InInA JOURNAL YourYour FOR ST. JAMES MidstMidstCATHEDRAL PARISH

May 2015

In Your Midst Vol. 21 No. 1 | May 2015

“I am in your midst as one who serves.” From the great oculus high above the altar of St. James Cathedral, these words of Jesus communicate His abiding presence among us. This inscription gave us the name for our Journal and continues to be our guiding inspiration. Contents 3 Coming to the Cathedral Parishioners share stories of what brought them to St. James the first time, and what keeps them here 12 Holy Week Album A photo album of the holiest week of the Church’s year 14 Understanding Poverty A poverty “simulation” helps participants understand what it’s like to live in poverty 16 Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos In the spirit of Pope Francis, our Youth Ministry heads off on a different kind of mission trip 18 Fifty Years of Service Father David Brant celebrates the golden jubilee of his priestly ordination 20 Remembering Ulrich Henn A tribute to the sculptor of our Ceremonial Bronze Doors and Tabernacle 22 Cathedral Almanac Snapshots of life at St. James, December, 2014-May, 2015 24 Coming this summer! Special programs and events this summer ______

In Your Midst is published twice yearly by St. James Cathedral, Seattle, Washington. Editor/Graphic Design Maria Laughlin Comments/Suggestions for articles Your comments are always welcome! [email protected] St. James Cathedral 804 Ninth Avenue Seattle, WA 98104

Phone 206-622-3559 Fax 206-622-5303 www.stjames-cathedral.org

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Coming to the Cathedral What brought you to the Cathedral? What keeps you here?

first set foot in St. James Cathedral as a nine -year-old, when my grandparents, who lived up the street at Summit and Madison, brought me with them to Mass. It was 1950 andI the Cathedral was a forest of scaffolding that, while fascinating for young eyes, was anything but beautiful. Four years later, I had two opportunities to visit the Cathedral. The first was to attend the Mass at which Father Thomas Gill was installed as pastor. I came with my family because this was a family event. Father Gill’s sister was my aunt by marriage and he was very much a part of my family. He was also a hero to me as a young person and had a strong influence on my early thoughts about becoming a priest. My memories of that celebration in the Cathedral are more of him than of the Cathedral itself although it did cross my mind that he was lucky to be taking over such a big and beautiful church. What didn’t cross my mind that day was that I would one day take his place as pastor--and that there would only be one pastor between us! A thought like that would have been unthinkable for this fourteen-year-old boy from Queen Anne Hill. Later that same year, I was back at St. James, this time with a large group of Boy Scouts who came to the Cathedral to receive the coveted Ad Altare Dei cross, the equivalent of an Academy Award for a young Catholic scout. There must have been a hundred of us in the Cathedral that Sunday afternoon. We marched in military fashion all the way from the Knights of Columbus Hall appointed me to serve as pastor. But I would have to over on Harvard Avenue, and I remember taking say that it is neither my appointment, nor the delight in stopping traffic! In the Cathedral, I Cathedral, beautiful as it is, that have kept me here. It’s remember the thrill of hearing the mighty sounds of the people. It’s you--the remarkable people of St. James the organ as we processed down the center aisle to who make this Cathedral so much more than a receive our award from Archbishop Thomas Connolly. glorious building. You make it a holy place where Because I was among the shortest of the candidates (if God’s presence is palpable and where God’s work is not the shortest), I ended up right next to the done in a thousand different ways every day of the Archbishop in the photograph that we posed for year--in prayerful worship, in faithful witness, and in afterwards on the Cathedral steps. He apparently humble service. You are the ones who keep me here; didn’t like people towering over him. I was happy to you are the ones who make this Cathedral what it truly oblige! is: the House of God and the Gate of Heaven! These stories tell what first brought me to St. James Father Michael G. Ryan but none of them tell why I came back. I came back to stay in 1988 because Archbishop Hunthausen

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oeing brought me to Seattle and St. James in That. Christmas season dawned with the decision to 1966. experience the glories of a Christmas at St. James. The In the fall of 1968, I saw an first visit included some great friends sharing the regal announcement for an event for single college event complete with orchestra, choir, organ, brass and Bgraduates, Catholic Alumni Club. At the second event I timpani. What a beginning. Somewhere there is an attended on November 10, 1968, I met Jack Southall. appropriate superlative befitting the experience. What Our lives were changed forever. Subsequently we were could possibly mount those peaks to compete? married in Edmonton, Alberta on September 27, 1969. I A Renaissance of Excellence accompanied by a then became a member of St. Paul Parish in south People living their talents, prayer and praise. At St. Seattle near the home Jack owned. We were at St. James James Cathedral, each is a Jewel in the Crown. frequently for the 5:30 pm Mass on Sundays. We “My soul, have you found what you are looking contributed to the 1994 renovation and restoration of for? You were looking for God, and you have St. James Cathedral. We always enjoyed the Great discovered that God is the Supreme Being, and that Music for Great Cathedral programs. When we moved you could not possibly imagine anything more Perfect. into the city, it was only natural that we become St. You have discovered that this Supreme Being is life James Cathedral parishioners. itself, light, wisdom, goodness, eternal blessedness and In 2009, Jack and I moved to Skyline, right across blessed eternity. God is everywhere, and God is from St. James. On June 19, 2014 life changed again for timeless.”- St. Anselm me. Jack is no longer with us but I have the family of St. Jerry Cronkhite James Cathedral. Rose Southall ave you ever noticed the inside front cover of the hymnals in the pews? Look inside y Seattle arrival in the late 70’s was sometime and in most of them, you’ll see colored by fulfilling a quest to recapture the name Joe Petrotta, who not only years spent in mountainous lake-filled Hdonated the hymnals as part of the 1994 renovation of environs full of cathedrals, chalets, the cathedral, but who is also largely responsible for Mmuseums, incredible flowered parks and delightful my being a member of St. James Cathedral. I am a people. In exploration mode, I discovered Seattle was lifelong Catholic: I was baptized when I was two weeks

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old, attended Catholic schools from kindergarten through high school, and have always practiced my faith. So Joe didn’t bring me to the church, but he did bring me to this church, to St. James Cathedral. Joe and I became friends in the late 1980’s when we both served on the Board of Directors of Common Ground, a local non-profit organization that develops low-income housing. At the time, I was attending a parish in my north Seattle neighborhood. I emphasize the word “attending,” for I was not very active there. That parish was largely made up of retirees and families with young children in the parish school. I met some wonderful people there, and made friends with some of the members of a small faith-sharing group, but as a single person, I never felt like I really fit in with the demographics of the parish. Joe was a member of St. James, and encouraged me to transfer my parish affiliation here. I took his advice and I immediately felt at home. Joe introduced me to everyone, and before I knew it, I was on the Development Committee and volunteering with Welcome Back and RCIA. I joined the parish just as the renovation work on the cathedral was beginning in the spring of 1994, and joined the staff in 2000. St. James is definitely my home--my friend Joe Petrotta has since moved away, but I think I’m here to stay! Patty Bowman

