SANCTUARY/IMMIGRATION

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2025, 7–8 P.M., in the cathedral nave and livestreamed In such a time as this, when chaos and confusion are threatening migrant communities, we as people of faith are called to reaffirm our values and uphold the dignity of every human being. People of all faiths who seek strength in this moment are welcome to this peaceful gathering as we ground ourselves in community, prayer, and song and commit to active and practical solidarity with our migrant … Read More

UPDATE, FEBRUARY 16, 2023 The Popals have now moved to their new apartment in the Shoreline area! They are excited about the location, as it’s just 3 minutes away from friends, plus they’ve already met another Afghan family in the building (with a boy Mustafa’s age!) also newly settling in. They moved off the Saint Mark’s Cathedral campus on Tuesday of last week, and express their sincerest thanks for the warm welcome and many gifts and thoughtful donations received as … Read More

Here is a selection of stories published in The Rubric during the three years, 2019–2022, when Jaime Rubio and his family lived on the cathedral grounds as our guest in Sanctuary. Click on each image to enlarge. You may watch a video of Jaime telling his story in his own words here.

UPDATED WITH VIDEO WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 6:45–8:15 P.M., in person in Bloedel Hall and online via Zoom. Optional community dinner at 6 p.m. ($6/child; $8/adult; $25/max. family). Saint Mark’s parishioner Elizabeth Hawkins has been living and working in San Salvador since 2019. A former immigration attorney, she travelled to El Salvador to research the complex factors that lead people to attempt to emigrate to the United States. She will give us an update about the current situation in El Salvador. Elizabeth … Read More

Jamie, our guest in Sanctuary since March of 2019, his wife Keiko, and their son Yoshi have shared the following message of thanks to the cathedral community, as they begin the next stage of their journey. Dear Saint Mark’s community, After 3 years of living in Sanctuary at St. Mark’s Cathedral, Jaime is ready to transition back to our home in the Shoreline community where we built our life together. Looking back, we did not know what our journey would … Read More

Above: Santa Marta Center donation links. Click to enlarge. UPDATED WITH VIDEO SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 10:10–10:50 A.M., Bloedel Hall or via Zoom. The Santa Marta Anglican Center: Supporting LGBTIQ+ youth in El Salvador The Santa Marta Anglican Center supports LGBTIQ+ youth in El Salvador who are facing homelessness. It is a ministry of the Diocese of El Salvador, part of the Anglican Church in Central America. Attend this Sunday morning form in person or online to learn more about Diocese of … Read More

UPDATED WITH VIDEO PRESS CONFERENCE AND RALLEY: MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 12 P.M. Today we were able to share the good news that Jaime’s case has been reopened, which means he will have his day in court to consider whether he might be granted a path to remain in this country with his family. This is a step toward a just outcome, and while the legal proceedings will unfold over the next several months, and may take more than a year, this … Read More

On Wednesday, March 17, Saint Mark’s was the location for a gathering of faith communities, activists, family, and friends celebrating the reuniting of Jose Robles with his family after 20 months of detention at the Northwest Detention Center. Prior to entering detention, Jose lived for a year in Sanctuary in Gethsemane Lutheran Church in downtown Seattle. This gathering also marked Jaime Rubio’s upcoming two-year anniversary of being in sanctuary at Saint Mark’s, as he continues to work toward a legal … Read More

Saint Mark’s Sanctuary volunteers Dee Cappelletti, Melinda Kmitta, George Moore, and Maris Olsen, along with Canon Nancy Ross, traveled to McAllen and Brownsville, Texas, and Matamoros, Mexico, in January 2020. There they joined Episcopalians from around the country witnessing the realities of the dire situation for migrants and refugees at our southern border. They met refugees and asylees, some 2,000 strong, who are camped in a squalid tent city, most waiting months for a chance for an asylum hearing. At … Read More

Jaime Rubio Sulficio, father, husband, and community leader, is living in Sanctuary at Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral while he seeks a legal remedy that would allow for a stay of deportation to Mexico and keep his family together. He shared his reflections on life in Sanctuary with the community at a forum led by Reverend Nancy Ross, in Bloedel Hall, on October 2, 2019. The tradition of Sanctuary has deep biblical and historical roots as places of welcome, hospitality, and … Read More

On March 29, 2019, Saint Mark’s Cathedral made the announcement that it is welcoming an immigrant facing deportation into Sanctuary on the Cathedral grounds. A pdf of the press release may be downloaded here. The full text may be read below.

Event Moderated by The Right Rev. Bishop Greg Rickel Saint Mark’s hosted WA State Attorney General Bob Ferguson on October 17, 2018, in the Cathedral Nave, who shared his thoughts on the current state of immigration both locally and nationally, as well how we can continue our involvement toward sensible and equitable policies. The event included a follow-up panel discussion moderated by The Right Rev. Greg Rickel, Bishop of the The Episcopal Diocese of Olympia, with Marcos Martinez, Executive Director … Read More

In Christ’s church, all are welcome, but it’s not just in church – it is in our common life. Saint Mark’s stands in solidarity with all our neighbors, especially immigrants who are living in fear in these fraught times. Sanctuary at Saint Mark’s Cathedral is an outgrowth of our 2016 Statement of Commitment and Action, our response to the climate of increasing division and violence in our nation. I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I … Read More