Ever feel like the world is falling apart faster than you can put the pieces back together? That the hole in the dyke is bigger than anything your little thumb can plug? Or that you want to help, but you just don’t know where to begin?
We do, too.
We realized that we can’t do everything to heal this big, complicated, blue marble, but we can do a little. A little bit at a time.
So we’re making a community quilt.
About 80 people embroidered squares with symbols from the art and architecture of our historic cathedral. We pieced them together, and now we’re quilting them on Jane’s great-grandmother’s frame. When we’re done, we’ll have a gorgeous hand-made quilt that will be auctioned off at the Beacon Gala in September to help our neighbors who are homeless.
Every little stitch in this quilt is an act of love. And all these stitches – straight, crooked, even, or wonky – will add up to become something with the power to provide hot meals, warm showers, clean clothes.
Our little fingers can’t plug the big holes, but they can take a few stitches.
Come see the quilt in the Cathedral Bookstore. Maybe take a few stitches. A quilt won’t solve all the problems of the world, but when we come together to put something beautiful together, something that provides a bit of peace and dignity to those who are hurting, it’s a start.
Cathedral members and friends began the Community Quilt in August 2025. Designed by Jane Curtis, the quilt consists of 63 squares representing 7 symbols from the art and architecture of Houston’s oldest church. Each symbol was interpreted in a unique way by the person who embroidered it. The quilt is currently set up in the Bookstore, where people may come and work on it Monday – Thursday 10 a.m. til 2 p.m., Sundays, 9 a.m. til 12:30 p.m, or by appointment. The goal is to finish the quilting by Easter and auction off the quilt at Come to the Table, the Beacon’s fundraising gala, in September 2026. Even if you’ve never taken a stitch before, you can help. Experienced stitchers will show you how to do it, and you’ll quickly get the hang of it.
The Beacon , which. originated as a mission of Christ Church Cathedral and is located across the street from the church, is a non-profit organization that serves individuals experiencing homelessness by providing daily services, civil legal aid, counseling and mentoring and housing case management. Their mission is to provide essential and next-step services to restore hope and help end homelessness in Houston.
If I can stop one Heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one Life the Aching,
Or cool one Pain,
Or help one fainting Robin
Unto his Nest again,
I shall not live in vain.
~Emily Dickinson