SEATTLE – The stories of the Archdiocese of Seattle, its cathedral and its bishops and archbishops are highlighted in an episode of the television series “The Chair,” now available for free viewing.

The 85-episode series, featuring dioceses around the United States, is interesting in the way it weaves these three aspects together, said Corinna Laughlin, pastoral assistant for liturgy at St. James Cathedral, who was among those interviewed for the episode.

“It focuses on the bishop through the lens of their cathedral church and the history of their diocese,” explained Laughlin, who has written much about the history of the Seattle archdiocese.

Archbishop Paul D. Etienne is interviewed at St. James Cathedral for the Seattle episode of “The Chair.” The bishop’s chair, known as the cathedra, is at right. (Courtesy DeSales Media)

Archbishop Paul D. Etienne said he was “intrigued” by the series and was glad that St. James Cathedral was chosen to be featured in an episode of the series, a project of DeSales Media in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Each 22-minute episode takes as its starting point the bishop’s chair, known as the cathedra, from which the name “cathedral” originates. The cathedra is “the symbolic heart of the diocese, representing the bishop’s authority to sanctify, preach and govern as a true successor of the Apostle,” DeSales Media said in a release.

St. James Cathedral has beautiful cathedra, Archbishop Etienne said in the video.

“The role of bishop can be very isolating,” he said, “so I like the fact that the cathedra in this cathedral (is) in the congregation as we worship God together, as we seek God together, as we serve God together.”

Tracing the archdiocese’s history

The Seattle episode traces the early history of the archdiocese — from the first French-Canadian missionary priests arriving in the 1830s, through the establishment of the Diocese of Nesqually in Vancouver in 1850 followed by the arrival of the Sisters of Providence in 1856, to moving the seat of the then-diocese from Vancouver to Seattle in 1907 and renaming it the Diocese of Seattle.

Mother Joseph of the Sisters of Providence was considered the co-founder of the Diocese of Nesqually (now the Archdiocese of Seattle) because of the charitable work she did and led. (Courtesy DeSales Media)

The film also highlights the four bishops and six archbishops who have led Catholics in Western Washington, and explores the history of St. James Cathedral, completed in 1907 and renovated in 1994.

Besides Archbishop Etienne, locals appearing in the episode include Laughlin; Sister Barbara Schamber, provincial leader of the Sisters of Providence; and Father Michael G. Ryan, longtime pastor of St. James Cathedral.

Father Ryan provides details about the cathedral and its renovation, which he led, and speaks about five of the archbishops he has served under — Archbishops Thomas A. Connolly, Raymond G. Hunthausen, Thomas J. Murphy, Alexander J. Brunett and J. Peter Sartain.

“Father Ryan, Corinna and Sister Barbara all did an excellent job sharing important moments in our history of faith,” Archbishop Etienne said. “The directors did a great job by means of telling the history of the archdiocese as well as of the cathedral itself,” he added.

St. James Cathedral was dedicated in 1907. (Courtesy DeSales Media)

Behind-the-scenes work was done by the team at the archdiocesan archives, fulfilling the production company’s “long list of the images they needed,” archives director Seth Dalby said in an email.

“This was a joint effort, with all three of us searching for, digitizing and creating descriptive information for the photos we provided,” Dalby said.

Images not available in the archives collection were obtained from the collections of St. James Cathedral and the archdiocese’s Communications department. In all, 143 digital photos and descriptions were provided to the production team, Dalby said.

The video provides “just a tiny little taste of the history of the archdiocese,” Laughlin told Northwest Catholic. “I think the most exciting thing for me was to see the beautiful shots they were able to get of the cathedral,” using a drone.

Her hope is that people viewing “The Chair” video (see details below) will be inspired to visit the cathedral, explore the history of the archdiocese and their parishes more fully and be inspired by the stories of people of faith who have gone before.

Archbishop Etienne’s journey

Much of the episode’s second half tells the faith story and vocational journey of Archbishop Etienne through interview excerpts accompanied by photos of events and milestones along the way.

Viewers will learn that Archbishop Etienne grew up with five siblings in a faith-filled family (four of the six siblings have answered the call to religious life). Initially he wasn’t attracted to the priesthood — he wanted to get married, have a big family and become a self-made businessman.

But “God just kept moving me in my life,” the archbishop said. Eventually he went to college, then entered the seminary and was ordained in 1992. He became bishop of Cheyenne, Wyo., in 2009 and then archbishop of Anchorage in 2016 before becoming archbishop of Seattle in 2019.

Archbishop Paul D. Etienne talks about his faith and family for an episode of the TV series, “The Chair.” (Courtesy DeSales Media)

In the video, Archbishop Etienne talks about priesthood — it’s “really about walking with God’s people” — and the challenge of accepting the call to become a bishop, and then moving to each new diocese, leaving behind the familiar and trusting in God.

“In all of these experiences, God just keeps building up for the next thing he’s going to ask of you,” Archbishop Etienne said.

The conversation about his family and faith journey “stirred some deep emotions within me, as well as tremendous gratitude for their faith, love and support,” Archbishop Etienne told Northwest Catholic. “That is symbolic of how the entire faith family hands down the faith from generation to generation.”

Faith is a gift, the archbishop said in the video, “and I’m one of the lucky ones that God gave an abundance of faith.”

How to watch “The Chair”

Viewing “The Chair” is free but requires creating a free account on “The Chair” website. Sign up here.

Once you have signed up, you can easily find the Seattle episode by clicking or copying this link.