Lieutenant Governor Russ Mirasty addresses a Solemn Evensong Service at St. Alban's Cathedral in Prince Albert. (Derek Craddock/paNOW Staff)

By Derek Craddock

SOLEMN SERVICE

‘Beyond belief’: Lieutenant Governor reflects on the Queen during memorial service in P.A.

Sep 22, 2022 | 12:00 PM

A devotion to enduring service and duty were some of the words spoken about the late Queen Elizabeth II, during a memorial service in Prince Albert.

The Solemn Evensong service was held at St. Alban’s Cathedral Wednesday night, with dozens gathered to remember the monarch and offer state prayers to her and her family.

The traditional service drew in many churchgoers but also First Nations leaders and veterans.

Among those who addressed the crowd was Saskatchewan’s Lieutenant Governor, Russ Mirasty.

“When we received the invitation, I thought, ‘they put some effort into acknowledging her Majesty and having a service in her memory and I need to be there.’ We made the drive up and it was worth it.”

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Mirasty never met Queen Elizabeth II though he was scheduled to in 2020, but pandemic restrictions cancelled those plans. He is hopeful one day he will meet the new Head of State, King Charles III.

The Evensong service featured a number of hymns and prayers, starting with “I Vow to Thee My Country” and ending with “God Save The King”.

Aside from the address from the Lieutenant Governor, others who spoke at the service included Ava Bear, Chief of Muskoday First Nation, and Gordon Kirkby, Chancellor of the Diocese of Saskatchewan.

The Cathedral itself even has mementos from the Queen’s reign including a blue and gold cloth on the west wall. This cloth is from the hanging placed in Westminster Abbey for the Queen’s Coronation, something each Cathedral in the Commonwealth received.

This gold and blue cloth was given to every Cathedral in the Commonwealth from the Queen’s Coronation. (Derek Craddock/paNOW Staff)

Father David Butorac of St. Alban’s presented the sermon where he highlighted the Queen’s long devotion to service and faith in God.

It was that enduring service that Mirasty said was the number one thing he will remember about Elizabeth.

“Even when I say it, for someone to have committed their life and to eventually service for 70 years is really beyond belief, that’s what I’ll remember.”

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derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @PA_Craddock