The Anniversary Service and Festival Holy Eucharist for the Day of Pentecost at 10:30 am the next morning opened to a standing-room-only crowd of more than 500 for a wonderfully moving, vibrant and colorful celebration of the Holy Spirit and our common life and witness as Cathedral.  Along with Bishop Persell presiding, the presence of dozens of representatives from a number of diocesan congregations and organizations and several special guests who have special ties to St. James added to the spirit of the day. The Rev. Gordon Hurst Barrow joined us from his retirement in Indianapolis.  Father Barrow was St. James’ first canon precentor and presided over the first celebration of the Holy Eucharist after our being named Cathedral in 1955.  Having gone on to a number of other prominent churches across the country after his time at St. James, Father Barrow expressed his great delight at being able to attend our celebrations of a place that “means so much to me.”

Procession of parish banners

Rev. Sally Kennedy Hague (left) Rev. Gordon Hurst Barrow (middle) with Anne Meuse (Senior Warden)

As another moving connection back to the earliest days of being “the Cathedral”, we were honored to welcome The Rev. Sally Kennedy Hague, a now retired priest of the Diocese of New Hampshire and former Episcopal chaplain at Dartmouth College. Her father, The Very Rev. Howard M. Kennedy, was the first Dean of the Cathedral, named to the post by Bishop Gerald Burrill, and we were pleased to have her join us for the Anniversary weekend.  One particularly moving connection for her was that she wore one of the three historic copes presented to the Diocese of Chicago by the Holy Catholic (Anglican) Church of Japan in the 1950s, and which had often been worn by her father for services.

We were delighted and inspired to have former Provost (i.e. our interim dean) The Rev. Canon Jean Parker Vail return to the pulpit as preacher for the Service.  An honorary Canon of St. James and not unfamiliar to many parishioners, Canon Vail’s homily gave the perfect voice to the emotions and lessons of the day. (Read her homily)  In keeping with our tradition of celebrating the Pentecost gift of the Holy Spirit in all places, peoples, and tongues, members of the congregation proclaimed the Gospel reading in more than 18 languages, ranging from Arabic and Danish to Japanese, Spanish, and Tagalog.  Inspired by the same vision, the bread and wine for Holy Communion were danced to the Altar by two parishioners of African heritage to the powerful Zulu hymn “Siyahamba” sung by the congregation and Cathedral Choir and accompanied by drummers from the renowned Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago.

The Rev. Canon Jean Parker Vail

Bringing the weekend to a spectacular close, the afternoon’s Anniversary Concert was led by Director of Cathedral Music, Bruce Barber, who “pulled out all the stops” in presenting some of the very best of the Cathedral’s remarkable music program in the magnificent performance of two works by Franz Jozef Haydn.  The Concerto No. 1 in C Major for cello was a tour-de-force for guest artist Marlena Tureski, who was performed in concerts and recitals across North America. It was followed by a thrilling performance of Haydn’s Mass in d minor (“Lord Nelson Mass”) with the Cathedral Choir, soloists and Orchestra. The Anniversary Weekend’s events were made possible through the splendid generosity of the Anniversary Host Committee.  Originally conceived as a way to secure underwriting for just the Saturday night dinner to reduce the ticket cost, the response to invitations to join the Host Committee was truly amazing.  Special thanks are due to Host Committee Chair, Canon Miriam Hoover, and the other Members: The Rt. Rev. William D. Persell & Mrs. Nancy Persell The Very Rev. Ralph T. Blackman & Mrs. Marlena Tureski Mr. John & Mrs. Norma Bramsen Mr. John & Mrs. Irene Brown Dr. Bing Chang & Ms. Deborah Sobol Dr. John & Mrs. Bonnie Clarke Mr. George & Mrs. Marianne Culver Mr. Peter & Mrs. Debra Drake Mr. David & Mrs. Alexandra Earle Mr. Howard Edmonds Dr. Burton & Mrs. Marion Faldet Dr. Janet Wolter Grip Mr. Philip & Mrs. Judith Kirk Mr. John & Mrs. Jann Lorch Mr. Douglas & Mrs. Susan Lyons The Rev. Jerry Ness Mr. Ralph Ramirez & Mr. Albert Reppine Dr. Robert & Dr. Kaye Wertz Dr. Hak Wong

Dancers bring the bread and wine Marlena Tureski Cathedral Choir and Orchestra Bruce Barber