Our Parish for the Week of November 3:
Proto-Cathedral of St. James the Greater in Vancouver, WA
Our Parish of the Week feature is back! This week we are hopping just across the river to feature the Proto-Cathedral of St. James the Greater in Vancouver, Washington. Learn all about its fascinating history!
- The history of St. James goes back to the early days of the Catholic Church in the Pacific Northwest. After missionary priests first arrived in 1838 and made Fort Vancouver their home base, the first wooden structure of St. James Catholic Church was dedicated in 1846.
- The missionary church became a Cathedral in 1850, when Pope Pius IX established the new Diocese of Nesqually stretching from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific and from the Columbia River to the 49th Parallel. The new Diocese was led by Bishop Augustin Magloire Alexandre Blanchet, the younger brother of the Archbishop of Oregon City, Francis Norbert Blanchet.
- The new St. James Cathedral was built in 1885 and dominated the skyline of Vancouver in the late 1800s. As populations shifted over time, the diocese was changed in 1907 from Nesqually to Seattle. While a new Cathedral was built in Seattle, St. James in Vancouver has been given the designation of “Proto-Cathedral,” recognizing it spiritual and historical significance.
- The Proto-Cathedral continues to be a striking landmark in downtown Vancouver, and serves its community with many ministries and liturgies, including a Sunday Mass in Vietnamese and a Daily Rosary before Mass.
Parish Ministries
- Liturgical Ministries
- Eucharistic Ministers to Homebound
- Altar Linens
- Cemetery Grounds Volunteers
- Church Cleaners
- Facilities & Grounds Committee
- Faith Formation Catechists & Volunteers
- Floral Arranging
- Historical Society
- Knights of Columbus – Bishop Blanchet Council #15730
- Office Volunteers
- Stewardship Council
- Martha’s Apostolate, with a focus on hospitality, contacts and welcomes new parishioners during Sunday Coffee Hour.
- Alliance of the Two Hearts & Communion of Reparation
- Monthly Eucharistic Adoration devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus & to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Begins on the First Friday of the month after the 12:10 pm Mass and ends with Benediction at 7:00 pm.
- Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati Adoration Chapel
- Marian Pro-Life Group, which meets weekly to pray for the protection of the unborn, and the women and children wounded and lost from abortion.
- Men’s Prayer Group
Liturgies & Devotion Schedules
- Mass & Confession
- Daily Mass: Tuesday through Friday: 12:10 pm
- Saturday: 9:00 am
- Sunday:
- 5:00 pm Saturday Vigil
- 7:30 am Mass
- 9:00 am Mass
- 11:00 am Mass
- 1:30 pm Mass in Vietnamese
- Confession:
- Wednesday & Friday: 11:00-11:45 am
- Saturday: 8:00-8:45 am and 4:00-4:40 pm
- Sunday: 1:00 pm in Vietnamese
- Devotions
- Daily Rosary: Prayed Tuesday through Friday at 11:40 am. Saturday morning at 8:20 am
- Mother of Perpetual Help: Wednesday: 12:45 pm
- Weekly devotional prayers from St. Alphonsus Liguori.
Learn more about the parish on their website!