pon my return to Seattle, after eight somewhat sheltered years in the Rocky Mountains, I was caught off guard by the visible poverty and distress of Uneighbors living in doorways while I comfortably went to my apartment. While struggling with this which helped me appreciate the profound richness of inequality the Holy Spirit led me to the St. James the experience and the fundamental life-sustaining website and I heard a clear voice summoning me to be necessity of both giving and receiving. part of a community of service. I contacted Patty Amity Ludders Bowman, Director of Social Outreach, who, as the interim Director of RCIA, invited me to get acquainted n his book Falling Upward, Richard Rohr writes, and learn more. In the quiet of her office she shared all “In the spiritual world we do not find something sorts of service opportunities and lent me Craig until we lose it, ignore it, long for it, choose it, and Rennebohm’s book Souls in the Hands of a Tender God. I personally find it again—but on a new level.” knew I was in the right place. At the end of our IA few years ago, following a long absence from the meeting she asked if I had been to Mass at St. James. Church, I realized I wanted to work a little harder on “Mass?” I asked. “No,” I admitted, feeling rather off- my spiritual renewal, and I was going to need to find a keel, having completely failed to consider this part of new community of faith to help me in this effort. the equation. She recommended I start. A Sunday or For centuries, the Cathedral in the center of the city two later I was there. The smell, authentically symbolized the Catholic belief that the beautiful and Cathedral, reassured me, reminding me of time spent valuable assets it held in common belonged to in churches overseas. The music blew my socks off. The everyone. This notion of common ownership made St. opulence of the space dazzled my eyes and as I James an obvious choice. What I discovered as a witnessed the pageantry of time-tried sacred ritual, I counterpoint to the unique beauty of the Cathedral, wondered what I had been thinking. Thankfully Patty was a vibrant inner city parish populated by the young had also lent me Ronald Rolheiser’s The Holy Longing and old, the influential and the marginalized,

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representing a rainbow of cultural, racial, and ethnic architecture. Particularly memorable was that it was characteristics. Its cosmopolitanism struck me as a real the Mass at which Father Michael Ryan was installed as dividend. Pastor! At that time I never even dreamed that one day St. James quickly established itself in my mind as a I would be a member of St. James and involved in its place of acute social consciousness, inclusiveness, ministries. I eventually did move to Seattle, and liturgical excellence, and sacramentality. Its mission is became a member of St. James in 2008. totally authentic. In 2014, feeling a lack in my spiritual The Liturgy of the Word and of the Eucharist at St. experience, I decided to make a focused Lenten James expresses over and over two key messages: first, journey. More important than the things I gave up that God is not an enemy, but a friend we need not be were the things I committed to do (e.g., daily Rosary, afraid of; and secondly, that grace is always available if scripture reading and prayer; weekly Stations of the we will only bring ourselves to ask. Cross; Friday devotions; Sunday vespers). During This same liturgy invites us to use our imagination spiritual meditations, the Lord impressed upon me the to help us grasp what is true, but is too amazing in its importance of my becoming involved in the ministries uniqueness to be easily believed. of the Church. Having a special devotion to the Blessed James Carrol in his book, Christ Actually, Sacrament, I was drawn towards becoming an characterizes a community of faith as “imitators of Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion (“EM”). In Jesus Christ, wishing mainly to be kind and true, taking September 2014, I was commissioned as an EM, and heart from our companions along the way.” This can now be found serving at Our Lord’s sacred defines St. James parish to me, and this is why I intend banquet Sunday evening Masses. I also completed to remain a part of it. several months of Cabrini Ministry training and John Riley graduated in March of this year to serve the homebound and dying. I look forward to being a remember very vividly my first visit to St. James blessing to others in my new assignments! Cathedral. A resident of Anchorage at the time, I I am so grateful to St. James for the many was vacationing in Seattle, and it was a sunny opportunities for education and spiritual growth— Sunday morning in 1988 when I walked through from training in pastoral care and outreach ministries, theI doors of St. James. I was immediately impressed to concerts and studies in spiritual poetry and sacred with the beauty of the Cathedral, from the entrance writings, to deepening friendships with other people doors to the stained glass windows and amazing living a Christ-centered life. Still under the strong

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spiritual leadership of our charismatic Pastor, Father being in such a holy place as this. Michael Ryan, St. James Cathedral is a vibrant, vital The outstanding concerts and programs offered community of Christian believers fulfilling their continue to increase my awareness of how vital and Baptismal calling in service to one another, and to the spiritually enriching our Cathedral is to the community suffering, the lost, and the least in our midst. Every and the world. Good Friday we sing the great hymn written by Isaac I have been blessed for many years being a Watts, which summarizes my gratitude and deep Eucharistic minister--a servant to those who serve. devotion to Jesus, our risen Savior: “When I survey the One of the greatest joys is talking with visitors after wondrous cross, On which the Prince of glory died … Mass. They often are close to speechless in describing Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, the Cathedral and the Mass. A good number claim we my all.” May His Light and Peace be with us always as have more servers on the altar than they have people we follow His footsteps on our journey to our heavenly attending. home. Every entrance to the Cathedral continues to fill me Cheryl Rody with wonder and awe. This is a spectacular place for a journey of faith that continues to deepen and grow. clearly remember my first visit to St. James Jim Fliflet Cathedral. It was in the fall of 1992 when I came to the Cathedral for the Rite of Election. As I was y first experiences of St. James Cathedral blessed by Archbishop Murphy I felt the presence go way back…further than I can ofI the Holy Spirit filling my heart through his kindness remember! We thought that the and welcome. I felt at peace and at home. Cathedral was truly magnificent, with its Prior to that important event at St. James I had Mlife-sized angels framing the immense main altar, been influenced by visits to several other cathedrals. decorated with fancy baroque gold trimming (where The first was in Santa Fe, New Mexico where my the main organ now stands); the beautiful stained glass parents took me to midnight Mass which included a windows, the huge marble pillars, the long main aisle, live Posada with animals in the procession. I knew I (which prospective brides loved to anticipate walking wanted to be Catholic that night. In college I visited down on their wedding day), leading from the main amazing cathedrals in France and Italy, and again entrance to the front pews-- and the altar rails where knew I wanted to be part of the long tradition of ritual, we knelt to receive Communion. music, and art. I lived next door to St. Paul’s Cathedral Come to think of it, the Cathedral of the in Minnesota next. All made a lasting impact. Finally, “renovation” has even more power to move my heart while getting my masters at Seattle University and and spirit to God today! With the altar and ambo in the learning about the Jesuit values, I made the decision to center, you can’t miss the centrality of God’s Word and join the Church. holy Meal uniting us into the Body of Christ! The Last year I moved back to Seattle and feel so skylight above continually reminds us that we are blessed to call St. James my parish. I have developed called to be “a servant people,” “to wash one another’s meaningful friendships and am fulfilling one of my feet” and help each other on our way. The new stained callings in life by helping grow food in the Cathedral glass windows behind the organ are a summons to live Kitchen Garden. As a person who loves to feed others, out our Baptism by “feeding the hungry, clothing the it is fitting and right that I am a member of a naked, seeing the face of Christ and responding in love Eucharistic Church. I am reminded of these blessings to all our brothers and sisters in need. And each time I enter St. James Cathedral. encountering the baptismal font and pool as we enter Liberty Sponek the nave brings to mind our celebration of Baptism every Sunday, especially when we welcome new y first adult experience of attending Mass babies into God’s family and ours; but no day more at St James Cathedral in 1995 gave me joyful and profound than the Easter Vigil, when our the initial feeling of awe and wonder that catechumens enter the pool, are drenched in baptismal those who come to the Cathedral for the waters and come out “reborn in Christ!” Mfirst time often see and feel. As a child I grew up in I love to see people kneeling in prayer in our Oregon but had a large family in Seattle. Mass was Blessed Sacrament Chapel, lost in the beauty of the either at St Anne’s on Queen Anne or at the Cathedral. “burning bush” tabernacle which bids us “take off our For many years my profession gave me the shoes, as we are on holy ground;” the steady stream of privilege of worshipping in churches around the world young and old who light candles in Mary’s shrine, but it was rare that any of them gave the the sense of entrusting their joys and sorrows to the mother of Jesus

