Sunday, February 7, 2021 -- The 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

ON THE COVER   "Christ took away our infirmities and bore our diseases." Christ Crowned with Thorns. East Apse Stained Glass Window, St. James Cathedral. Hans Gottfried von Stockhausen, artist.
 
Flowers at the altar are offered in loving memory of Nicholas Ryan Harrison on the third anniversary of his death, from his mother Roxanne and sister Natalie.
 
MUSIC AND COVID-19 Per the latest guidance from the State of Washington, we are once again permitted to have a small ensemble instead of a single cantor. This will allow us to have choral music at 10:00am and 12 Noon Masses each Sunday. In keeping with State guidelines, the singers will wear surgical-grade masks and will observe added social distance of 9'-12' between each other and the assembly.
 
WEEKDAY MASSES OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Each day from Monday through Saturday, an 8:00am Mass is celebrated in the Cathedral. All are welcome to attend without prior registration.
 
SATURDAY CONFESSIONS Beginning Saturday, February 6, confessions will be heard immediately following the 8:00am Mass on Saturday mornings, from 8:30am to 9:30am. This change will allow for a more consistent schedule, since we have many special events in the Cathedral on Saturdays. During Lent, confessions will also be heard following the 8:00am Mass on Wednesday mornings, beginning Wednesday, February 20.
 
ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT Beginning with the first Friday in Lent, February 19, we will have Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament following the 8:00am Mass, continuing until 1:00pm, with Holy Hour beginning at 12 Noon. All are welcome. (We no longer have Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on Tuesdays.)
 
Outreach and Advocacy Newsletter Learn about upcoming events and opportunities as well as stay informed on Catholic social teaching by receiving this twice-monthly newsletter. Subscribe, outreach@stjames-cathedral.org.
  
Interested in having your child attend a Catholic Elementary or High School? St. James Cathedral can help! Our Rainbow Schools program (for St. George, St. Therese, St. Joseph, and Holy Family Bilingual Schools) and the Simperman Scholars program (for Holy Names Academy, Bishop Blanchet, O'Dea, and Kennedy Catholic High Schools) have scholarships available for qualifying Cathedral families, and in-parish rates apply for all parishioners. Contact Theresa Van de Ven at 206-619-4660 or tvandeven@stjames-cathedral.org for details and an application packet. All information must be submitted by April 30, 2021.
 
OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES DURING THE PANDEMIC Catholic Community Services/Catholic Housing Services (CCS/CHS) has asked the Cathedral to provide meals for their day centers and shelters. Unopened store-bought casseroles and unopened sandwich-ingredients (bread, deli meat, vegetables and condiments) are greatly appreciated. In addition, toiletries (toothpaste, toothbrushes, soaps and shampoos, feminine hygiene products), canned ready-to-eat meals (ie soup or chili), cup of noodles, easy mac & cheese, K-cup coffee, cocoa and tea, individual servings of chips, crackers, granola bars and cereals have been requested. Deliver food to Cathedral Hall (803 Terry Ave.), Tuesdays, 9:00am to 11:00am. Information, Patrick Barredo, pbarredo@stjames-cathedral.org.
 
Celebrating Black Catholics during Black History Month Sr. Thea Bowman, FSPA was a self-proclaimed, "old folks' child." She was born in 1937 and reared in Canton, Mississippi. As a child, she converted to Catholicism through the inspiration of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration and the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity who were her teachers. During her short lifetime, many people considered her a religious sister undeniably close to God and who lovingly invited others to encounter the presence of God in their lives. She is acclaimed as a "holy woman" in the hearts of those who knew and loved her and continue to seek her intercession for guidance and healing. For more information on Sr. Thea Bowman's cause for sainthood, https://www.sistertheabowman.com/.
 
New! CIRCLE OF HOPE St. James Cathedral Mental Health and Wellness Ministry is happy to introduce Circle of Hope, a Zoom gathering where those who find themselves struggling with life's daily challenges can experience fellowship and support in a safe, faith-filled environment. Whether you live with a chronic mental illness or feel the emotional impact of the effects of COVID, you are invited to join this welcoming group. Facilitators Nancy Granger, St. James Cathedral Parish Mental Health Nurse and Cathedral parishioner David Pina, retired Air Force Chaplain, Suicide Prevention Specialist look forward to joining you in this community of faith and support. This group will meet weekly via Zoom for 8 sessions on Thursdays, February 18 - April 8, 6:30- 8:00pm. Capacity is limited. For information and to determine whether this group is right for you, contact Nancy Granger, 206-382-4269 or ngranger@stjames-cathedral.org.
 
NEW! CARE CALLS MINISTRY The Need: Due to COVID-19 there is an epidemic of loneliness in our communities. A great number of people suffer mental and physical consequences from isolation and loneliness. We see this in the world around us and in our own parish. The Response: St. James Cathedral Mental Health and Wellness Ministry (MHWM) has initiated a new ministry to help alleviate loneliness and establish connections with parishioners who may be isolated or lonely. Care Calls: Care Calls is outreach to people who live alone or have little connection with people. Volunteers phone identified parishioners on a regular basis to offer listening and companionship. Calls will connect people who are lonely to people who have time to listen and chat. The volunteers who become callers are individuals who understand the call of Christ to care for our brothers and sisters and want to make a difference in someone's life. They have the time to make regular calls and build relationship. They can also provide supportive reminders that help with everyday life, like remembering to take medication or keep medical appointments. Care Callers are volunteer phone friends, serving others because their hearts are in the right place. In doing so, they may even fill a void in their own lives. How you can help: Please let us know of someone you think would benefit from and be open to receiving a regularly scheduled Care Call from a MHWM volunteer. If you are interested in becoming a MHWM volunteer and joining Care Calls ministry, or would like more information, contact Nancy Granger, 206-382-4269 or ngranger@stjames-cathedral.org.
 
Social Outreach and Advocacy Staff Changes At the end of January, we said farewell to Luke Henkel who had been serving as Assistant for Social Outreach and Advocacy. Luke has begun working towards his Masters in Climate Justice at Glasgow Caledonian University. We bless him as he begins this work to better Care for our Common Home. Coming on board as our new Assistant is Lonnie Larsen. She is a parishioner of Holy Family in Auburn and brings a wealth of experience in gardening, working with those experiencing homelessness, and education. Welcome to St. James, Lonnie!

MUSICAL PRAYER FRIDAY, February 12 at 6:30pm: Join us for a livestream concert from the Cathedral! Joseph Adam, Cathedral Organist, will offer a 30-35 minute program. You can find the livestream at vimeo.com/stjamescathedral or facebook.com/stjamesseattle. For a complete archive of 40+ musical offerings since the pandemic began, visit www.stjames-cathedral.org.     

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. Bernadette in Seattle and Our Lady of Lourdes in Seattle and Vancouver.