St. James Cathedral
SOCIAL OUTREACH
& ADVOCACY
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"I am in your midst as one who serves." |
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FATHERS IN THE YEAR OF JOSEPH |
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This June we prepare to celebrate fathers. Because it's the Year of St. Joseph, it feels especially important. It's made me think about my own dad.
When I was 16, my family spent the week before Thanksgiving assembling and delivering food baskets to families in need where my dad is a firefighter. He and I were assigned to be a delivery team. The first home we entered belonged to an elderly woman who lived alone. The apartment was small and dark and reeked of neglect. I was taken aback and desperately hoped we'd drop the food and leave as quickly as possible. But as a firefighter my dad was familiar with scenes like this. I watched him be kind, friendly and make the woman smile. He took his coat off, unloaded groceries for her and made an effort to chat. When we left he held her hands warmly as she thanked us over and over.
I've thought about that day many times over the years. It was, I think, the first moment I truly saw my dad outside of his role as a father. I saw him as the human being he was in the world. It made me ashamed for not seeing who he really is. In Patris Corde: With a Father's Hope, Pope Francis' apostolic letter that commenced The Year of St. Joseph he wrote, "Each of us can discover in Joseph--the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence--an intercessor, a support and a guide in times of trouble." That's what I discovered in my dad that Thanksgiving, the unnoticed, daily presence he shared with others. Every day since, I've tried to be just like him.
Lonnie Larsen
Outreach Assistant
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St. James'
Operation Night Watch Teams
Conquer the Pandemic
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Every 3rd Tuesday Emina Polovino Bayomy, a nurse practitioner who's passionate about public health, brings along her two brothers, Kenan & Ibro and two best friends, Shannon & Ali to cook and serve a meal at Operation Nightwatch; the only Seattle provider to serve a meal after 5pm. They've continued to volunteer, even during the pandemic because, Emina says, "it's always such a fun and wonderful experience.
Emina, who nurses in a community health clinic, sought out the opportunity because, "We wanted to find a tangible way to give-back to some of the most vulnerable members of our community during this pandemic... and it soon became our favorite night of the month! We look forward to every 3rd Tuesday at ONW now! It has been an incredibly humbling experience and we are so grateful for the privilege to serve our community."
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Looking for Ways to Serve Our Community? |
Jesuit Volunteer EnCorps, a program of JVC Northwest, facilitates fulfilling opportunities for service, community, and spiritual formation for adults 50+ who are committed to social and ecological justice.
In addition to part-time volunteer service, members meet monthly online or in-person, creating spiritual community through shared reflection. Our values are rooted in the Catholic Ignatian tradition, and JV EnCorps is an inclusive and welcoming community of folks from all faith perspectives.
Already engaged in service through your parish ministry or a local nonprofit organization? JV EnCorps could be the perfect way for you to add additional support, reflection, and personal growth to your current volunteer service.
Click below to learn more about what JV EnCorps service is like:
Priority application deadline: August 31, 2021.
Opening Retreat in September.
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COVID VACCINE AT ST. JAMES |
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Public Health to Host a
St. James COVID Vaccine Clinic
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Monday, June 7, June 14 and June 21
2:30pm-4:30pm
St. James Cathedral
Vaccinations are open to everyone age 18+, including all Cathedral parishioners. No appointment necessary.
Still unclear about the Church's teaching on the COVID Vaccine?
Click HERE for an article on the subject by Bishop Daniel Mueggenborg
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In the face of continued inaction on gun violence in Washington, DC, Washington state has enacted some of the strongest gun safety laws in the country.
Help Washington continue to lead the way. The Alliance for Gun Responsibility believes that President Biden's nominee to lead the ATF, David Chipman, is the right man for job.
Click HERE to let Washington Senators know you support David Chipman.