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and ours. And I love to pray by the statue of St. Pope I was home. It just felt right: awesomely holy, John XXIII…knowing that he is interceding for our seamlessly whole, totally Christ’s. Church throughout the world, for Pope Francis and all The main reason I was (at Pentecost in 2012) of us, that we’ll give ourselves to bring God’s mercy, confirmed at and now keep coming to St James is that peace and hope to all we meet. And one last thought: I this Cathedral is where I feel closest to God. I can love to invite the folks I meet at the Solanus Casey physically feel my prayers rise up through the oculus Center to come to Cathedral when all is quiet and on a path straight to God. Here, I am profoundly in His peaceful, there to find the One who “carries their midst. Nowhere else would I rather be. burdens” with them and “brings them rest.” All are Barb Schmidt welcome! Sr. Judy Ryan snjm inding the ideal parish for the family is as important as finding one’s dream house. For love St. James Cathedral in Seattle. It is truly an immigrant family like ours, this is “holy ground” and its stones tell the stories. My undoubtedly very true. great-grandmother lived in Seattle after moving FWe may not have found our dream house but we from Montana with her son, and my mother went definitely found the ideal parish, our second home, St. toI college there. When I was assigned to substitute for a James Cathedral, House of God, Gate of Heaven. teacher there in 1959, I was thrilled. What I remember I remember the first time we set out looking for the most is two weeks of rain, my bundling up and going Cathedral. GPS was not yet available then. As for walks around the neighborhood. Archbishop expected, we got lost. We could see the bell towers but Connolly was Archbishop at that time, and the we couldn’t find the street leading to the church. We Brothers lived in a big house at Terry and Marion. circled the area at least three times before we found 9th I visited Seattle often and was so thrilled when the Ave. Evening Mass was about to begin. We’ve come Cathedral was renovated in the spirit of Vatican II, home! St. James was not only a place of prayer, it was “full, conscious, and active participation.” And it is also a welcoming place. It still is. Here we had the first that: everything speaks of the community of believers. taste of involvement in the church’s liturgy when our Sitting in the pews, one meets wonderfully prayerful family was chosen to bring the offertory gifts during people, of wonderfully different cultures. No one day the Sunday Mass. It was a very memorable moment for was it ever the same, but Christ was the same. I us. returned in 2011 and thought I’d finish my days there. The presence of many Filipino volunteers Then it became necessary for the Brothers to move and encouraged us to get involved in parish life. Our I’m in Boston now, but longing to get back for visits. children attended CCD and were altar servers. They “I am in your midst as one who serves,” speaks of also participated in children’s liturgies. Soon after, I the whole parish. All one has to do is look around. The joined the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy babies are baptized and the young are formed in faith. Communion. Not to be left out, my husband followed There is outreach to prisoners and the poor are fed. suit as an usher. People are loved and are loving. Some of my best We cross the Puget Sound every Sunday and some friends came into my life at Mass, for there the Gospel people wonder why. The answer is simple. We love St. is shared and lived. James! There’s no place like our second home! Our Brothers were in Seattle for 91 years, and we Teresita Guerrero are grateful for having been there and humbled as well. We weren’t perfect but we gave it all we had. And to ooking back, I gratefully praise God’s heart these people who have become our sisters and that led me to St. James. It was my mom’s brothers, we are grateful and hold them in prayer. parish to begin with. Although Mom and I Brother John Dornbos , CFC frequented another parish with Marian Ldevotions that we treasured in the Philippines, the was baptized and raised Presbyterian thanks to proximity of St. James to where we lived drew us here mom, with strong Mennonite ties thanks to dad. for weekday Masses as well. As an adult, I spent 40 years “in the wilderness,” God knew best how to convince me that I belonged searching for a church to call my own but, in here, and self-gift through volunteer ministries was everyI Protestant church I tried, sensing that something key. Father Ryan, Sisters Frances Wink, Anne undefined but necessary was missing. Herkenrath and Claudette Conrad, and Marianne Cote Then I slipped into St James on a Sunday morning opened ministry doors for me. in early 2011. By the time I sat down in the pew, I knew So early on, my ministries included Renew

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program, Communion Services, RCIA Inquiry, Sunday morning at the 8 o’clock Mass. This has Baptism, Funeral including leading a Prayer Service in allowed me to view and hear all that happens during the Holy Rood Chapel and Reader. I loved them all! the liturgy. My ministries now are basically as Reader and Sharing “my pew” with the most kind, growing Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, with families and old friends and visiting the chapel after occasional invitations from Corinna to help with Holy Mass with a fellow lover of candle lighting and the Hour. Serving makes God’s personal love and Chapel causes me to anticipate the pleasure and joy of Baptismal call to ministry very real and exhilarating for Sunday morning at St. James. me! Our Lord blesses me a hundredfold; what more Gwen Johnson could I ask? My faith is nurtured here; it is the parish God wants for me! hat keeps me here? The fact that I’m Furthermore, full, active, conscious participation at challenged weekly to not sit back, but to the beautiful and prayerful Eucharistic liturgy (let actively engage my faith. For me, and alone the heavenly music that enriches our prayer) is for many, this happens through characteristic of St. James prayer life and this means a Wcommunal worship, prayer, and lay ministry. lot to me. I appreciate the various opportunities for As lay ministers at St. James, we gather once a year faith growth and treasure the many faith-filled friends to reflect on why we are drawn to serve in various with whom I pray and serve. The parishioners and ministries. And throughout the year, we’re encouraged visitors who come to pray here inspire me. This through liturgy, homilies and prayer to ask ourselves, beautiful place itself makes for a sacred rendezvous “What motivates me, what calls me to be a Eucharistic with God! Minister? An Emmaus Companion? A volunteer in the Thank you, dear Father Ryan and all of you, my Winter Shelter?” heaven-sent companions in my faith pilgrimage at St. St. James Cathedral is a hard place to be James; you are treasures in my being a parishioner complacent. And I’m grateful for that. Through here! homilies, and the great Eucharistic Prayer at Mass, Lita McBride we’re reminded to imitate Christ in his great love for us. In addition, we’re each called to do something, have been a parishioner at St James Cathedral through love, that will aid and help others. since moving downtown in 1990. St. James has helped me to focus that something. Early awareness of the glory and grandeur of The Holy Spirit, imbued in this place, has helped me the Cathedral, the elegance and warmth of Father see where my strengths in lay ministry lie. I’m also RyanI and the exquisite organ music drew me to reminded of the stuff I need to work on. I am becoming a member. challenged to dig more deeply: to forgive another I picked the back pew in the west nave to sit every when they are hard to love, to find and express

