The winds of change are swirling around a Vancouver landmark, St. James Proto-Cathedral, and they may not auger fair weather ahead. Leading parishioners see risks to the church’s long-term outlook. They are concerned, have formed a group and have retained counsel.
Vancouver as a community has an interest in potential changes at such a fundamental symbol of its historic roots. St. James, the spired structure between downtown’s Washington and Columbia streets, is no less than the oldest building in the Northwest still being used for its original purpose. But the Archdiocese of Seattle now plans organizational changes that, in the eyes of parishioners, threaten the church’s unique character and services.
St. James has provided spiritual fulfilment to Vancouver’s faithful for 175 years. In the 1830s, French-Canadian Catholics arriving at Fort Vancouver petitioned their bishop in Quebec to send priests. By 1846, Revs. Francis Blanchet and Modeste Demers built a wooden St. James Church outside Fort Vancouver. In 1850, the church became the Cathedral of the new Nesqually Diocese. Later, the Cathedral relocated to land it purchased in 1872 at its current location.
After the Diocese moved to Seattle in 1907, the honorific of Cathedral moved, too. So, in 2013, Vancouver’s St. James was designated the Proto-Cathedral of St. James the Greater. The church welcomes visitors to its soaring interior with hundreds of examples of sacred art illustrating the story of Christianity.
Now, a reorganization of the region’s churches, led by the archbishop in Seattle, proposes to organizationally combine St. James with Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Joseph parishes, forming a “parish family” to share resources efficiently. But to a group of St. James’ members, the “proposed changes are potentially painful and will impact its uniqueness.”
Dedication to St. James represents a free choice by religious individuals. Its worshippers appreciate and, more importantly, require for their spiritual sustenance, traditional liturgical forms such as Latin chants. Many of the church’s dedicated worshipers are young families seeking a traditional foundation for their children’s faith experience. Mass is offered weekly for Vietnamese Catholics, who depend on this celebration of their language and faith.
The parishioners’ group observes that “The Proto-Cathedral Parish is not suffering from the problems that many Catholic communities … are challenged with. We have no debt; Mass attendance is exceptional for all Masses and the number of Parishioners is expanding. We are a vibrant, entirely self-sufficient, and growing local Parish.”
They contend that the homogenization of worship would fragment and destabilize the cohesive St. James faith community, scattering attendees to churches in Portland and elsewhere.
The parishioner group has retained Canon Law Services to guide their case through the complexities of church law. Through spokesman Bradley Fields, parishioners argue that the Proto-Cathedral’s unique history and characteristics may be lost if combined with other parishes.
The parishioner group wants St. James designated as a “Stand Alone” parish, claiming that St. James in its present form provides the faith community with essential services. They are circulating documents to be signed by concerned individuals to strengthen their case with the diocese.
Time will tell whether a “merger” strategy intended to promote efficiency prevails over the Proto-Cathedral’s diversity of approach and cultural tradition.
Time is short for defenders of St. James’ traditions to make their case. The archbishop will announce his decisions this month.
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