Kathleen Snow commissioned as MU worldwide president
To say Kathleen Snow’s life has changed is an understatement.
The newly commissioned president of Mothers’ Union worldwide now has a travel schedule that rivals that of a busy CEO.
Last fall she spent a few weeks in Argentina to visit Mothers’ Union members and see projects first-hand. Then in February, she jetted off to the UK to meet Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, the new patron of Mothers’ Union. In March she was back for her commissioning.
In May she will spend a few weeks in Rome. And in June she’ll be back in the UK to visit Mothers’ Union members in the MU province of York, and attend the MU Leadership Conference for members in Britain and Ireland in Liverpool, England.
“Life has changed a lot, unbelievably!” said Kathleen. “I’m very familiar with London now.”
Kathleen, a retired nurse, worships at Christ Church Cathedral, and is a founding member of the MU branch there. She has held various leadership positions within the local branch, Canada and the worldwide group. She was elected worldwide president last fall.
Her commissioning took place March 24 at St-Martin-in-the-Fields Church in Trafalgar Square. Her three brothers, their wives, and her husband, Tim, were all in attendance.
Several MU members from the Diocese of Fredericton and beyond attended as well: Alice Kennedy, Michelle LeBlanc, Shara Golden, Lilian Ketch, Susan Watson and Gael Page. MU friends and colleagues from Argentina and the US were also in attendance.
Kathleen was involved in planning the commissioning service, choosing three hymns. One was her favourite, O Jesus, I Have Promised; one was a favourite of Archbishop David Edwards, 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord); and one was a message of service, Here I Am, Lord.
“If you could have heard the women and men, filling that church with their voices,” she said. “It gives me goosebumps even now.
“I wanted the music to reflect both the traditional and the modern. I didn’t want it to be too traditional in all ways. I wanted it to be moving onward.”
Archbishop David Edwards had planned to attend, but the sudden illness of his wife, Debbie, kept him at home. He was to have read the intersessions, which were subsequently read by the Rev. Emma Ham-Riche who stepped in.
Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York presided, and spoke of the “mighty Mothers’ Union.” Kathleen assisted him during the Eucharist.
“The service was a celebration,” said Kathleen. “It was relaxed and uplifting.”
Afterwards, a reception was held at Mary Sumner House, the worldwide headquarters of MU.
The days following the service were spent at a retreat centre, where the group, including the worldwide zone representatives, met. Her time in the UK concluded with a visit to the province of Canterbury.
ROME
Fawn Wilson-White, a Saint Johner who also lives in Rome, is hosting Kathleen in early May and has set up various meetings, one of which is with Archbishop Anthony Ball. He is the incoming personal representative of the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Holy See and director of the Anglican Centre in Rome.
“We were supposed to have an audience with Pope Francis, but of course that is cancelled,” she said. “I imagine the whole time I’m there the Conclave will be taking place.”
She will also attend the gathering of the International Union of Sisters General, a group of 900 nuns from around the world who work on-the-ground in parishes, fighting for causes close to the heart of all MU members.
The MU mandate is to support and grow strong families and work for change to address social injustice. The three pillars of the MU movement are to end poverty, end injustice, and end violence against women.
Mothers’ Union has about four million members in 84 countries. Next year it will celebrate its 150th anniversary.
To watch the commissioning service, click here.
Photo captions:
1. Past worldwide Mothers’ Union president Sheran Harper leads incoming president Kathleen Snow in a procession into St. Martin-in-the-Fields church in Trafalgar Square, London, UK on March 24, for Kathleen’s commissioning.
2. Canadian contingent of MU members supporting Kathleen Snow at her commissioning in March in London: Gael Page (Diocese of NS & PEI; past Canadian secretary); Alice Kennedy (past Canadian president); Michele LeBlanc (MU member from Cathedral branch); Susan Watson (Canadian provincial president); Kathleen; Shara Golden (past Canadian vice president); Lilian Ketch (Diocese of Fredericton president).
3. Kathleen Snow points to the Christ Church Cathedral square on the Worldwide Council Quilt on display at Mary Sumner House in London, the headquarters of Mothers’ Union.
4. Kathleen Snow with new patron of Mothers’ Union, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, at an MU program for women in London.
All photos courtesy of Kathleen Snow.