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gratitude to God in all things and situations. marriage attached. Becoming Catholic, and belonging Receiving Communion and praying with the to the St. James parish community, has provided the community weekly at St. James gives me renewed support and love my now 15-year-old daughter Noelle courage to say, “Forgive me, Lord. Thank you for and I need. We are invited time and again to loving me. Help me to get out of my own way and to participate, not just in the Mass, but as a contributing trust your love more fully. Help me to grow in your member of varied ministries in our church family, and will for me. Lord--How can I best serve you today?” with the church’s support, my daughter attends area Scott Webster Catholic schools. This place is truly our home away from home, and we are deeply grateful for being here. he summer of 1999, shortly after discovering I Lisa LeDoux was pregnant with my first, and only child, I discovered this beautiful place. I was irst there was Dorothy at the eight o’clock. My searching for a faith community for which to young daughter made a loud noise, and Traise my unborn child. I was baptized Catholic as an Dorothy didn’t give me the stink eye—oh, infant, but growing up, my six siblings and I were not how new mothers fear the stink eye. Instead, really involved in a church community. As such, I sheF smiled and introduced herself. hadn’t received the other childhood sacraments. An Immediate relief and a thought: Maybe there aunt encouraged me to seek out Catholicism. I can still would be room for us here. hear her words ringing in my ears, “You are a spiritual For my daughters, there was no “maybe.” They sort of person, Lisa. But until you get straight with the love the place: the serpent under Mary’s foot in the Lord, you will never know true happiness.” Concerned side chapel. The candles. All the candles. The that I would be greeted with reproach, as a pregnant constellation on the ceiling. The bathrooms. The flavor woman out of wedlock, I was very anxious coming to of the holy water. (Must be holy; no one got sick.) the church. I was certain that they would encourage me Father Ryan’s warm greeting. to “do the right thing” and marry my daughter’s So I followed my daughters’ lead. Yes, I thought, father. But the embrace I was given was warm and this place has room for everything. The world’s joys welcoming, and the church was not at all hurried to and the world’s pains? Come on in. Bring every fear have me marry. I appreciate that so, because although and doubt you’ve ever known. There’s room. Room for the cross I’ve had to bear as a single mom is sometimes the rich and the poor, room for music and silence, difficult, it did not come with an unhappy or broken ugliness and beauty. Room for us.

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How many spaces in our lives make room for all understand something about hunger. As a young this? Does my home do it? Does my heart? I try to medical student in the 70’s I served as a make room. I fail a lot, maybe even most of the time. missionary to east Africa during the great famine But coming to St. James encourages me to try again. of the Sahel. Every day we provided medicine Jessica Murphy Moo andI food to the beautiful people of Ethiopia whose land, culture and lives were drying up and blowing remember one of the first Sundays that I was away in the draught. Among other things, we serving as cantor, standing in front of the distributed a food supplement that was donated by the congregation. It was an amazing moment, at the United States and other generous countries of the beginning of Mass, that simple, every-day action world. This “complete” food was a vitamin rich, high ofI crossing ourselves, “In the Name of the Father, and protein, high calorie flour-like substance that local of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” gave physical people would bake into a doughy pancake. It tasted witness and palpable testimony to the faith of the like slightly sweet, oddly medicinal flatbread. About people facing me. This is a people who believe, they half way into my term our mission director decided are ready to be witnesses (martyrs, in Greek) for this that we should eat the same food that we were faith. It’s not just a “nice thing” that we have received distributing. So we all embarked upon a diet of from those who came before us, no, it’s the grounding, doughy, odd-tasting pancakes as our only source of the bedrock for their lives. And, it leads them into sustenance. After a month I had lost 14 pounds, and action in the little-C sense of ‘catholic,’ universal. This the hungrier I got the better the pancakes tasted. I faith is not just something comforting and comfortable. would go to sleep every night under the starry African It impels them outward. The grace of God, active sky and dream about Safeway. In the morning I would within them, transforms them into something more. wake from my reverie of rotisserie chickens and fresh Together they reach out, together we reach out. produce feeling ravenous, like a modern day Jean Another clear image I have is the Thanksgiving Valjean, hungry enough to commit crime for a loaf of Day Mass that first autumn I was here. We had people bread. I have never forgotten that hunger. bringing forward gifts of food for the “less fortunate.” Nearly forty years later, on a cold, rainy Lots of congregations do this. One can “see” the Wednesday afternoon that was filled with heartbreak middle-class family of four, mom, dad, and two kids, and discouragement, I found myself sitting in a back bringing forward a couple of cans of creamed corn and pew at St. James. I wasn’t Catholic. I wasn’t even sure a couple of cans of tuna fish. But, here, in front of me, why I was there. But when the mass proceeded to the at St. James, I saw the elderly, on fixed incomes, the Eucharist and I saw the host in Father’s hand, held very sorts of folks the middle-class family probably high above his head in an act of unselfconscious was picturing as the folks they were helping, I saw the devotion, I knew another unnamed hunger deep inside fixed-income elderly bringing forward multiple of me was crying out to be satisfied. I came back again shopping bags laden with their gifts for the poor. The and again, drawn to the Eucharist like a magnet. In widow’s mite had never been so clearly proclaimed to time, the gracious parish of St. James made room for me. me, accepted me into full communion and welcomed A Catholic community. This is what was so clearly me to my place at the table. St. James Cathedral for me when I began attending As I write this, we are in the third week of Easter here regularly, “Catholic Community.” This is what is with the lectionary leading us through the bread of life so clearly still present here at St. James, this is what discourses in the sixth chapter of John’s gospel. There brings me back, time and time again, this deep sense of Jesus makes His miraculously audacious claim “I am “Catholic Community” … to be nurtured and fed by the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never God’s grace in the midst of this community, to be sent hunger”. And more recently, Pope Francis has forth and spread God’s grace with the broader reminded us that “The Eucharist communicates the community, outside the bounds of this building, this Lord’s love for us: a love so great that it nourishes us parish, and, then to welcome people … the strong and with Himself: freely given love, always available to the weak, the sick and the hale, the lost, to welcome every person who hungers…” How fortunate we are to any and all who come, to invite them to become part of have that experience, the source and summit of our the community, to invite them to belong with us, here, existence, available to us every day at the cathedral. I in the heart of God’s love. understand something about hunger…and hunger This is what St. James was for me … this is what St. satisfied. James is for me. Ross Hays Dan Jinguji

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Holy Week Album Looking back on the holiest days of the Church’s year

Top left: Over a thousand people join in the great procession on Palm Sunday, at the 10:00am Mass. Top right: Archbishop Sartain greets people as they pass through the Ceremonial Doors on Palm Sunday. Center and bottom left: Father Ryan washes the feet of parishioners on Holy Thursday. Bottom right: the solemn Veneration of the Cross on Good Friday. Opposite page, top row: The Elect, wearing their brown robes for the last time, gather on the west steps of the Cathedral for the blessing of the new fire. Archbishop Sartain lights the paschal candle from the blessed fire. Second row: The Elect stand with candles lit during the singing of the Exsultet. Father Ryan baptizes an adult during the Easter Vigil. Third row: Baptism. The Sacrament of Confirmation is celebrated following the baptisms. Fourth row: Archbishop Sartain presides at Mass on Easter morning. Father Ryan welcomes the Neophytes at Solemn Vespers on Easter Sunday.

