Cathedral of Christ the Light (Oakland, California) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral of Christ the Light |
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Exterior view of The Cathedral of Christ the Light
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 Cathedral of Christ the Light
Location in Oakland, California
Cathedral of Christ the Light
Location in California
Cathedral of Christ the Light
Location in the United States
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| 37°48′38″N 122°15′47″W / 37.8105°N 122.2631°W | |
| Location | 2121 Harrison St. Oakland, California |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Membership | 530,000 |
| Website | www.ctlcathedral.org |
| History | |
| Dedication | September 25, 2008 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Craig W. Hartman Skidmore, Owings & Merrill Tom Milholland Aryan Sarkar Kendall/Heaton Associates |
| Architectural type | Modern architecture Late 20th century abstract |
| Groundbreaking | 2005 |
| Completed | 2008 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 1,800 |
| Number of floors | 17 |
| Floor area | 343,000 sq ft |
| Materials | ceramic frit, concrete, Douglas fir, glass frit, steel |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Oakland |
The Cathedral of Christ the Light, often called the Oakland Cathedral, is a modern cathedral for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland in Oakland, California. A cathedral is the main church for a region, called a diocese, and it's where the bishop has his official seat. This was the first cathedral in the world to be built completely in the 21st century.
It replaced the old Cathedral of Saint Francis de Sales, which was badly damaged by the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989 and could not be repaired. The new cathedral is the main church for about 530,000 Catholics living in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
The Cathedral of Christ the Light is more than just a church. The complex includes offices for the diocese, a conference center, a home for priests, and a health clinic that gives free medical services to people without health insurance. It also has a mausoleum, which is a building where people are buried. The mausoleum has special tombs for the bishops of Oakland and other burial spots for members of the church.
Construction on the new cathedral began in 2005. It was officially opened and dedicated on September 25, 2008.
Contents
A Modern Design
The cathedral has a very unique and modern look, designed by architect Craig W. Hartman. Instead of a traditional stone building, it's made of glass, wood, and concrete. The shape of the main worship area is called a vesica piscis, which is Latin for "fish bladder." This is the pointed oval shape you get when two circles overlap. This shape is an ancient symbol in Christianity.
The building's design was inspired by several Christian stories, including the miracle of the loaves and fishes. The walls are made of overlapping panels of wood and glass that rise up to the ceiling, looking a bit like the scales of a fish.
Letting in the Light
One of the most important parts of the design is light. The architect wanted the light inside to feel like sunlight filtering through a forest of tall redwood trees. The building's glass walls allow natural light to fill the space.
At the back of the cathedral is a large window called the "omega window." It stands 58 feet tall. A picture of Jesus Christ is created on this window using thousands of small holes pierced into aluminum panels. This image is based on a 12th-century sculpture from the famous Chartres Cathedral in France.
Built to Be Safe
Because the old cathedral was destroyed by an earthquake, this new one was built with special features to protect it from earthquake damage. This makes it a very strong and safe building.
Special Features of the Cathedral
The cathedral complex has several other interesting parts. A small garden on the grounds was designed as a quiet place for healing and reflection. It is dedicated to people who were harmed by some members of the clergy in the past.
Inside, a painting in a small chapel shows St. Joseph holding a model of Mission San José. This was the first place where Catholic Mass was celebrated in the area that is now the Diocese of Oakland.
The Cathedral's Organ
The cathedral has a massive pipe organ built by Orgues Létourneau Limitée, a famous organ maker from Canada. The organ, known as Opus 118, has 5,298 pipes. The pipes are split into two large sections on either side of the main altar. This powerful instrument fills the large space with music during services and concerts.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Cristo de la Luz (Oakland) para niños
