St. Paul Cathedral 15 South 12th Avenue – Yakima, WA 98902

St. Paul Cathedral
15 South 12th Avenue – Yakima, WA 98902-3169
(509) 575-3713
(509) 453-7497 (Fax)
[email protected]
December 18, 2014
“St. Paul Cathedral Parish is a diverse body of Catholic people whom
God calls by name, given a mission by Jesus Christ to be a faithful sign,
a realistic foretaste and an instrument of the Kingdom of God.
As Cathedral Parishioners, we recognize our responsibility to show
Leadership by example and to provide service to God’s people.
My Dear Parishioners:
As we approach the beautiful, if sometimes hectic, Christmas/Epiphany Season, I want to take this
opportunity to thank you for your prayerful and material support over this past year. You have been and are a
generous, giving “Family of Faith” and I again repeat what a wonderful privilege it is to be allowed to serve you as
your pastor over these many years. What’s ahead for us?
1. In this mailing we include a parish calendar for 2015 as well as a letter from our Bishop concerning our
Christmas Charities Collection and a special small book of prayers to help you “stay in touch” with God;
those missives along with our greetings from our school and adult education “Update,” I hope will keep you
up to date.
2. This Sunday the ladies from the Y.L.I. will hold their famous Christmas Cookies Sale after all Masses,
proceeds benefit our diocesan seminarians and their charitable outreach. THIS IS ALSO THE FOURTH
SUNDAY OF ADVENT – THE LAST CHANCE TO BRING NON-PERISHABLE FOODS AND
CHILDREN’S GIFTS (Please note on the outside of wrapped gifts the ages and gender of the child recipient).
FOR DISTRIBUTION AT CHRISTMAS THROUGH OUR ST. VINCENT SOCIETY. (Please leave your
offerings in the container in the vestibule).
3. The last Advent Sung Evening Prayer is this coming Monday at 5:30 p.m. in our Chapel – an inspirational
and beautiful preparation for the coming of our Savior.
4. Copying our schedule from next Sundays bulletin for your convenience and scheduling (and maybe to avoid a
few last minute schedule questions), I enclose the following:
CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE:
Wednesday, December 24th—Christmas Eve:
5:30 p.m.—Family Mass
10:00 p.m.—Carols and Scripture
10:30 p.m.—Solemn Mass of Christmas—The Most Reverend Joseph Tyson D.D., Bishop of
Yakima—Principal Celebrant.
Thursday, December 25th—Christmas Day:
Masses at 7:00, 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. (Spanish).
NO EVENING MASS ON CHRISTMAS DAY.
FRIDAY, December 26th—St. Stephen:
Mass at 7:00 a.m. followed by Adoration and Benediction at 6:45—Chapel.
Dinner on your parish for all college/university Students and young singles—6:00 p.m. Call
before Wednesday noon for reservations and place.
SATURDAY, December 27th: St. John, Apostle
Mass at 8:00 a.m.—Chapel
Vigil Mass 5:30 p.m.—Cathedral
SUNDAY, December 28th: Feast of the Holy Family
RENEWAL OF MARRIAGE VOWS AND FAMILY BLESSING.
7:00, 9:00 and 11:00 a.m.; 1:00 p.m. (Spanish) and 7:00 p.m. (Life Teen)
MONDAY, December 29th: Mass at 7:00 a.m.
A SPECIAL MASS OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS ESPECIALLY FOR PARENTS WHO
HAVE LOST CHILDREN BY MISCARRIAGE, NATURAL DEATH OR ABORTION—
5:30 p.m. IN OUR CHAPEL, FOLLOWED BY A RECEPTION IN OUR ASSEMBLY
PLACE. A SPECIAL INVITATION TO ALL WHO STILL MOURN AND GRIEVE
THIS GREAT LOSS!! WE GATHER, REMEMBER, AND
CELEBRATE THESE
CHILDREN AS UNBORNS, INFANTS OR ADULTS!!
PLEASE JOIN US!!
TUESDAY, December 30th: (Within Octave of Christmas
Masses—8:00 a.m. (English) and 7:00 p.m. (Spanish) - Chapel.
WEDNESDAY, December 31st: New Year’s Eve
Masses at 7:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Vigil of the
Solemnity of Mary—a HOLYDAY.
THURSDAY, January 1st: SOLEMNITY OF MARY, A HOLYDAY—NEW YEAR’S DAY
Masses at 7:00, 9:00 and 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. (Spanish).
NO EVENING MASS.
5. A FEW HIGHLIGHTS:
Sign up is requested for:
a) The Dinner for College/University Students on Friday, December 26th at 6:00 p.m. (before
Wednesday, December 24th at noon or see me personally).
b) Our Epiphany Party on Sunday, January 4th at 2:00 p.m. – sign up the weekend of December 27/28
at all Masses or call the office.
c) If you have lost a child either this past year or any preceding year as an unborn, infant, teen or
adult, please accept our invitation to the special Holy Innocents Mass on Monday, December 29th at 5:30 p.m.
in our Chapel, (and reception).
d) Our celebration of Epiphany by our parish and the local American Guild of Organists on Epiphany
Sunday, January 4th at 3:30 p.m. was omitted in our schedule we sent you last month – a beautiful way to end
the Christmas/Epiphany Season., reception following.
6. NEW YEAR SCHOOL MASS: Our first Mass for the new year for our Cathedral School will be offered on
Thursday, January 8th at 9:00 a.m. All are invited!!
7. What else is happening in January 2015?
a) I will be participating in the Cathedral Ministries Conference in Minneapolis St. Paul from Monday
through Thursday, January 12-15 and then will leave for 10 days vacation from January 19-29 to thaw out in a
warmer place. Please have pity on our office staff and reserve all calls until my return. Thank you!!
b) The annual Martin Luther King celebration will be commemorated on Sunday, January 18 th (check
the local paper for details) with the traditional parade on Monday, January 19th.
c) The annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity beginning on Sunday, January 18th until the 25th – a
reminder to intensify our prayers for the unity of Christ’s followers.
Well, Bishop Tyson, Bishop Emeritus Sevilla, Monsignor Siler and Fathers Rogelio and Darell and our parish
staff join me in wishing you all the joys of this beautiful Christmas/Epiphany Season and a wonderful and
fulfilling New Year!!
In Christ,
Rev. Msgr. John A. Ecker
Pastor
P.S. Don’t forget the delightful Y.L.I. Christmas Cookie Sale this weekend after all Masses in the Cathedral
vestibule.

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