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Understanding Poverty Seattle University and St. James Cathedral host a powerful poverty simulation

s Program Manager at Seattle University’s School of Theology and Ministry’s Faith and Family AHomelessness Project I work closely with people of faith who want to change the world. Almost everyone I meet is genuine in their desire to help poor people, but most of them have never had to choose between paying rent and buying food for their children. It’s hard to imagine what it’s like for poor people every day, and some may wonder why don’t people just pull themselves up by their bootstraps? It’s easy to think people living in poverty are simply “down on their luck,” and go about the business of serving those in need. It takes guts to dig deep to understand destructive policies and ineffective systems that keep poor people poor. That’s why I believe that experiences and simulations that offer even a small step towards understanding poverty are better than no step at all. Take actress and socialite Gwyneth Paltrow’s announcement that she was going to spend one week eating like a poor person. Her photo of the $29 haul of SNAP (Supplementary Nutritional Assistance Program) groceries flew across social media, releasing a The Poverty Simulation gives participants the opportunity to “role play” in order to enter into firestorm of criticism. Gwyneth is well the plight of the poor. Photos courtesy Seattle University. known for a lifestyle that includes private chefs who whip up gourmet meals with only not easy being poor--in fact she only lasted half the the most organic and healthy ingredients. She’s very week. I don’t think her “experiment” was a complete public with her disdain for what she sees as unhealthy waste of time. It stimulated conversation around the choices; in 2005 she told Conan O’Brian “I would rather SNAP program and Gwyneth just might rethink her die than let my kid eat Cup-a-Soup.” harsh judgment of poor mothers who rely on During the challenge Gwyneth quickly realized it’s inexpensive food like Cup-a-Soup. Yes, it’s impossible to fully simulate what it’s like Lisa Gustaveson is Program Manager for Seattle University’s School to wake up with an empty stomach for the third day in of Theology and Ministry’s Faith and Family Homelessness Project. a row when you know you can reach for a snack Funded by a multi-year commitment from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the project is a concentrated effort to inspire increased whenever you choose. Just as it’s unlikely you can advocacy and care around the issue of family homelessness in the begin to feel the depth of a parent’s anguish when they greater Puget Sound faith community. .

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come home to an eviction notice if you know you will be sleeping in your own home that evening. And yet, I believe a challenge or a simulation can be a first step in understanding what it’s like to live in poverty, even if it’s only temporary. At Seattle University, we use the Missouri Association for Community Action’s Poverty Simulation tool kit to help students and faith community members experience what it might be like to live a month in poverty. The workshop has been enormously successful; we can’t keep up with the demand. We were honored when St. James Cathedral’s Patty Bowman asked us to produce the workshop in the Cathedral Groups work together to strategize how to make ends meet. The simulation tries to give Hall on April 18th. The workshop was, participants a sense of the unpredictability of the lives of the poor, and the compromises they must make from day to day to keep their children clothed, housed, and fed. by all accounts, a huge success. As you can imagine, it takes considerable coordination and homelessness during their lives and were given an hard work to pull off a large-scale experiential opportunity to share their personal stories at the workshop for almost 80 people on a Saturday morning. conclusion of the simulation, offering a more personal We had a great team of volunteers from St. James and look into the day-to-day lives of people struggling right Seattle University who took on the challenge and here in our community. transformed Cathedral Hall into a small town complete The most important part of the experience is with 26 family “homes.” always the small group discussions that take place at The workshop attracted people from across the the end of the workshop. Participants break from their region, including many Cathedral staff, parishioners assigned roles to talk about their feelings, ask questions and archdiocesan employees. We had people of all ages and brainstorm ways they can use the experience to too--including middle and high school students, change policies and systems that keep people poor. working parents, business owners and retirees. Roles What makes the workshop a success is the number were assigned at random, which often resulted in a of people who confess to a shift in perceptions of youth playing the role of a parent or an adult playing poverty experienced by the participants. Our St. James the role of a teenager. For example, Father Ryan and workshop did not disappoint! We heard comments like the dean of Seattle University’s School of Theology, these from many of the participants. Mark Markuly, played 13-year-old twin sisters who, “It was such a grace-filled and fruitful Saturday along with their 3-year-old brother, were in the care of morning!” their 21-year-old brother. With their mother out of the “The workshop was really valuable! As I went to picture and father in jail, they were left on their own to Solanus Casey today and met our homeless people survive. Sadly, we can find families like this within there, I was much more aware of all the trials and walking distance of the Cathedral. tribulations they go through!” One hour of the workshop was broken into four “Thanks to all who allowed us to experience, even “weeks” lasting 15 minutes each. During that time minutely, the exquisite injustice we impose upon the “families” must go to work or school, pay their bills, poor by failing to demand just laws, taxing structures, pay for transportation and feed their families. In our wages, transportation issues and failure to provide workshop, families with infants are given a life-sized adequate regulation over industries that handle our “baby” filled with rocks to simulate how hard it is to money, rent, property, utilities, etc.” lug a heavy squirming child around while moving Are simulations like our Poverty Workshop the from task to task. solution to poverty? No, not alone. But they can be the Local parishioners, advocates and community catalyst that pushes people to look deeper at the members filled the roles of service providers . Some of problem and do something about it.  those volunteers have experienced poverty or

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Closeness with the Poor Our youth prepare for an encounter with Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos

s our parish youth prepare to engage in a summer mission trip to Nicaragua, many have asked what compelled us to undertake Asuch a journey. To answer that question, please allow me to share a little of my story. A little over 13 years ago, while working as the youth minister at St. Anne Parish, I was asked to bring the youth group to a dance presentation of several Mexican orphans from a home called Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH), Spanish for Our Little Brothers and Sisters. Knowing nothing about this home, but thinking it would be a Youth Night I wouldn’t have to plan, I happily agreed. Little did I know, this decision would profoundly change my life forever. Upon witnessing the beautiful folkloric dances of this orphan troupe, I was filled with questions: Who are these children? What is this NPH organization? I would soon meet several local Catholics who were immersed in NPH’s mission of raising children and transforming lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. I would learn of the founder, Father William Wasson, an American Catholic priest. In 1954, while assigned to a small marketplace church in Cuernavaca, Mexico, Father Wasson visited a young street child in the city jail who had stolen from the church’s collection box to buy food. Moved with compassion, Father Wasson petitioned the Photos courtesy Ryan Walsh, NPH judge to release the boy into his care. The judge agreed. One week later, the same judge sent eight caring for over 3,300 orphaned and abandoned additional children to Father Wasson’s doorstep. They children, committing to educate and raise them were a family overnight. And NPH was born. through self-sustainable adulthood rather than Father Wasson established a large home in Mexico adopting them out. and allowed the family to grow. Over time, he would Upon meeting some of the NPH children at St. expand his mission of mercy into other impoverished Anne’s, I felt compelled to sponsor one of them. I countries while reaching out to people in the U.S. and selected a 14-year-old Nicaraguan boy named Alvaro. Europe for support and resources. Today, NPH A year later, following some back-and-forth letter operates homes, hospitals, schools, and outreach writing, I found myself sitting next to Alvaro during a programs in 9 different countries: Mexico, Honduras, Mass on the NPH campus in Nicaragua. During that Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Dominican trip, in addition to meeting and dialoging with Father Republic, Haiti, Peru, and Bolivia. NPH is currently Wasson himself, I made two promises to Alvaro: I would learn Spanish and would again return to Joe Cotton is the Pastoral Assistant for Youth Ministry at St. James.

