Crosstalk “We make a difference,” primate encourages

BY LEIGH ANNE WILLIAMS

Archbishop Linda Nicholls, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, made a happy return to Christ Church Cathedral to keep up a tradition of delivering a sermon on New Year’s Day. Due to the pandemic, she was not able to come to Ottawa for the new year in 2021 and 2022 and delivered her sermons online.

She began this year’s homily by acknowledging that it is difficult for people remain hopeful when there is so much pain and suffering in the world.

She mentioned the war in Ukraine and described the situation she witnessed on a recent trip to the Holy Land: “where the Christian community clings precariously to sustain a presence—where settlements continue to be built on internationally agreed Palestinian territory; where the movement of Palestinians for work or even healthcare is limited or inconsistent; where the new government includes a coalition with extreme rightwing leaders whose policies are frightening in their effects and the situation is deteriorating rapidly.”

Archbishop Linda Nicholls was once again able to travel to the Diocese of Ottawa to deliver her New Year’s Day homily and to enjoy some inperson fellowship with those who attended at a reception in the Cathedral’s Great Hall afterwards. Mary and Boardman Nnagbo from the Christ Church Cathedral parish began their new year at the Choral Eucharist service. More photos from the reception are on page 5.