| In Your Midst | CATHEDRAL ALMANAC |
March 2004 |
NOVEMBER.
27. More than 600 attended the beautiful Mass of Thanksgiving Day at
9:30am. At this unique celebration a collection of nonperishable food items was
taken up for the poor of the neighborhood.
DECEMBER.
6. The Hispanic community of the Archdiocese of Seattle gathered at the
Cathedral for the colorful celebration of Madre de las Americas. The Mass was
preceded by a drama which told the story of Our Lady’s appearance to Juan Diego
in Tepeyac.
13. At Simbang Gabi, the Archbishop blessed the “parols” or traditional
Filipino lanterns. Members of the Filipino Catholic community from throughout
Western Washington gathered for the celebration.
19. Archbishop Brunett celebrated Mass on the occasion of the 6th
anniversary of his installation as Archbishop of Seattle.
21. The children of the Youth Music Program presented Advent Readings and
Carols, a delightful musical prayer in preparation for Christmas.
22. The Solemnity of the Dedication of the Cathedral was celebrated at
8:15am. This was the Cathedral’s 96th birthday!
24-25. Several thousand people gathered to celebrate Christmas at St.
James Cathedral. About 2,000 were present at the Midnight Mass, and many more
were able to join in the prayer by watching this Mass televised live on KING-TV.
31. The Cathedral Cantorei and Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of
Dr. James Savage, presented A New Year’s Eve Gala.
JANUARY.
1. 2004 began with prayer for peace on the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of
God. Father Ryan said in his homily on this occasion: “In view of the wars
currently being waged, and of all the other conflicts going on in our world,
including in the land of our Savior’s birth, it is well for us to come together
today to pray for peace. And it is well for us to invoke the intercession of
Mary, the Mother of God and the Queen of Peace as we do so. She who brought into
this world the Prince of Peace, and who saw the forces of hatred at work in his
cruel death — she has a unique role in inspiring us to be peacemakers.”
6. The biggest snowfall in years slowed the region to a standstill.
22. On the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, St. James observed a
Day of Prayer for Life with special Masses offered and exposition of the Blessed
Sacrament throughout the day.
23. At the beginning of the week of Prayer for Christian Unity, ministers
from many downtown churches gathered in the Cathedral for an ecumenical prayer
with music from Taizé.
FEBRUARY.
2. Anglican and Roman Catholic members of ARCIC (Anglican and Roman
Catholic International Commission) gathered in the Cathedral for Vespers on the
Feast of the Presentation of the Lord.
15. At the 10 o’clock Mass fourteen men and women were received into the
full communion of the Catholic church.
20-21. Great Music for Great Cathedrals returned with splendor (see
photos on pages 8-9).
26. Five hundred people gathered at O’Dea Gym for a lively and
fascinating talk on the bestselling novel The DaVinci Code. Father Mike Raschko
was the presenter.
MARCH.
1. Our Catechumens celebrated the Rite of Election with Archbishop
Brunett. Twenty-seven children and adults will be baptized this year at the
Easter Vigil on April 10.
—M.L.