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Nicaragua to visit him. Upon returning to the States, I realized I made two enormous promises to an orphaned child in a third world country. Not wanting to let him down, I eventually took a leave of absence from work and enrolled in a language immersion school in Granada, allowing me to visit Alvaro on weekends. Two birds with one stone. Following my acquisition of the language, I later applied and was accepted to NPH’s year- long International Volunteer Program which sent me back to Nicaragua to serve as a school counselor and retreat director. These experiences challenged me in ways I wasn’t expecting. I was exposed to a kind of sacrificial love that we’re not really accustomed to here in the States. For example, View of Granada, Nicaragua, and its Cathedral. Our youth will stop here to pray during the trip. Photo © Waldorf27 | Dreamstime.com when the airline lost my luggage, I was forced to spend the first few days with only the clothes on my and transformed by people who understood the depths back. You can imagine my shock and surprise when of real love, particularly love’s commitment to sacrifice, several NPH children ran to their lockers to grab what detachment, generosity, friendliness, closeness, and few pairs of shirts and shorts they owned, thrusting respect for the common good. In other words, they them into my arms without attachment or concern for embodied the Gospel. Is it any wonder Pope Francis themselves. Or there was the time when I attended a has told us, “We have much to learn from the poor”? soccer game in a rural field, realizing too late that there Given that our youth ministry’s mission involves was no natural cover from the relentless sun and I had empowering young people to embody Christ and build not applied sun screen. Just as it was dawning on me the Kingdom of God, it makes sense to bring them to that I was in trouble, two of the boys pulled off their the greatest trainers imaginable: the children of NPH. shirts and tied it around my head and neck to shield This lies at the root of our summer mission trip to the me. They anticipated the need and responded selflessly NPH home in Nicaragua, a sacred place that promises before I even appreciated the problem. I have hundreds internal conversion for anyone who visits. I can’t think of stories like this from my time with NPH. of a more important and powerful experience to share These beautiful children had so little, but shared with our parish youth. abundantly, demonstrating a level of sacrifice and love Most often, mission trips are centered on doing that astonished me. I couldn’t help but contrast their something for somebody. People frequently ask, “What example with my tendency to hoard things for myself. will you be doing for the people of Nicaragua?” I remember being constantly thirsty in Nicaragua, Actually, our plan is to “be with” and “learn from” the always longing for a drink with flavor. During one of people of Nicaragua. We desire to immerse ourselves my trips to the village, I purchased several bottles of in their daily reality, opening ourselves up to the Gatorade. I wrote my name on each bottle before radical love they so naturally exude. We desire to leaving them in the communal fridge so no one else develop closeness and kinship with a community who would consume MY beverages. I will never forget the has much to teach. Our friendship will eliminate expression on the kids’ faces as they struggled to distance and erase margins. And when we return comprehend my selfishness. In places of poverty and home, we can modify our actions based on newfound desperation, everyone needs each other and there’s closeness with those who are invisibly affected by our really no such thing as “mine.” What would our world daily choices. look like if everyone lived like that? I truly hope you will consider becoming a part of In addition to radical generosity, the NPH this mission endeavor with our youth. You can support community and the people of Nicaragua demonstrated the mission by purchasing organic Nicaraguan coffee, an abundant hospitality and sense of togetherness, the becoming a stockholder in the trip, and/or offering likes of which I have never experienced in the first prayer. To learn more about NPH or to sponsor a child world. Mother Teresa once commented on a unique yourself, please visit www.nphusa.org.  poverty that exists in the United States, referring to this very reality. I found myself being convicted, converted,

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Fifty Years of Service Father David Brant celebrates his Golden Jubilee of Ordination

n May 22, 1965, a few days afterO his 30th birthday, David Brant came down from his room at St. Thomas Major Seminary in Kenmore. With the other members of his class, he boarded a bus. Everyone maintained a strict silence: this was their ordination day and the bus was bound for St. James Cathedral. The silent ride gave him plenty of time to pray and reflect on the Father David Brant reminisces in his apartment in the Cathedral Rectory, where he has been a resident since 2000. Ordained in 1965, he celebrates his Golden Jubilee of ordination this year. journey that had begun eight years earlier--also at St. James Cathedral. was a student at St. Edward’s Seminary. In 1957, Brant was working in the phonograph Of course, it was not always easy. Introverted and department at the Bon Marche. He had a steady shy, Brant dreaded standing in front of the class to girlfriend and was certainly not thinking about speak, and thus he was especially nervous about the seminary. But his girlfriend, a Methodist, had read that prospect of preaching. In those days, the Chancery the Catholic Church had revived something called the published an annual schedule, announcing the sermon “Easter Vigil” and wanted to go see it. So Brant took topics for each Sunday of the year. These topics bore no her up the hill to St. James on the evening of April 20. relation to the readings of the day, and often had little During that Easter Vigil, celebrated by Archbishop connection to the liturgical season. Rather, they Connolly, Brant was profoundly moved. He received focused on aspects of Church teaching and tradition, Holy Communion for the first time in a while that with subjects like the sacraments or the Trinity, as well night. The next morning he returned for the morning as more contemporary problems: one Sunday, priests Mass, offered by Cathedral Pastor Bishop Gill. A were required to preach on the evils of steady dating! thought that had come to him during the Vigil became The fact that the seminarians were not allowed to have clearer and clearer: “I want to be a priest.” a text in front of them (they were expected to memorize On Easter Monday, Brant knocked at the door of their sermons) made the task even more daunting. At the Cathedral Rectory. The office was closed, but one of one point, Brant told his confessor, “I don’t think I’m the priests in residence let him in anyway. By the end cut out to be a priest, after all. I don’t know how I can of that day he had filled out the application to attend get up in front of everyone and preach.” His confessor seminary for the Archdiocese of Seattle. A few anxious replied, “Oh, you’ll get over it.” months of waiting went by, but by September, Brant The priest was brusque, but right. Following their diaconal ordination in May, 1964, Brant’s class became Corinna Laughlin is Director of Liturgy at St. James Cathedral.

