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Dearest Cathedral Community,

This year has been a year categorized by change for all of us at the Cathedral and it is with great sadness that I write to let you know that I will be leaving my position as Food and Hospitality Coordinator.

Covid changed things for many families, including mine. While it presented new challenges around child-care, it also opened up opportunities that we had not imagined might present themselves. After much discernment with my family, I made the decision to pursue a new career opportunity that allows for a work life balance that works better for us as a family, and allows my wife Laura to pursue new opportunities in her own career. This is an exciting time for our family.

The Cathedral has been more than just a workplace for me. It’s a place with amazing colleagues and friends whom I’ll miss working with. I’m also going to miss the Maundy Cafe community, especially its guests and volunteers. I know that there is so much that I am leaving behind; so much that I had looked forward to and hoped for that is still left undone. There are so many people that I am going to miss. It is not lost on me that I am leaving in the midst of a time of great change and great need.

Reimagining the Maundy Cafe to be able to operate in the midst of a pandemic has made me look back on how far we have come in these past three years. I remember, when I first arrived, being introduced to the "regulars" at the Maundy Cafe. The love that you had for the guests was so evident; they were known and they were cared for. As we began to bring in changes, I heard your concern as you asked me how this was going to impact our guests. Your priority was that they be cared for and that the new system should serve them better. I felt so supported as you stood by me through the many changes we implemented over the past three years. I thank you for trusting that I too cared for the guests as you did...
...as we shifted our schedule to better align with the needs of our guests
...as we moved to 5 days a week of sit down meals
...as we implemented change based on the feedback from our guests (like bringing in the peanut butter and jam station and self-serve coffee)
...as we tweaked the meal to be as nutritionally dense as possible
...as we moved towards an advocacy model, based on friendship, that allowed us to help folks find housing, find walkers, do their taxes and apply for benefits.
...as we responded and adapted to the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic.

We have so much to be proud of.

It is hard to leave the Maundy Community and the Cathedral community, but I’m happy to share with you that I will be handing over the reins to Vienne Chan, who has accepted the position of Hospitality & Food Coordinator and will be stepping into the role starting on Monday, October 26. I am both relieved and thankful that such a qualified and experienced person was found to take up this amazing work. I’m sure that you will come to trust and support Vienne, just as you did me, when you see what an amazing person she is and what she’s capable of.

Part of what makes it so bittersweet to leave Maundy at this time is that I know the Maundy Cafe does so much amazing work and is capable of doing amazing things moving forward, with the continued support of the Cathedral community.  I can’t wait to see where the next chapter of the life of the Maundy Cafe and the Cathedral goes next. I look forward to hearing of the ways in which God will continue to lead you deeper into shared life and relationship with our guests and neighbours, of your continued commitment to serve our guests and neighbours in the midst of this pandemic, of the partnerships you'll develop and how this great work will continue to spread from the Cathedral.

I will miss you greatly and I am saddened that I will not get to say goodbye to many of you in person.

Every Blessing,

Alberto