When I was growing up, I would spend a couple of weeks each summer with my aunts and uncles in Orani, Bataan. The ancestral home stood in the middle of town. The public market was literally across the street, while the Municipal Hall and town plaza was just 150 feet away. Down the end of the street, across the old national highway, was the historic Catholic church of Orani.
Just before four o'clock each morning, I would be awaken by the ringing of church bells signaling worshipers to the first mass of the day. Like clockwork, my three spinster aunts would have already been dressed and were on their way out to hear mass. I thought it was cool to have a church that's close to home so you didn't have to drive or take public transportation to get there. But the 4 o'clock mass was a little too early for me.
Is it really cool to have a church nearby? Well, I think it is, especially if it is the ultra modern, majestic edifice called, the Cathedral of Christ the Light.
Located in Oakland, California, this house of God sits across the scenic Lake Merritt, and is surrounded by commercial and residential high-rise buildings. If it weren't for the cross that stands atop the main entrance, one would have mistaken it as a contemporary office building.
The cathedral broke ground on May 21, 2005. For the next three years, construction of the cathedral was relentless. On September 25, 2008, it was dedicated by then Oakland Bishop Allen Vigneron, in an elaborate and pompous ceremony in traditional Catholic church fashion.
The Cathedral of Christ the Light is the mother church of over half a million faithfuls under the Diocese of Oakland, which covers 85 parishes in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. It is also the new home of the former St. Francis de Sales parish, which was destroyed in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. This magnificent structure is the home of the current Bishop of Oakland, The Most Reverend Salvatore Joseph Cordileone, who was installed as the 4th Bishop of Oakland on May 5, 2009.
Aside from being a place of worship, the cathedral is adjacent to a public plaza and garden. It has a conference center (that is rented out to the public), a cafe, and souvenir shop. Aside from the Chancery Office and Rectory, the cathedral also has underground parking.
The design and layout of the cathedral has a purpose. From the underground mausoleum to the main church floor, each design element was carefully well-thought of. There are just too many to even mention.
So, why is it cool to have a church nearby? Well, personally, it is an opportunity for me to connect with my Creator more frequently. I can hear mass and receive the Holy Eucharist as often as I can, and I don't have to wait till Sunday to visit. For me, just sitting quietly inside the church gives me peace of mind, even for a short time. With everything that is going on around us, the quiet and calm inside the church is something that I wouldn't trade for anything. You should try it.
By the way, did I tell you that the Cathedral of Christ the Light stands right behind my office? Now that is really COOL !!!
Happy 1st Anniversary on your dedication....September 25, 2009.
Author's Note: The Cathedral of Christ the Light is located at 2121 Harrison Street, Oakland, CA 94612. One of the daily masses is at 12:10 pm, and a daily tour begins at 1:00 pm.
Nice. Love it.
ReplyDelete