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Left, Father Brant’s ordination, May 22, 1965, at St. James Cathedral. All the priests present lay hands on the ordinands. Right: Father Brant’s ordination class was an historic one for the Archdiocese of Seattle: eleven men were ordained that morning! Here the newly ordained are pictured on the Chapel steps with Archbishop Thomas A. Connolly. Can you pick out Father Brant? the first to spend a summer in parish ministry before assignment he loved. It was hard to leave the parish returning to seminary for their final coursework. This and the people behind when Archbishop Hunthausen was an invaluable experience, allowing Brant to preach asked him to take over at Holy Rosary in West Seattle before a real congregation, not just his seminary in 1988. classmates and professors, and to realize it was not so In 1992, Archbishop Murphy granted him a bad after all. sabbatical. He took the opportunity to spend a After eight years of preparation, the day of semester at Notre Dame, which he thoroughly enjoyed. ordination finally arrived: May 22, 1965. It was an Upon his return, he served as parochial vicar at Holy historic day--eleven priests, the largest group of Trinity in Bremerton and several other parishes before ordinands in the history of the Archdiocese up to that his retirement in 2000, when he came to live at St. time. James Cathedral Rectory and to assist with liturgies. Ordination was, of course, not an ending, but a He has been here ever since, making the Cathedral the beginning. In those days when vocations were more longest assignment of his ministerial career. abundant, most priests would serve as assistant in two There have been challenges through the years, but or three places before being assigned as pastor. Father ministry has always brought Father Brant great joy and Brant began his priestly ministry as assistant at St. satisfaction, especially in celebrating the sacraments, Pius X Parish in Mountlake Terrace. After three years, preaching, and presiding at Mass. “I’ve never looked Archbishop Connolly sent him to Catholic University back, never had second thoughts,” Father Brant says. for advanced study in education. However, Father “I’ve always liked what I have been doing. But that is a Brant soon realized this wasn’t for him--he enjoyed the grace and a blessing--I don’t take credit for that.” drive back home across the country much more than Congratulations on fifty years of ministry, Father his semester of coursework! Brant! Ad multos annos!  In 1973, Brant was given his first pastorate, at St. Charles in Burlington. From 1977 to 1988, he was pastor at St. Mary’s Church in Marysville, an

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Remembering Ulrich Henn 1925-2014

whimsical statuette by Ulrich Henn shows an acrobat, balancing himself on one hand while twirling hoops around his wrist and ankles. The title of the Awork? The Life of an Artist. It expresses the excitement, and the unpredictability, of life as an artist. “You are never safe,” Henn explained in an interview in 2003. “You never get a secure income.” In his long career, Henn experienced both the risks and the limitless possibilities of the artist’s life. Growing up he was never particularly artistic. He took only one art class as a boy, and he admitted that he often turned in his brother’s drawings! Everything changed with the Second World War. When the war ended, Henn was a prisoner of war in an American camp outside Naples. “We were not allowed to write, so I did not even know if my mother was still alive. I was only twenty years old. I was homesick. It was Christmas time.” Yearning for something to remind him of home and the holiday, Henn began to carve a Christmas crib. His materials were simple: used ammunition boxes and razor blades. ‘That was the first thing that brought me together with art,” Henn recalled. “It was not very good, but it was good for celebrating Christmas!” After 17 months in prison camp, Henn returned to Germany. A sculptor happened to look at some of the pieces Henn had created in prison camp, saw great promise, and gave him a set of tools. Henn got a job in the workshop of a wood carver, creating copies of works by old masters like Riemenschneider. The idea of sculpting as a career gradually seemed more and more possible. No one in Henn’s family had ever been an artist (they all belonged to the “honorable professions”); he had no academic training; and the world around him Ulrich Henn pictured with the Ceremonial Bronze Doors, 2003. seemed to have fallen apart. But “I was young and carefree,” Henn recalled, “carefree enough to marry” and open his own studio. replace fingers and hands on ancient statues, or to Having no formal training as an artist made create ornaments for the bells which were being recast things especially challenging. But the timing was right: all over Germany (many of the bronze bells in the many of Germany’s churches had been severely country had been melted down to supply metal for the damaged during the war, and work was plentiful. war). And in time, commissions began to come in for Small commissions began to come in, commissions to works of his own. A fiercely independent artist, Henn respected his colleagues (“I have only good Maria Laughlin is Director of Stewardship & Development at St. colleagues,” he used to say, smiling) but avoided James Cathedral.

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visiting galleries or following the contemporary art challenge: the creation of a bronze tabernacle for the scene. He wanted to maintain “his own handwriting.” Cathedral’s Blessed Sacrament Chapel. A tabernacle uninfluenced by trends or fads. extends an invitation of a different kind. Henn Just as his career as a sculptor in wood was commented: “This for me is the place where people fall beginning to flower and as his fourth child was on the on their knees, to give their reverence to Christ.” Father way, there was a major setback. Henn badly injured his Ryan suggested as inspiration the story of the burning left hand, severing the tendons. He was told he could bush from Exodus, where Moses, going to investigate not sculpt in wood or stone for two years. It seemed the wonder of the bush burning yet not consumed, like the end. In fact, it was the beginning. Since he found himself in the presence of the living God. Henn couldn’t sculpt in wood, Henn began to work in wax, agreed, and found that the subject was also suited to the malleable substance with which the bronze casting the space in the cathedral--a very high, narrow chapel process begins. Looking back, he saw God at work in which presented some distinct challenges. his life at that time: “Any cut, in your life, not only in Henn’s first step was to create a maquette, a small, your hand, can work out, possibly much better than 1:10 model of the sculpture. He rarely does sketches on you ever thought.” What had seemed catastrophic paper (“I need the third dimension”); instead, his proved to be another major turning point in his career, studies are done in wax. “Many little figures go back to for it was in bronze that Henn truly found his the waxpot” before the sculptor had a model he was “handwriting.” satisfied with. For the Cathedral’s new tabernacle, the World famous sculptor Henry Moore described proportions of the work were so important that Henn Henn’s work as “melody” in bronze. The word aptly flew back to Seattle in September 2001 to look at the suggests the paradoxical lightness, even transparency, Chapel again. By projecting slide images of the of many of Henn’s works. “The greatest pleasure for maquette on the wall of the Chapel, he was able, with me is to try to take the heaviness out of the material,” Father Ryan and architect Stephen Lee, to get a very Henn says. “Sometimes the spaces between speak more accurate sense of what the proportions of the final than the metal around them.” Henn’s sculptures, work would need to be. which include fountains, crucifixes, chandeliers, and Back in his studio in Germany, Henn began work some 30 sets of bronze doors, can be found all over on the full-size tabernacle, again in wax. Because of the Germany. His only work in the United States, aside complexity of the work, it could not be cast in one from the doors and tabernacle of St. James, are the piece - the original wax had to be cut into 16 sections, great bronze gates of the National Cathedral in which were individually cast and then welded back Washington, D.C. together. For the artist, “that’s the awful part, when Father Ryan remembers discovering the work of they come to cut it. To put the pieces back together was Ulrich Henn at the time he commissioned the great the most difficult thing, because it needed to be bronze doors: “After spending considerable time on transparent, in balance.” The most time-consuming research and study, we began an international search stage came after the casting and welding were for an artist to handle the commission. Artists from completed: “overworking,” the process of bringing the across the country and around the world, including textures of the entire work to their finished state. The some fine ones right here in the Northwest, submitted flames of the Cathedral’s tabernacle were burnished to proposals for consideration. In the end, the decision the highest possible polish, work Henn did entirely by was made to award the commission to Ulrich Henn. hand. “It’s always a hard thing to say, now it’s ready,” Before accepting our commission, Uli twice traveled Henn once said. “It’s hard knowing you can’t change here to Seattle to learn about St. James—its people and anything anymore—the decisions you made a long its cathedral. He liked what he saw here. He spent time before are final. Suddenly it’s not yours anymore, Sundays in the Cathedral praying with us and during it’s a thing on its own. All my ‘children’ are far away.” the week he walked the grounds observing the “Artists make, they don’t talk,” Uli used to say, comings and goings of the countless people who come quoting Goethe. And he kept “making” to the end of here for help and who come here to help. His days his life. “New things, new possibilities, new problems. among us inspired him to create bronze doors that are It keeps me young.” His last commission, a small breathtaking both in their beauty and in the depth of sculpture of birds in flight, left his studio in September, their message.” 2014. Uli died just three months later, on December 8, Henn said: “A door is always a point of decision. 2014, at the age of 89. You can go in or you can stay out. The door should tell Well done, good and faithful servant. Rest in peace, what you will find inside.” Uli!  Several years later, Father Ryan posed a new

