The Latest Cathedral News
Season of Faith Annual Pledge Drive Week 2
October 22, 2025
We are off to a great start in our Season of Faith! Thank you to everyone who has already begun prayerfully considering your pledge. Your generosity and commitment help us continue the mission and ministry of St. James Cathedral.
I know many of you have questions about stewardship—what it means, why it matters, and how pledges are used. To help, we’ve put together a list of Frequently Asked Questions. You can find the link here: FAQ. We hope it will give you clarity and confidence as you make your pledge.
As a reminder, our goal this year is $850,000 and 220 pledges. This goal is not just about numbers; it represents the resources we need to sustain worship, care for our community, and support the ministries that allow St. James to live out its calling in the heart of Chicago.
Together, we are building on the faith of those who came before us. May we continue to walk this Season of Faith with gratitude, trust, and a spirit of generosity.
- Marcy Backhus, St. James Parishioner and 2026 Annual Pledge Drive Chair
Final Camino Pilgrimage Reflection
October 17, 2025
-The Very Rev. Lisa Hackney-James
I am sending this Dean’s greeting from the Camino de Santiago (the Way of Saint James) and from the city and cathedral of Santiago de Compostela at which a dozen St. James, Chicago parishioners - now pilgrims – have just arrived following over a week of travel together. What makes a trip like this a pilgrimage rather than just an excursion? It is the act of walking in the literal footsteps of faithful people who have gone before us. Together, we have followed the trail blazed across Northern Spain over one thousand years ago by Christian pilgrims who were seeking the blessing and special grace brought by proximity to the remains of James the Apostle, which are believed to lie at the heart of both the town and cathedral that bear his name.
Along the Camino, we have learned of the centuries of the intertwined strands of James's apostolic witness and the political evolution of what has become the modern day nation of Spain. And just as travel can expand our experience and understanding of the world around us, pilgrimage can help us locate ourselves within a much broader and deeper sense of belonging - to one another, and to God. This has certainly been the case as we have walked the footpaths of rolling hills and desolate Meseta, frankly awed by the pilgrims of the Middle Ages who traveled much further with far less support than we have experienced. As we made the difficult climb to the Cruz de Ferro, we joined with millions of pilgrims who have gone before us, carrying a stone that we could place at the foot of the Iron Cross - a monument representing the prayers of all those who walk the pilgrim’s route, and for many, it is a sacred place where our deepest grief and deepest hope can find expression. Rather than feeling far away from our beloved St. James Cathedral and City of Chicago, time and distance seemed to melt away as our prayers were offered.
As our group completed this part of our journey, we experienced a full circle moment when St. James parishioner Dawn Baity met us as we entered the cathedral square.. Dawn, who lives in Madrid now, was raised up in prayer by our cathedral community as she made her pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela over six years ago as she undertook her solo pilgrimage. As I have shared in previous posts, it was Dawn’s curiosity and fearlessness that inspired us to consider making real the connections between St. James Cathedral, Chicago and the living legend of the saint whose name we bear.
Season of Faith at St. James Cathedral
October 15, 2025
As we stand on the threshold of another Stewardship Season at St. James Cathedral, we are reminded of the great gift we have inherited. The founders of our Cathedral stepped forward in faith, trusting God and believing in what this community could become. With courage, sacrifice, and vision, they built this sacred space—not just of stone and glass, but of living faith and community.
This year, our theme is Season of Faith. It is a time to remember that same spirit of trust and generosity, and to recognize that we are the
stewards of their legacy. Just as those who came before us invested in the future, we are called to continue that work with faith and hope for generations yet to come.
Our Season of Faith—our Stewardship Season—begins this Sunday, October 19. Over the weeks ahead, we will hear stories from
our community, reflect on God’s abundance in our lives, and prayerfully consider how we might respond with generosity. Together, we have set a goal of $850,000 and 220 pledges. These commitments will enable St. James to continue its mission and ministry, sustaining the vibrant worship, outreach, and community life that define us.
As we begin this journey together, may we do so with hearts full of gratitude and faith, knowing that our gifts today sustain the mission and ministry of St. James tomorrow.
- Marcy Backhus, St. James Parishioner and 2026 Annual Pledge Drive Chair