A cathedral is more than just a sacred space that’s visible in its city: a cathedral is a vital hub of connections that draw the sacred and the civic together in transcendent conversation.
This Sunday, Trinity Cathedral’s garden will be the location of Joy of Voting 250, a celebration of democracy and the importance of voting hosted by Project Halo and Greater Cleveland Congregations. It’ll be something of a block party, with food, music, and words from some “key pillars of civil society,” including veterans, faith leaders, and attorneys. Our friends and colleagues in the Cleveland civic community have chosen Trinity because a cathedral campus is a space of welcome and connection for all the people of God, and we’re so excited to host it.
I hope you’ll participate! The event will take place from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 3, following the 11:15 a.m. service of Holy Eucharist. This is a great way to get connected to the joy of voting in our vibrant civic community…and then to head to the Board of Elections to cast your ballot, since early voting will be open!
Those civic connections are just one part of the wider fabric of relationships that make a cathedral special. This past weekend, I traveled to San Diego for the annual gathering of the North American Cathedral Deans, where I met and worshipped with deans from the United States and Canada. There, at St. Paul’s Cathedral across the street from Balboa Park, deans shared experiences and resources from our unique settings.
Those faithful connections provide strength and empower Trinity to better serve the people of our city, as well as the churches of the Diocese of Ohio.
Cathedrals have always held special places in their cities and towns. Throughout history that had much to do with architectural beauty or ecclesiastical authority. Today, perhaps the greatest gift that a cathedral offers is one of connection: our relationship with our community and our diocese is vital to who we are, for we know that the Spirit of God flows through our church, our diocese, and our city.
Faithfully,