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Cathedral Almanac Snapshots of life at St. James Cathedral, December 2014-May 2015

December the Week of Prayer for 30. We began the beautiful Christian Unity (January 19- season of Advent with the 25). traditional lighting of the 17. Rev. Dr. Leslie Braxton, Advent wreath. Senior Pastor of New 6. Hundreds gathered at the Beginnings Christian Cathedral for the annual Fellowship, offered a celebration of Our Lady of powerful meditation on Guadalupe, Mother of the Christian Unity at the close of Americas. today’s Mass for Christian 7. At our First Sunday Youth Unity, celebrating the memory Celebration, children carry of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. images and flowers in honor Bishop Elizondo presided at of Our Lady of Guadalupe. this Mass which brought 8. Archbishop Sartain together Catholics from presided at the Mass of the around the Archdiocese of Immaculate Conception with Seattle. the O’Dea student body. 18. While the Seahawks- 13. We celebrated Simbang Packers Playoff Game Gabi, the traditional Advent unfolded at CenturyLink novena from the Philippines, Field, we gathered for a honoring Mary in the days special celebration of the leading up to Christmas. Santo Niño. 21. We celebrated the beautiful 26. A four-week series on Advent tradition of Centering Prayer, led by Candlelight, Carols, and Sister Joyce Cox, helped Cathedral Children. parishioners connect with 25. It was a beautiful God through meditative Christmas at St. James. Father prayer. Ryan concluded his homily for today with these words: “Our February God is at home. At home with 1. In anticipation of the Feast us. And he likes that. Likes us. of the Presentation of the Loves us! We sing ‘Glory to Lord, families joined in the God in the highest’ today but, entrance procession at the the wonder is that God glories Noon Mass. (It happened to in being with the lowest. And be SuperBowl Sunday!) that’s something to celebrate. 8. At the Noon Mass, we were Big time. Merry Christmas!” privileged to welcome 31. The annual New Year’s hundreds of men and women Eve Gala Concert gave us an religious from around the opportunity to bid farewell to Archdiocese for a special Mass Dr. James Savage, who retired in the Year for Consecrated after thirty-three years as Life. Director of Music. 17. Seattle in Black and White offered a fascinating glimpse January into the history of the civil 4. We celebrated the great rights struggle in the Seattle feast of the Epiphany. area. 16. Christian leaders from a 18. We celebrated Ash variety of traditions gathered From top to bottom: Madre de las Americas, December 6; Wednesday, the beginning of for a special prayer for Readings and Carols, December 21; Children’s Christmas the solemn and beautiful Christian Unity in advance of Party, December 20; Jim Savage’s farewell concert, season of Lent. December 31.

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22. Those preparing for and allow Jesus to be with us in baptism around the the midst of our pain, our anger, Archdiocese gathered with our loneliness. And if we do -- Archbishop Sartain for the even if we only take a small step Rite of Election. in this direction and maybe 24. Our five-week Lenten that’s all we can do -- it will be series this year focused on the for us as it was for the disciples Gospels of Lent. These of Jesus. Jesus will surprise us as evenings included both lectio he surprised his frightened divina and small-group friends on Easter morning:” discussion. 12. On this Divine Mercy Sunday, we prayed the Divine March Mercy Chaplet following the 8. We celebrated the first of Noon Mass. the three Scrutiny rites with 12. We were privileged to our Elect. welcome the choir of men and 15. Our third annual St. boys of Ealing Abbey, London, Patrick’s Day Pancake who provided splendid music Breakfast raised funds and at the Noon Mass. awareness of our own 14. Director of Liturgy Corinna Solanus Casey Center. Special Laughlin began a series of thanks to our volunteer chef, evenings focusing on the Brendan O’Farrell. Metaphysical Poets, including 21-22. It was “Stuff the Herbert, Southwell, and Donne. Truck” weekend for St. 18. St. James and Seattle Vincent de Paul. University’s Faith and Family 25. We celebrated Chrism Homelessness Project co- Mass with hundreds from sponsored a unique immersion around the Archdiocese of event which gave participants a Seattle. glimpse into the lives of the 26. Dozens of Cathedral poor. See article on p. 14 of this parishioners traveled to issue. Olympia for Catholic 26. On this Annual Catholic Advocacy Day, an Appeal Sunday, Father Ryan opportunity to talk to our made a deal with the Cathedral legislators about crucial issues parish: “So here’s the deal: if I like education, housing, don’t devote my homily to the mental health, and programs Appeal as I have every year for for the poor. the past two-and-a-half 28. On this 500th Anniversary decades, will you agree to give of the birth of the great to the Appeal? Give Teresa of Avila, we generously? That’s the deal.” celebrated a special Mass in Have you made your gift yet? her honor. 27. Parishioner and noted author Rebecca Brown, joined April by Patty Bowman, offered an evening exploring the life and 3. We were privileged to work of Denise Levertov. welcome Deacon Owen Cummings, a systematic theologian and academic May dean at Mount Angel 1. Nearly 200 lay ministers from Seminary in Mount Angel, around the Archdiocese of Oregon, to preach the Tre Ore Seattle gathered for the semi- on Good Friday. annual lay ministry day, 5. Easter Sunday. Thousands featuring noted speakers and gathered at St. James to workshops relating to lay celebrate summit of the ministry, as well as Mass with Church’s year. In his homily Archbishop Sartain. From top to bottom: Mass for Consecrated Life, 2. A communal celebration of for Easter Sunday, Father February 8; Chrism Mass, March 25; Scrutiny of the Elect, Ryan said: “What we must do March 8; Baptisms at the Easter Vigil, April 4 (see album the Sacrament of the Sick was is stop running from our pain on pages 12-13); spring blossoms. held in the Cathedral.

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Coming this Summer

Archbishop Hunthausen CAMINO Charity Golf SEATTLE Tournament benefiting the Cathedral Kitchen and other outreach LITURGY CAMP ministries OPEN TO YOUTH AGES 13-18

July 20-24, 2015 | 9am—1pm Monday, September 14, 2015 A four-week walking adventure Newcastle Golf Club beginning June 28 and concluding This year’s theme: Icons • on the Feast of St. James, July 26 Explore the Cathedral’s icon collection • Learn how icons are “written” • Visit an Orthodox church and its iconostasis • Experience prayer with icons • Make a copy of one of the Cathedral’s icons • Display your work in the Cathedral Chapel

Cost: $80, scholarships available

Information: [email protected]

INFORMATION INFORMATION INFORMATION INFORMATION

www.stjames-cathedral.org/camino www.stjames-cathedral.org/golf Maria Laughlin, 206-382-4284 Photo by Sandy Brown