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Transform Red Barn Ranch to a Black-Led Grassroots Farm |
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Red Barn Ranch, owned by Seattle Parks & Recreation is 37 acres of underutilized land in Auburn. Help Nurturing Roots Farm lead a collaborative effort to transform the ranch into a Black-led farm, a healing space, and a foundation for youth empowerment.
Click HERE to let the Seattle City Council know you support the Nurturing Roots Farm and King County Equity Now.
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Join the Catholic Climate Covenant for a Virtual Conference |
“Laudato Si’ and the U.S. Catholic Church: A Conference Series on Our Common Home” is a biennial conference series to convene, equip, and inspire Catholics who can more deeply integrate Laudato Si’ and its climate change teaching into the U.S. Church.
The 2021 conference will open on July 13 with keynote addresses by His Eminence Blase Cardinal Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, and Maureen Day, PhD, Assistant Professor of Religion and Society at the Franciscan School of Theology. Together, they will assess why the U.S. Catholic response to Laudato Si’ has not been commensurate with the urgency and gravity of the climate crisis.
The 2021 virtual gathering will be free and open to the public but REGISTRATION is required. At the time of registration, attendees are encouraged to make a freewill donation to help offset conference costs that include Spanish language translations.
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Spring has Sprung and the Solanus Casey Center is busy as can be with helping our unsheltered community replacing Washington ID cards and other official documentation necessary to obtain housing and employment.
We also offer a monthly Orca Lottery for Senior and Disabled bus riders where 30 lucky winners are picked to have their monthly pass paid for. Covid-19 has changed our "ministry of presence" a bit but we have found ways to help our clients walk the path with a few less bumps in the road. Our veteran (and new) volunteers are back in the center and have all been vaccinated and look forward to serving the community between 1-4pm Monday through Thursday.
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When Did We See a Stranger and Welcome Him?
In the Gospels, Christ invites us to see Him in our poorest sisters and brothers. That poverty is brought home to us each day as people sleeping in our streets. But what is the most generous Christian response? What is the most effective way to address homelessness as a society? Is charitable giving enough? Should Catholics advocate for legislation or policy?
Join the St. James Cathedral Housing Advocacy Committee in considering these issues. Contact Bruce Drager at dragerbruce@gmail.com for more information about our monthly meetings. Make a difference as a Catholic and a voter. Get involved!
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Patris Corde:
With a Father's Heart
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"Each of us can discover in Joseph – the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence – an intercessor, a support and a guide
in times of trouble."
-Pope Francis,
Patris Corde
In his apostolic letter Patris Corde (“With a Father’s Heart”), Pope Francis reflects on Saint Joseph and his multifaceted role as a father. The purpose of this letter, Pope Francis writes, “is to increase our love for this great saint, to encourage us to implore his intercession and to imitate his virtues and his zeal.” Saint Joseph is a beloved father; a tender, loving father; an obedient father; an accepting father; a creatively courageous father; a working father; and a father in the shadows. As protector, advocate, and guardian of the Holy Family, Saint Joseph has always been venerated as a father to all Christians.
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A Prayer to St. Joseph
While saying The Rosary, the Prayer of St. Joseph may be said after the customary Salve Regina and concluding prayer, and may also be used to conclude other Marian devotions.
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To you, O blessed Joseph,
do we come in our tribulation,
and having implored the help of your most holy Spouse,
we confidently invoke your patronage also.
Through that charity which bound you
to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God
and through the paternal love
with which you embraced the Child Jesus,
we humbly beg you graciously to regard the inheritance
which Jesus Christ has purchased by his Blood,
and with your power and strength to aid us in our necessities.
O most watchful guardian of the Holy Family,
defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ;
O most loving father, ward off from us
every contagion of error and corrupting influence;
O our most mighty protector, be kind to us
and from heaven assist us in our struggle
with the power of darkness.
As once you rescued the Child Jesus from deadly peril,
so now protect God's Holy Church
from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity;
shield, too, each one of us by your constant protection,
so that, supported by your example and your aid,
we may be able to live piously, to die in holiness,
and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven.
Amen.
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