School Move Announcement

  April 16th, 2017
 
Dear Parish Family,
                                                                                                                                                                   
 
This past Holy Thursday, Bishop Tyson sent us a news release officially announcing the move of St. Paul Cathedral School to our current Holy Family Activity Center (originally built as Holy Family Elementary School). The Yakima Herald captured, in part, Bishop Tyson’s letter to us in their Good Friday’s edition. On the back of this letter you will see the official news release presented by Msgr. Siler.
 
As you know, we have been reflecting for more than a year on the idea of welcoming an entity that will ensure the continuation of Catholic Education at the school level in West Yakima. This move of a Catholic School back on Holy Family Campus gives us the opportunity, as a parish family, to inherit the rich history Saint Paul Cathedral School has built.  It has been a treasure for Catholic Education for more than 100 years. It all began on September 1, 1914 when Sister Mary Sabina and three other Dominican sisters arrived by train from Tacoma to start the wonderful legacy of Catholic Education in Central Washington.
 
For the last six months we have engaged in an intense collaborative effort between our Faith Formation programs (Religious Ed., middle school and high school, small communities, Bible Study and many other groups that currently use the Activity Center) and the current principal and school board from St. Paul Cathedral School. We’ve worked to ensure both the school schedule and parish programs continue not only to run, but to grow as smoothly as possible while temporarily sharing the same space.
 
This also presents us, as a parish family, with an opportunity to bring a vision we had for some time now; namely, to build a new facility closer to the main church. This building will host all of the programs and activities currently houses at the Activity Center. It will also be an opportunity able to offer more programs and activities linked with Faith Formation and the celebration of the Eucharist on an interconnected campus.
 
Please, let us begin this journey together. First, praying for the realization of this vision so Faith Formation is guaranteed through sound Catholic Education at the school level and vigorous Religious Education is accomplished through our parish programs in West Yakima. Second, as we pray, please also consider ways in which you can be part of this effort by supporting our Catholic Heritage spiritually, morally and financially.
 
Thank you for your always present support and generosity in all we are and do as Catholics to uplift Faith Formation through Catholic school academics and religious education programs in the parish.
 
 
Easter Greetings and Blessings,
 
 
Fr. Cesar Vega-Mendoza
Pastor