Architect Stephen Lee's designs for the Cathedral's new courtyard and gathering space, due to be completed in December 2005
| In Your Midst | The Work Continues |
Nov. 2005 |
The work of the Centennial Campaign continues with the construction of the new courtyard and gathering space, and the creation of three important endowments
The creation of the Pastoral Care Center and the renovation of Cathedral Place Hall and Kitchen are only part of the far-reaching mission of the Centennial Campaign, which is intended to enrich the life of the parish and the broader community for many years to come.
Architect Stephen Lee's designs for the Cathedral's new courtyard and gathering space, due to be completed in December 2005 |
The CATHEDRAL COURTYARD will be completed in December of this year. When complete, the courtyard will enhance the beauty of a portion of the Cathedral grounds that has been largely overlooked, transforming this little-used space into a place of tranquility and respite in the heart of a busy city. This beautiful new gathering space and processional route will also enrich the liturgical life of the Cathedral. Thanks to the generosity of the family of the late, beloved Archbishop Thomas J. Murphy, the beauty of the courtyard will be greatly enhanced by a dramatic water feature, which will flow from the south entrance of the Cathedral to a reflecting pool at the base of the statue of the Virgin and Child, which has stood on this spot for many years. This will allow this wonderful image of Mary, seat of wisdom, to become even more a part of the Cathedral’s devotion to the Mother of God. The courtyard will be named for Archbishop Murphy and will be dedicated in the spring.
Another welcome aspect of the renovation of the Cathedral Courtyard is the renovation of the Cathedral Bookstore. With a new entrance, the bookstore will be bigger and better than ever before, and will at long last be wheelchair accessible.
The Centennial Campaign also established three major funds which assure not only the Cathedral’s ability to reach out to the poor and needy, but also the preservation of the Cathedral itself, for generations to come. The HUNTHAUSEN FUND, established in 2001, will now be sustained by an endowment. This fund helps the working poor with the high costs of moving into permanent housing. Some monies from the “non-endowment” portion of this fund has already resulted in the establishment of the Solanus Casey Center, a joint ministry of St. James Cathedral, Catholic Community Services, and the Detention Ministry of the Archdiocese of Seattle. The Center opened in January, 2005 and is already proving to be a great resource for the poor and needy in our downtown area.
The SCHOLARSHIP FUND, for which an endowment of $500,000 has been created, will help needy parish families with tuition payments in order to allow parish children who would otherwise not be able to afford it to receive a high-quality Catholic education.
Finally, a $1 million ENDOWMENT provides for the maintenance, preservation, and enhancement of the Cathedral itself. History has shown that in difficult economic times, it has been impossible to fund maintenance of the building. This endowment will guarantee that funds will always be available to assure the preservation of our beloved Cathedral.