean of the Cathedral. The cost is $250 for adding the names to the bronze plaque of those whose ashes are buried in the Garden. There are no other charges or fees for burial in the Memorial Garden. At the discretion of the Dean of the Cathedral, the charge for adding the name on the plaque can be waived.
Part Two: Faith Formation and Enrichment for Adults, Children and Youth:
Faith Formation and Enrichment at the Cathedral is a lifelong process aimed at growing in the knowledge and love of God, neighbor and self. Applying tradition, scripture and reason, we learn what it means to be and live as Christians in a rapidly changing world. Through thoughtful and respectful conversations, challenging and enriching activities, and instruction in and discussion of sacred and secular topics, we discern creative ways to live into our baptismal covenant.
Adults:
Adult Education Committee is a group of lay volunteers who meet approximately four times a year to assist the Dean and the Canon Vicar with planning and implementing the Adult Education Programs at the Cathedral.
Dean’s Forum is a monthly Faith Enrichment Program held from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in the Auditorium. Participants are invited to listen to a presentation on a topic of interest (e.g., ethics, theology, Holy Scriptures). The presentation is followed by a time for questions, sharing and in-depth discussion.
Lenten Brunch Program is a weekly Sunday morning program held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Auditorium during Lent. The program begins with a simple, inexpensive meal. This time is an invaluable opportunity for the members of the Cathedral community to connect with one another and our guests. At noon, a speaker presents on a topic relevant to the season of Lent. This is followed by a time for questions, sharing and reflection.
Sunday Morning Bible Study is a weekly, lectionary-based bible study held from 9:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. in the Reception Room. In addition to exploring the background and context of the biblical passages, participants are invited to discuss ways in which the insights from scripture can be applied to their personal lives and/or contemporary societal issues.
Children and Youth:
Faith Formation and Enrichment is offered for children and youth in three different age groups. 5-10 years; 11-14 years, and 15-18 years. Parents serve as their children’s primary teachers, and their work at home is supplemented by Cathedral volunteers on Sundays. Parents of the 5-10 year old group gather on a monthly basis for support and information regarding the curriculum, All Things New.
Faith Enrichment Facilitators provide enrichment opportunities for our children and youth. They serve as facilitators for a variety of Sunday morning activities (11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.), including video and book discussions, storytelling, drama and social offerings.
They support the work of parents and are an additional source of love and support for our children. Facilitators not only offer their own gifts for ministry with the children and youth, they also frequently discover that their own lives and faith journeys are enriched by the children and youth they serve.
Confirmation Class is offered twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring. Sessions are devoted to learning about the Episcopal Church and are primarily for those who are interested in being baptized, confirmed, received into the Episcopal Church or in reaffirming their faith.
Intergenerational Events are offered three times a year from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Auditorium. Intergenerational events provide opportunities for adults, youth and children in the Cathedral congregation to listen to a story about a particular event (e.g., Baptism, Christmas), share their insights and experiences with one another, work on a joint project and reach out to our homebound parishioners (e.g., delivering Palm Crosses in Lent).
Child Care is available for children from birth to age 4 in the Child Care Room, which is located on the first floor of the Cathedral. It is available beginning at 9:45 a.m., as well as during educational events held after the service (e.g., Dean’s Forum; Lenten Brunch Series). Two staff members who are trained in Safe Church procedures provide child care.
For more information regarding any of our Faith Formation and Enrichment activities, please contact Canon Allison St. Louis in the office or email: astlouis@cccathedral.org.
Music:
Music at the Cathedral presents special concerts throughout the year. Guests have included organists such as David Briggs, and choirs such as St. Thomas Church (New York City), Worcester Cathedral Choir (England), and the American Boys Choir (New Jersey).
Lunch…Plus! is an outreach and music ministry of the Cathedral that welcomes acclaimed musicians for midday concerts and lunch on the first Thursday of the month from October to May. A $6 donation for lunch is requested at the door. Cathedral volunteers help serve lunch.
A popular Jazz Mass in celebrated in mid-July in cooperation with the Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz.
The Music Committee advises on matters
and issues relating to, and helps support, music at
the Cathedral. Members plan special music offerings
throughout the year that involve our own choirs and
other outstanding musical talent, and the Lunch…Plus!
programs held on first Thursdays from October to
May.
The Cathedral Pipe Organ was installed by Austin Organs, Inc., of Hartford, in 1965. The chancel organ was refurbished in 2000 and 32’ electronic stops added. The console that controls the organs is located at the left of the chancel and features three manuals (keyboards) and solid-state combination action. The antiphonal organ in the rear gallery was added in 2001. The trompette-en-chamade stop is the brass pipes projecting horizontally from the case.
Contact Person
Kevin C. Jones - (860) 527-7231 X 112 or email kjones@cccathedral.org |
