Dear Friends, You may have noticed an announcement in the bulletin last weekend that St. James Cathedral has been invited to participate in a national survey on parish life and spiritual growth. The survey, the Disciple Maker Index, is conducted annually by the highly respected consulting firm, the Catholic Leadership Institute. Our parish, along with a number of other parishes in area, is participating in this survey as part of a comprehensive long-term planning project for our parishes, particularly with regard to such issues as a shortage of priests, the possible need to close or consolidate parishes, and the potential for involving more lay ministers in parish leadership. You might be thinking, “Didn’t we just do a survey?” And you would be correct! However, that survey, conducted in September (the results of which are now available on the parish website), was for our parish alone, and was conducted to help us develop a five year plan for the parish. The Disciple Maker Index asks similar questions, but is significantly more detailed. The results of the survey will help form a picture of the entire Church in Western Washington, and will help determine how the parishes in South Seattle are going to address the challenges that face us in the years ahead. This is an important exercise and I encourage you to take a few minutes to participate in it. I know that Archbishop Sartain will be grateful for your participation and so will I. And there will be other opportunities for your further input as this important planning process unfolds. Thank you in advance for participating, and may you know God’s blessings in abundance during this Year of Mercy.
P.S. The Disciple Maker Index is primarily an on-line survey. In the coming week, a link will be sent to all parishioners for whom we have an e-mail address. (Look for an e-mail from DiscipleMakerIndex@measuring-success.com.) If we do not have your e-mail address on file, you can simply visit the Cathedral website where a link to the survey will be available. The survey is available in English, Spanish and Vietnamese. If you do not have access to a computer or would prefer a paper copy of the survey, contact Maria Laughlin, 206-382-4284. WELCOME! If you are a visitor to the Cathedral, we want you to know how welcome you are – whether you have come from another part of the country, from across the world, or simply from another parish here in the Archdiocese. Thanks, in part, to the generosity of visitors like you, we are able to celebrate the Church’s liturgy here in a fitting and beautiful way. We are also able to offer a wide range of services to needy people living in the central district of our city. For more information about the parish, to register, or to ask a question, visit our Sunday Help Desk at Coffee Hour. A Cathedral staff person will be on hand to assist you. COVER ART Icon of the Wedding at Cana. Joan Brand-Landkamer, Cathedral Iconographer. FLOWERS AT THE ALTAR are offered in loving memory of Dave Runkle by his wife, Liz. HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT ST. JAMES CATHEDRAL? Come visit the Sunday Help Desk at Coffee Hour! Here, you can register as a parishioner, find out how to get involved with a ministry, arrange to have a Mass offered, and discover more about this community. SANTO NIÑO – HOLY CHILD. On Sunday, January 17, at the Noon Mass, we have our annual celebration of the Santo Niño, the Holy Child Jesus, with music provided by the Fil-Am Choir. The annual celebration will be followed by a fiesta in Cathedral Place Hall, with a marvelous feast of Filipino food prepared by a group of our own parishioners. All are welcome. SANTO NIÑO PROCESSION at the beginning of the Noon Mass All children and young people are invited to part of today’s entrance procession. Parents, please accompany very small children. ALTAR SERVING AT THE NOON MASS. There are openings in the Noon Mass altar server corps for young people through age 18 who have received First Communion and who regularly participate in the Noon Mass. Training and ongoing support provided. Information, Brenda Bellamy, 206-661-5094. WELCOME BACK! Have you listened to Pope Francis and been inspired to return to regular practice of our faith? St. James Cathedral offers Welcome Back, our own program designed to help you become an active part of our faith community once again. It’s a safe place to ask questions, and begin to experience a small community of faith. The Welcome Back program just began, and will run through early March; it is not too late to join us. Sessions are held Monday evenings, 7:00 – 9:00, in Cathedral Place, 803 Terry Avenue. Information: Rosanne Michaels, 206-654-4658. IDENTITY AND CRISIS: SYRIA AND BEYOND. The war in Syria has killed as many as 250,000 Syrians and has uprooted more than 11 million people. The European refugee crisis, international terrorism, and the role of the Christian church in the Middle East are all intertwined in the history, politics and culture of Syria. Fr. David Nazar, SJ, will speak on the situation in Syria that has given rise to the conflict and the refugee crisis, as well as the response of the church to the crisis. Fr. Nazar has been the Provincial Superior of the Jesuits in Canada and in Ukraine, and is currently the Rector of the Pontifical Orientale Institute in Rome. Monday, January 25, 7:00 pm, Pastoral Outreach Center. Information, Patty Bowman, 206-382-4515. ANTI-PORNOGRAPHY SUPPORT GROUP. Has pornography had a negative impact in your life? Has porn ever come between you and your friends, loved ones, or God? You are not alone. St. James will be holding a free and anonymous support group to confront and overcome habits of porn use and addiction. We are meeting on Tuesdays from 8-10 pm in Cathedral Place (803 Terry Ave). All seeking help are welcome to attend. Information, Tom Frasene. JOSEPH ADAM PERFORMS DURUFLÉ ORGAN WORKS. Cathedral Organist and Associate Director of Music Joseph Adam undertakes the monumental feat of performing the complete organ works of Maurice Duruflé on the Cathedral’s two spectacular organs. Friday, January 29, 2016, 7:30 pm. Suggested donation $15. Passes available at www.stjames-cathedral.org/music/concerts. “HAVE A HEART: BE AN ANGEL” AUCTION DINNER for Cabrini Ministry Training, Saturday, January 30. Join us for food, fun and drinks as we raise funds to support the ANGELS in our midst who offer compassionate pastoral care to those in need. This year’s event will be held at Our Lady of the Lake parish in northeast Seattle at 6:30pm. Tickets are $50/person. Reservations can be made at www.cabriniministry.org.
OVERFLOW SHELTER NEEDS SUPPLIES. We are currently looking for spray or can deodorant as well as cough drops, toothbrushes, disposable razors, and floss. You can drop off your donations at Coffee Hour after the morning Masses on Sundays as well as at the front office Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm. Thank you in advance!
PARISH REMEMBRANCE: Throughout the year, because we are the Cathedral Church, we remember in prayer at Mass and Vespers each of the parishes and missions of the Archdiocese of Seattle on a Sunday near their feast day. This week we remember in prayer the parishes of Holy Redeemer in Vancouver and Sacred Heart in LaConner and Winlock.
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