November
16.  Our annual Mass for the Deceased Homeless of Seattle concluded with the tolling of the Cathedral’s “Thomas” bell, fifty-four times in memory of the fifty-four who died on the streets of our city in the past year.
20.  On the Solemnity of Christ the King, Father Ryan asked in his homily: “Where is the hungry Christ now? Where is the thirsty Christ now? Where is the lonely and abandoned Christ now? ...He’s no longer in Gethsemane; he’s no longer climbing the lonely road to Calvary. He’s here. In our midst. And we must find him. Right here…!”
24.  We gathered on Thanksgiving morning for a beautiful Mass, during which all were invited forward at offertory time to bring their gifts of food items for the poor.
27.  On the First Sunday of Advent, in union with Catholics throughout the English-speaking world, we prayed using the new translation of the Roman Missal.  Father Ryan said: “Some of you, I know, are very happy with the new Missal, pleased that its day of adoption has arrived. Others of you are undecided. You haven’t seen or heard enough to make up your mind. Still others are not happy at all and wonder why we are doing this, why we can’t keep on praying the way we’ve been praying for the past 40 years. And then there are those of you who came today without the slightest notion that anything new was going to happen! So, we’re probably quite a mix. But that’s OK. If you think of it for a moment, that’s pretty ‘Catholic!’ We are the church, after all, that the great Irish poet and novelist, James Joyce, once referred to as, ‘Here comes everybody!’”
 
December
3.  People from across the Archdiocese of Seattle gathered for the annual celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Madre de las Americas.
4.  The Advent Bazaar offered Fair Trade gift items in preparation for Christmas.
7.  PEMCO spoiled the Cathedral Kitchen with a special Christmas dinner for our guests. PEMCO employees not only prepared the dinner, they also set the tables with poinsettias and served our guests milk, coffee, and sparkling cider. The McDonald’s gift cards packed into warm gloves were also very much appreciated by all.
10.  We celebrated Simbang Gabi, the traditional Filipino Advent celebration.
18.  Youth musicians, readers, and altar servers joined Father Ryan for the beautiful candlelight service of Readings and Carols.
25.  From Father Ryan’s homily for Christmas Day:  “Christmas is not the end of our journey – it’s the beginning. Christmas means that God is with us right in the midst of our often messy lives and our troubled world, that God is accessible within whatever is happening to us, not outside it. Christmas says that God holds us in our weakness, even our sin, and gently embraces us in our pain and sorrow, our confusion and our feelings of inadequacy.”

January
13.  In conjunction with the concert on January 13-14, Parishioner Elizabeth Winder curated a special art exhibit in the Cathedral Chapel, The Spirit of Prophecy.  The exhibit featured works by five contemporary artists known for addressing spiritual themes.  The works ranged from large-scale oils to intimate woodcuts and mixed media sculpture.
13-14.  We were privileged to host Pacific MusicWorks’ production of Carissimi Prophets, four short sacred dramas of the 17th century.  They were beautifully staged with special lighting and costumes.
15.  Our generous parishioners contributed 2,735 pairs of socks to our 2011 Advent Warm Hearts and Soles sock drive to benefit the homeless in our city.
15.  We celebrated the Santo Niño (Holy Child Jesus) with a festive procession, blessing of images of the Child Jesus, ad a huge fiesta in Cathedral Hall—all in spite of the snow!
21.  Archbishop Sartain presided at our annual Mass celebrating the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This year, the Swahili community made Archbishop Sartain an honorary chieftain in a colorful ceremony.
24.  Father Ryan was invited to preach at the Countywide Observance of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, held at First A.M.E. Church in Seattle.
 
February
15. Many Cathedral parishioners made the trek down to Olympia for Catholic Advocacy Day, an annual event in which Catholics have the opportunity to meet their state representatives and advocate on behalf of the poor.
23.  At the Rite of Election, those preparing for baptism at the great Easter Vigil were presented to the Archbishop and recorded their names in the Book of the Elect.

March
Lent.  Well over one hundred parishioners participated in this year’s Lenten series, Keys to the Council, which offered a whirlwind tour of the major documents of the Second Vatican Council.  One participant commented:  “This series was a wonderful gift, reminding us of just what a gift the council was—and is.”
10.  We were privileged to host a special exhibit of artworks by L’Arche’s Robert Ross.
15.  Father Paul Janowiak, SJ, gave the inaugural lecture in our Vatican II Lecture Series.  He spoke about the Council’s great document on the liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium.  More than 200 were in attendance.
25.  In conjunction with a national convention of ceramics artists, St. James hosted an exhibit of works by three noted artists.
29. The Chrism Mass gathered hundreds for the blessing of the oils to be used in sacramental celebrations throughout the coming year.
 
April
1.  Palm Sunday marked the beginning of Holy Week, the greatest week of the Church’s year.
6.  On Good Friday, Sister Dianne Bergant, CSA, preached the Seven Last Words at the traditional Tre Ore Service.
7.  Eleven adults were baptized at the great Easter Vigil.
8.  A disturbing attack of vandals on the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Cathedral Courtyard, as well as the Cathedral’s west façade, could not dampen the joy and beauty of our celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord.
18.  Harry Hagopian, a world-renowned expert on the Middle East and North Africa, gave a riveting presentation on the Arab Awakening.
30.  Father James Eblen offered the second in our series of lectures celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Second Vatican Council. His subject was Dei Verbum, the Council’s great document on divine revelation.