Around 1829, discharged servants of the Hudson’s Bay Company settled on the Cowlitz Prairie and in the Willamette Valley. The majority of them were French Canadian Catholics. The people began writing petitions to Canada in 1834 asking for priests. They wrote again in 1835 and in the spring of 1838.
In November 1838, two priests arrived from Canada and Mass was celebrated for the first time in the region then known as “lower Oregon”. This began the Quebec Mission to Oregon country. On November 25th they celebrated Mass in the Fort Vancouver school house. Fathers Blanchet and Demers made the fort their home base and eventually set up a chapel in an old store.
|
Standing: Rev. F.X. Leclerc, Rev. Van Holdenberker, Very Rev. Louis Shram V.G. Seated: Bishop Junger
|
In 1856 Mother Joseph and the Providence Sisters from Montreal arrived in Vancouver.
In 1884 the cornerstone was laid for the new cathedral. Mother Joseph was heavily involved in the building of the cathedral. The brick was made in Vancouver by the Hidden Brick Company. The cut stone came from Camas and the stained glass windows were designed and made in San Francisco. The columns are Philippine cedar and the interior is plaster with fir wainscoting.
|
Mother Joseph, born Esther Pariseau, was one of the founders of the Sisters of Providence in the Pacific Northwest. |

In September 1907, the the territorial See was officially transferred to Seattle. The title of St. James Cathedral was transferred to Seattle with the bishop, and our St. James became a parish church.
Silent film. St. James Mission centennial Mass was celebrated by the Most Rev. Gerald Shaughnessy on November 24, Thanksgiving Day. Celebrants and Knights of Columbus process from the rectory to St. James Church, and out of the church after the Mass.

View of St. James from the bell tower of the Providence Academy.
Missions attached to St. James were St. Mary, Pioneer (Ridgefield), 1867; St. John, Glenwood (Orchards), 1868; Sacred Heart, Battle Ground, 1877; St. Thomas, Camas, 1881 & Washougal, 1901; St. Joseph, Vancouver, 1952; Our Lady of Lourdes, Vancouver, 1955.
Knights of Columbus prepared for Mass celebrating the centennial of the arrival of the Sisters of Providence to Vancouver, Washington, 1956. Taken outside St. James Church. |
Procession at St. James celebrating the centennial of the arrival of the Sisters of Providence in Vancouver, Washington, 1956 |
Description:
From Chronicles on Providence Website: “At half-past ten his Excellency, our Most Rev. Archbishop Connolly, entered the St. James former-cathedral, preceded by thirty-five priests, Rt. Rev. Monsignori and Father Abbots, and the Most Rev. Edward J. Howard, Archbishop of Portland in Oregon, who was the occasional speaker for the Mass. Sister Eloise’s high school Choral Club sang magnificently and added to the solemnity of the occasion. The Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus formed a dignified Guard-of-honor to His Excellency, Archbishop Connolly who pontificated. The Most Rev. Archbishop Howard spoke of the heroic sacrifices made by our pioneer Sisters under the leadership of Mother Joseph of the Sacred Heart.”
Banquet for women religious and guests following the centennial Mass. Held in the Providence Academy auditorium.
Dinner for the clergy following the centennial Mass at St. James.
|