Sunday, February 14, 2021 -- The 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

ON THE COVER   "The people kept coming to him from everywhere." Detail of the Ceremonial Bronze Doors, St. James Cathedral. Ulrich Henn, artist.
 
Flowers at the altar are offered by Anamaria Lloyd in celebration of Valentine's Day.
 
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 are heard immediately following the 8:00am Mass on Saturday mornings, from 8:30am to 9:30am. 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.)
 
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.

Celebrating Black Catholics during Black History Month  Venerable Pierre Toussaint (1776-1853), a philanthropist and founder of many Catholic charitable works, was born a slave in Haiti and brought from Haiti to New York as an apprentice under a popular hairstylist in the city. He eventually became the most sought-after hairdresser of high society women. Upon the death of his master, he gained his freedom and quickly succeeded as one of the country's first black entrepreneurs. He became quite wealthy, but instead of spending lavishly on himself, he supported the Church and the poor. He and his wife sheltered orphans, refuges, and others out on the streets in their home. He founded one of New York's first orphanages and raised money for the city's first cathedral. During yellow fever epidemics, Toussaint would risk his life to help others by nursing the sick and praying with the dying. "I have never felt I am a slave to any man or woman but I am a servant of Almighty God who made us all. When one of his children is in need, I am glad to be His slave."
 
CIRCLE OF HOPE: Begins this week The Cathedral's 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, Parish Mental Health Nurse and Cathedral parishioner David Pina look forward to joining you in this community of faith and support. The group will meet on Thursdays via Zoom for 8 sessions, beginning this Thursday, February 18, 6:30-8:00pm. For information and to determine whether this group is right for you, contact Nancy Granger, 206-382-4269 or ngranger@stjames-cathedral.org .
 
Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl: We are called  Join our faith community--and more than 12,000 Catholic communities across the United States--in a life-changing Lenten journey with the Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl. During the 40 days of Lent, we will reflect on how hunger and malnutrition affect our human family, and on the need to take action to end this global injustice. Pick up your family's CRS Rice Bowl as you exit the Cathedral on Ash Wednesday, February 17. If you are unable to attend Mass, but would still like to participate in Rice Bowl, email Joyce Mork-O'Brien, jamob14@comcast.net  with your mailing address.  Visit crsricebowl.org to learn more about how we, as Catholics, welcome the stranger through prayer, fasting, and alms-giving.
 
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, 9am-11am. Information, Patrick Barredo, pbarredo@stjames-cathedral.org .
 
ST VINCENT DE PAUL THANKS YOU In 2020, your Cathedral Vincentians made nearly 500 visits (in person before and by phone during the pandemic) and helped 875 people living downtown, on First Hill and Capitol Hill and in the Pioneer Square, International and SODO districts. One was a man who worked at the Pike Place Market selling items at a table. The table's owner employed him for well over a decade, but he lost his job due to the pandemic. When he called the SVdP Helpline (206-472-3971), he was looking for another job, waiting for unemployment benefits to start, borrowing from family and unsure as to what his future might be. He was already using food banks and appreciated hearing from us about the Cathedral Kitchen. With your support, we paid part of his rent. In this most difficult time, we appreciate your donations and your prayers more than ever--thank you! Information, Jo Ann Wiesner, 206-291-4012 or wiesnerjo@gmail.com 
 
St. james cathedral on social media Be sure to follow the Cathedral on social media for up-to-date information about ongoing events in the life of the Cathedral! On Instagram: @stjamescathedral. On Facebook and Twitter: @stjamesseattle. Did you know the Cathedral has a podcast? Just search St. James Cathedral, Seattle on Apple podcasts. And of course, you can always visit the Cathedral website www.stjames-cathedral.org for up to date information on Cathedral happenings, or to sign up for our weekly e-bulletin.
 
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 .

MUSICAL PRAYER FRIDAY, February 19 at 6:30pm: This week, we welcome Gary Stroutsos, North American Indian flutes, whose live performances have captivated audiences around the world. His meditative flute music evokes the lands and cultures that he has studied over the course of his 36-year career. Gary's mission is to carry the music forward to future generations and to promote stewardship of diverse cultures and the natural environment. He will play selections from his catalog of recordings on Hopi Long Flutes, Lakota flute, and Dakota Elk flute. 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 parish of Holy Disciples in Puyallup and the Mission Church of St. Yves in Harmony.