“We cannot delude ourselves: by our mutual love and, in particular, by our concern for those in need we will be recognized as true followers of Christ. This will be the criterion by which the authenticity of our Eucharistic celebrations is judged” (Pope John Paul II). Service is not an option for us; it is a foundation of our faith. We must reach out in love and compassion to others, and be a voice in the community against poverty, violence and injustice.

Christ our Cornerstone: A Vision Statement for St. James Cathedral (2005)

“I am in your midst as one who serves.” These words from the Gospel of Luke, inscribed in the oculus high over the altar of St. James Cathedral, speak to our mission to carry out Christ’s teaching in our community. Every day, St. James volunteers reach out in love to the needy of First Hill and downtown Seattle.

St. Vincent de Paul Society
The St. James Conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society provides information referral, spiritual support, and financial assistance to low-income neighbors through home visits. To request assistance, call 206-767-6449. To make a donation, call 206-767-3835. To volunteer, contact Jennifer Ibach at 206/654-4640.  Click here to read a short history of Vincentianism at St. James Cathedral.

Solanus Casey Center

St. James Winter Shelter
The St. James Winter Shelter provides overnight shelter and breakfast to homeless men four nights a week, October through April. Our shelter provides overflow capacity for the St. Martin de Porres Shelter, operated by the Archdiocesan Housing Authority. For more information or to volunteer, Jennifer Ibach at 206-654-4640.

Sandwiches for St. Martin’s
Another way in which St. James parishioners and volunteers support the St. Martin de Porres Shelter is by providing sandwiches, fruit, cookies, and other items for 275 to 300 men on the second Monday of each month. For more information, contact Katie Doyle at 425-643-8612. Visit the St. Martin de Porres website at www.ccsww.org/stmartin

Operation Nightwatch
Operation Nightwatch is a Christian ministry seeking to meet the physical, social, psychological, and spiritual needs of Seattle’s night community. Dedicated to serving the poorest of the poor, Operation Nightwatch provides emergency dispatch to shelters, hotel vouchers for families, meals, blankets, and pastoral care for those in need. Volunteers from St. James provide a meal and sandwiches to distribute to the homeless on the first and third Tuesdays of the month. For more information, contact Deacon Joe Curtis at 206-523-1050 or Jennifer Ibach at 206-654-4640.  You can also visit www.seattlenightwatch.org.

Emmaus Companions
Emmaus Companions provide a ministry of presence during the weekend Masses and coffee hours to persons with special needs or who are in crisis. For more information, contact Patty Bowman at 206-382-4515.

Pregnancy Support Ministry
The Pregnancy Support Ministry at St. James Cathedral will work in connection with CCS to provide some extra services and help that are beyond the scope of CCS’s Pregnancy Support Services. We recognize that the staff of CCS are professionals in the fields of counseling and social services, and it is our intention to supplement their work with other services which can be performed by caring volunteers. Click here to find out more about this important new ministry at St. James.  Roe v. Wade Reality Check: Download the PDF

AIDS and Multiple Sclerosis Support Ministry
In a Care Team model, volunteers work together to provide emotional support and help with daily tasks for a person living with AIDS or MS.  For more information, contact Jennifer Ibach at 206-654-4640.

Volunteer Chore Ministry
The Volunteer Chore Ministers will work in connection with CCS to provide assistance with household chores and errands.  This helps elders and individuals with disabilities to remain in their homes among familiar surroundings, rather than going to an institutionalized setting.   For more information, contact Jennifer Ibach at  206-654-4640.
 
Biloxi Service Trips
In response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, groups go down for a week-long trip to Biloxi, MS to help with clean up and rebuilding efforts.  The team works in conjunction with Biloxi’s Diocesan Office of Long-Term Recovery.  For more information, contact Jennifer Ibach at 206-654-4640.

The Hunthausen Fund
The Hunthausen Fund, named for our visionary retired Archbishop Raymond G. Hunthausen, is an outreach program of St. James Cathedral managed by the Archdiocesan Housing Authority. The fund provides grants and no-interest loans to families in shelters for first and last month’s rent, plus damage deposits, so that families in temporary housing can make the leap into permanent housing. To make a donation to The Hunthausen Fund, contact Maria Laughlin, 206-622-3559.

The St. James Environmental Justice Group
The St. James Environmental Justice Group is a small team of St. James parishioners whose mission is to take the message of Scripture and Catholic Social Teaching of care for creation into the world.  This team meets twice a month to pray and plan for engaging the parish in environmental stewardship.

• To learn more about the Environmental Justice Project of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, click here:  http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/ejp/
• To learn more about local ecumenical and interfaith efforts on environmental justice issues, click here:  www.earthministry.org
• Watch this site for notices of upcoming Environmental Justice Group activities.
• For more information, contact Patty Bowman at 206-382-4515.   
  

To donate clothes, furniture, and household items

• St. Vincent de Paul Society. Donated items sold at St. Vincent de Paul thrift stores support the outreach work of the Society. Call 206-767-3835 for pick up, or take donations to any St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store.
• The Sharehouse, 206-767-5280, or www.thesharehouse.org. The Sharehouse supplies furniture and household items without charge to homeless families moving into permanent housing.
• St. Francis House, 169 12th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98122, 206-621-0945. Provides clothes, furniture, and household items free of charge to homeless men, women, and children.
• St. James Winter Shelter. The Winter Shelter is always in need of toiletries—soaps, shampoos, toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors, shaving cream—for men staying in our shelter during the winter months. Travel and trial sizes are great. Drop off donations at the Sunday coffee hour or at the parish office.

For more information

• Catholic Community Services and Archdiocesan Housing Authority www.catholiccharitiesseattlearch.org
• Washington State Catholic Conference represents the three dioceses of Washington state on issues of public policy to the state and federal government. www.seattlearch.org/outreach/wscc
• The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Department of Social Development and World Peace contains position statements on public policy issues, as well as key Catholic Social Teaching documents. www.usccb.org/sdwp
• Pax Christi International is a global Catholic peace movement concerned with issues in the fields of human rights, security and disarmament, economic justice and ecology. www.paxchristi.net