Bob Marley mass strikes a chord

St. James Cathedral observed the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in March with the first-ever Marley Mass. More than 300 people attended in person with another 650 viewing the livestream.

The service, composed by the Rev. Canon Dr. Stephen Fields, the cathedral’s vicar and sub-dean, was inspired by the theological perspectives and lyrics of the reggae superstar. It included some of Bob Marley’s songs, played by a Toronto reggae band.

In his homily, Canon Fields told the congregation that he was sure that none of them had ever imagined that they would have lived long enough to hear Mr. Marley’s music performed in an Anglican church such as the cathedral.

“That’s because we grew up in a world bound by the chains that Bob Nesta Marley spoke and sang about, chains that not only bound our hands and feet but shackled our minds and held us captive. And today, still do so,” he said.

He described Mr. Marley, who died in 1981, as a prophet of the oppressed. “His songs echo the cries of the oppressed, the call to unity and the hope for liberation. He challenges us to see God not as a distant observer but as an active force in the struggle for justice. He invites us to embody love that is bold, transformative and inclusive. Marley’s theology is a call to action – a reminder that faith is not passive but revolutionary. It calls us to resist the ‘Babylon system,’ to stand with the oppressed and to believe in a God who is not only with us but within us.”

He said Mr. Marley’s legacy invites people to ask: “How does our faith challenge the oppressive systems of today? How do we live out a love that seeks justice? How can we, as individuals and communities, participate in the liberation that Marley envisioned and that God desires? In answering these questions, we move beyond simply appreciating his music to embodying its message.”

The service included a response by Brainerd Blyden-Taylor, founder and artistic director of the Nathaniel Dett Chorale. He reflected on the way Mr. Marley’s music continues to speak to the body, mind, soul and aspirations of the oppressed and underprivileged. He showed that Mr. Marley’s music is a direct descendant of the Spiritual genre that spoke to the lives of Black people who faced oppression.

Joan Pierre, former executive director of Caribana, expressed her satisfaction with the celebration. “What an evening of pure joy and blessings,” she said. “St. James Cathedral was packed and everyone left filled with love. What a gift Bob Marley left us all!”

Dean Stephen Hance of the cathedral said, “We were so excited to see the level of participation in the Marley Mass, in person and online, following the success of the Leonard Cohen Eucharist last year. Clearly many people are open to a worship experience which engages with music and the arts in a creative way, and St. James Cathedral will offer these from time to time.”