NEWSLETTER | October 2019

A meeting in friendship at Isegran

A visit from the Frogner church and Wat Thai - the Thai Buddhist Association - who joined forces for a trip to the Hope Cathedral. A lovely lunch of soup at Magasinet, then a meditation for the ocean followed by the making of bee cathedrals. A wonderful and meaningful day in the cause of HOPE.


The Buddhists from Wat Thai each made a bee cathedral which they took home as a gift.

From left: Abbed at Wat Thai Norway temple Phra Wimon Sasanawitet and Phra Maha Decha. The Buddhists each made a bee cathedral which they took home as a gift.

First cathedral log has been laid

The course in traditional crafts and forestry is underway. This month both traditional forestry and log cabin techniques were the subjects covered. The next course, in post and beam construction, will be held Monday 11.11 to Friday 15.11.


 

This is logging by horse power! Henning Olstad explained and demonstrated. We extracted 22 logs for rafters for the Cathedral.

The frame of what will be the skeleton - or framed structure of Hope Cathedral.

It’s raining dresses!

Our project Hope in a Dress has aroused a lot of interest. Not least, we’ve received 17 party dresses from deputy county mayor Siv Henriette Jacobsen. There are enough dresses here for the Christmas party of a medium-sized company, she told Fredriksstad Blad. And then Nobel Committee member Anne Enger turned up with the dress she bought for the Nobel celebrations, but which unfortunately didn’t fit. A beautiful red, woollen dress from Busnell!

Anne Enger with the dress she donated to Hope in a Dress - a dress for this year’s Christmas party?

A dress for an unknown woman!

Hope in a Dress is for everyone, and here’s a challenge that’s directed to men as well; buy a dress for an unknown woman. This will give a gift voucher via Kirkens Bymisjon,Blåkors or the Salvation Army. In this way you can bring joy to a woman who is not able to buy a dress herself while also combatting plastic in the ocean.

The gift vouchers can be used at the dress party on November 9th. It is possible to donate for this through our campaign on Facebook.

Diocesan Days in Bodø

The Hope Cathedral was presented during Diocesan Days in Bodø by South-Hålogoland Diocesan Council committee member Bente Haukland Næss. She could report that there had been good conversations and enthusiasm for our project.

Pictured: Bishop Ann-Helen Fjeldstad Jusnes of the diocese of South-Hålogaland.

Confirmands from Hvaler

Confirmands from Hvaler visited us in pouring rain at our Wednesday voluntary workshop. Sausages and the caulking and drilling of bee cathedrals. A lovely bunch of young people who promised to come back in the spring.

A Visit from Rønningen Folk High School

International Programme, Rønningen Folk Hugh School (Oslo) at Isegran.

Liv, Ingrid Marie and Anaïs from Rønningen Folk High School made bee cathedrals for the Hope Cathedral. Nice to have young visitors from all over the world!

United Nations Day in the cause of hope

Every Thursday we have a school visit at Isegran. On United Nations day (24.10) it was the turn of 7th-graders from Rødsmyra school. They learned about United Nations Day, the Sustainable Development Goals and they made bee cathedrals. Each one got a Hope Cathedral t-shirt with the sustainability ring on it. The t-shirts are a gift from Borg Havn/Borg Harbour - who recognise the sustainability goals as important and use them actively in their operations. 

View the video her. Or click the picture below! (Youtube)

Christmas gifts for employees?

This year the Hope Cathedral can offer three unique gifts:

  • Bee cathedrals in solid pine

  • Chopping boards in sustainable oak

  • Environment-friendly tote bags in strong cotton

A bee cathedral is a little house for single bees, who help create a fertile environment. We need the bees, and now they need us!

Buddhist meditation for hope and the ocean

Welcome to meditation with Lokkutara Vihara Skiptvedt woodland monastery 13.11 at the Hope Cathedral, Phønixbrygga 3. The meditation will be led by Buddhist munk Ajahn Kalyano and will be held indoors. Bring something to sit on. 

The event at Facebook

Bishop Atle Sommerfeldt and Abbed Phra Wimon Sasanawitet.

Meditation for hope and the ocean led by the Buddhist munks.

Nice lunch at “Magasinet”.

Together at the Hope Cathedral barge.

Thanks to Richard Burgess, helping us with translation.

Hope Cathedral is an interfaith and sustainable art project. We’re building a cathedral with a wooden construction inspired by traditional Norwegian stave churches and blocks made out of plastic we have found in the sea. The cathedral becomes proof that we can transform something bad into something good - and is a groundbreaking meeting point between world heritage and modern art, between people across age, nationality and faith. Hope Cathedral will be a place for common effort in a world where we may feel isolated from others.

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Contact Anne Skauen anne@hopecathedral.no +4795912552 www.håpetskatedral.no