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WELCOME, VISITORS! 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. 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. Be sure to stop by the Cathedral Bookstore after Mass for a wide selection of Cathedral souvenirs as well as Catholic books and gifts.

ON THE COVER Noah in the ark. Detail of the central East Apse stained glass window, Hans Gottfried von Stockhausen, artist.

ADVENT GIVING TREE. Consider offering a Christmas gift to a person in need through the St. James Advent Giving Tree. This year’s partners include the Skagit Valley Youth Migrant Project, PREPARES, and several immigration services in Seattle. This year’s Advent Giving Tree can be found in the Cathedral and at Coffee Hour. Gifts are due by Sunday, December 15.

CATHEDRAL ESPRESSO. This month, all espresso sales benefit Prepares Pregnancy Support Ministry. The Espresso Cart is open at coffee hour after the 10:00am Mass.

FIRST FRIDAY EXPOSITION AND HOLY HOUR. On Friday, December 6, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament begins after the 8:15am Mass and continues until 1:00pm. Holy Hour, with rosary, readings, and reflection, will begin at 12 Noon. You are invited to participate in all or part of prayer in the presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.

CONTEMPLATIVE EVENING PRAYER FOR ADVENT. On Friday, December 6 at 6:30pm, you are invited to join in this beautiful service, with candlelight, silence, and music from the ecumenical community of Taizé.

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION. Because December 8 falls on a Sunday this year, the Solemnity of Mary’s Immaculate Conception will be observed on Monday, December 9. Masses will be at 8:15am and 5:30pm.

HELP PREPARE FOR ST JAMES' CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS PARTY. Are you crafty? Do you have an hour or two to help put together activities for the party, or to help out at the party itself? If so, contact Brenda Bellamy, 206-274-3108.

GREETERS FOR READINGS AND CAROLS. On Friday, December 13 at 7:30pm, we have our annual service of Readings and Carols. Can you help out as a greeter from 6:30pm-7:30pm, handing out programs and candles? Greeters get great reserved seats for this wonderful Advent prayer. Please contact Corinna Laughlin if you are interested.

CATHEDRAL BLOOD DRIVE Monday, December 9, 12:30pm-6:30pm (closed 2:30–3:30pm). What better gift than the gift of life! Please thoughtfully consider donating blood during the holy season of Advent. Blood donors have a profound life-giving impact on our entire community, including those with acute needs due to injury and accident, those who require transfusions to combat the effects of chemotherapy, those who live with chronic illnesses and need blood transfusions to survive, those undergoing organ transplants. Each blood donation can help up to 3 lives. How many lives will you save? Sign up at Coffee Hours on 12/1 and 12/8 or schedule an appointment online at www.bloodworks.org/drives.

CHRISTMAS MUSIC SOCIAL FOR SENIORS Monday, December 16, 11am–2pm St. James Cathedral Pastoral Outreach Center Holy Names Room. St. James parishioner and lifelong musician Selina Chu has been involved with the arts community in the Pacific Northwest for many years. Enjoy her sampling of traditional Christmas ‘Sing-A -Longs’ followed by a light lunch. Information or to RSVP, Nancy Granger, 206-382-4269.

PANHANDLING: A DISCIPLESHIP RESPONSE. At St. James Cathedral, we take very seriously our call to help our brothers and sisters in need. Your ongoing commitment and generosity makes possible a wide variety of outreach services at the Cathedral, including a very active St. Vincent de Paul conference, the Winter Shelter, and the Cathedral Kitchen, to name a few. However, for the safety of all our parishioners and visitors, especially the elderly, St. James Cathedral does not permit panhandling on the Cathedral grounds. (This includes the O’Dea High School property.) Unfortunately, cash given on the street often goes to support addictions. Giving money directly to individuals may allow them to survive on the streets, for a short time, but professional case management truly serves their long-term care. We believe it is much more effective to provide direct services, or to refer people to other programs and services designed to address their needs. We ask that you help support this Cathedral policy by not giving cash to panhandlers in or around the Cathedral. Information, Patrick Barredo, 206-382-4515.

CARE FOR CREATION TIP. The beginning of Advent is a great time to start looking at a change of habits. Today, reflect on one habit you have that might not be so environmentally conscious, and how you can change it. For example, time your shower for 5 minutes or less, or turn off the water while soaping up. Want suggestions on caring for creation throughout the Advent season? Download our Environmental Advent Calendar.

CONSIDER JOINING THE WINTER SHELTER TEAM! We have openings for overnight volunteers for Sunday nights, and breakfast hosts for Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays. We also need volunteers who can substitute in case our regular volunteers are unavailable. If you cannot be an overnight host or provide breakfast, you can support the Winter Shelter by donating: spray deodorant, large tubes of toothpaste, cough drops, hand warmers, Travel-size Tissues and Lip Balm. Items can be brought to Coffee Hour, or dropped off or mailed to the Parish Office. Thank you! Information, Patrick Barredo, 206-382-4515.

PARENTAL NOTIFICATION INITIATIVE. Washington is one of only six states in the country that do not require any parental involvement before a minor can have an abortion. To change this policy, the bishops of Washington State support an initiative to the legislature. I-1004 would require physicians to notify a parent or guardian before performing an abortion on a minor. The initiative does not require parental permission, only parental notification. I-1004 contains reasonable exceptions to protect minors in cases where notification may threaten the minor’s safety or where a valid medical exemption is present. Failure to comply with the law would carry criminal penalties and provide grounds for civil claims. January 4, 2020 is the deadline for submission of 320,000 signatures of registered voters to the office of the Secretary of State. Petitions will be available to sign through December 1 at the Sunday morning coffee hours and in the west vestibule of the cathedral after 5:30 Masses. More information about this initiative can be found at www.parentsandstudentsprotectingminors.org.

ROSARY. All are welcome to join with a group of parishioners who pray the rosary together in the Chapel, Monday through Saturday at 7:40am.

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 pray for the parishes of St. Nicholas in Gig Harbor, Immaculate Conception in Arlington and Mount Vernon, and Immaculate Conception Mission in Steilacoom.

804 Ninth Avenue
Seattle, Washington  98104
Phone 206.622.3559  Fax 206.622.5303