Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral ofOur Lady of the Angels |
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Exterior view 
Nave view Cathedral of our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles
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| 34°3′30″N 118°14′45″W / 34.05833°N 118.24583°W | |
| Location | 555 W. Temple St. Los Angeles, California |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Dedication | September 2, 2002 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Rafael Moneo |
| Style | Modern architecture; deconstructivist elements |
| Completed | 2002 |
| Construction cost | $189.7 million |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 3,000 people |
| Length | 333 feet (101 m) ; nave |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Los Angeles |
The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels is a very important Catholic church in Los Angeles, California. It is also known as the Los Angeles Cathedral. This huge church opened in 2002. It serves as the main church for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, which is a large group of Catholic churches in the area. The Archbishop of Los Angeles, José Horacio Gómez, has his special chair (called a cathedra) here.
This cathedral was built to replace the old Cathedral of Saint Vibiana. The old church was badly damaged by an earthquake in 1994. Building the new cathedral was a big project. Some people had different ideas about its modern design and how much it cost.
The cathedral's name, "Our Lady of the Angels," honors the Virgin Mary. This name also connects to the original name of Los Angeles, which was "The Town of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels." Inside the cathedral, you can find special items called relics. These include relics of Saint Vibiana and a piece of cloth from Our Lady of Guadalupe. This church is the main spiritual home for about five million Catholics in the Los Angeles area.
Contents
History of the Los Angeles Cathedral
The Cathedral of Saint Vibiana was the main Catholic church in Los Angeles since 1876. However, it was not built very well and quickly became too small. Los Angeles was growing fast! In the early 1900s, there were plans to build a new, bigger cathedral. But these plans often stopped because of money problems or other needs.
For example, in the 1940s, there were plans for a new cathedral that could hold 3,000 people. It was even approved to be named "Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels." But the Archbishop at the time decided it was more important to build new local churches and schools. So, that cathedral was never built.
Why a New Cathedral Was Needed
The big 1994 Northridge earthquake caused a lot of damage to the old Saint Vibiana's Cathedral. Because of safety worries, the church had to close. At first, there were plans to build a new cathedral right where the old one stood. But some people wanted to save the old church because it was a historic landmark. They thought it should be repaired or included in the new design.
The church leaders said it would cost too much to fix the old cathedral safely. Because of this disagreement, they decided to find a completely new place for the cathedral. In 1996, they bought a large piece of land in downtown Los Angeles. They kept the name "Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels."
The project cost about $189.7 million. Construction began in 1998 and was finished in September 2002.
Design and Features
The famous Spanish architect Rafael Moneo designed the cathedral. He used a modern style of architecture. The building has many sharp and wide angles, and you won't find many perfect right angles.
The cathedral complex has many interesting features:
- Bronze Doors: The main entrance has beautiful bronze doors.
- Virgin Mary Statue: A large statue of the Virgin Mary stands at the entrance. Both the doors and the statue were created by artist Robert Graham.
- Fountains and Sculpture: There are three fountains and a bronze sculpture by Johnny Bear Contreras. This sculpture is a special memorial to Native Americans.
- Solar Power: The building uses solar panels to create 15% of its own electricity.
Besides the main church, the cathedral grounds also include:
- A mausoleum (a building for burials).
- A gift shop and a cafe.
- A children's garden.
- A conference center.
- Homes for the clergy (priests).
The cathedral is very large, covering about 6,038 square meters.
The Organ
The cathedral has a very impressive pipe organ. It was built by Dobson Pipe Organ Builders. This organ is huge, with 105 different sets of pipes! It even includes some pipes from the old St. Vibiana's Cathedral organ.
The organ has a total of 6,019 pipes. It was officially used for the first time in 2003. It is one of the largest pipe organs in North America. The organ case is about 60 feet (18 meters) tall. It is placed high above the floor, about 24 feet (7 meters) up. To make sure it is safe during earthquakes, the pipes and case are held up by a strong steel frame inside.
The Mausoleum
The cathedral has a special burial place called a mausoleum on its lower level. It has spaces for 1,270 crypts (for coffins) and 4,746 niches (for urns with ashes). The money from selling these spaces helps support the cathedral.
Many important people from the history of the Los Angeles Archdiocese are buried or remembered here. This includes past Archbishops and bishops. The tomb of Saint Vibiana, the patron saint of Los Angeles, was moved here from the old cathedral. It is now the main part of the St. Vibiana Chapel, which is next to the mausoleum.
The mausoleum also features beautiful stained glass windows. These windows were originally in the old Saint Vibiana's Cathedral. They were carefully restored and moved to the new cathedral. Two new stained glass windows, showing guardian angels, were also added at the entrance to the mausoleum.
Famous People Buried Here
Some notable people are buried in the cathedral's mausoleum:
- Clergy (Church Leaders):
- Bishop Juan Alfredo Arzube
- Thaddeus Amat y Brusi, the first Bishop of Los Angeles
- John Joseph Cantwell, the first Archbishop of Los Angeles
- Bishop Thomas James Conaty
- Bishop Carl Anthony Fisher
- James Francis McIntyre, the second Archbishop of Los Angeles
- Bishop David G. O'Connell
- John J. Ward, an auxiliary bishop
- Laity (Non-Clergy):
- Bernardine Murphy Donohue, a generous giver to charity
- Daniel J. Donahue, also a generous giver to charity
- Victor and Loretta Baron Mahony, parents of Cardinal Roger Mahony
- June Marlowe, an actress
- Gregory Peck, a famous actor
- Veronique Peck, wife of Gregory Peck
- Saint Vibiana, the patron saint of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles
- Adelina Naccarelli de Koenig, a generous giver and supporter of the arts
Events at the Cathedral
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The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels is a busy place! It hosts many events throughout the year.
- Marian Procession: In September 2011, the cathedral hosted a special Mass. This was part of the first annual Grand Marian Procession, a parade honoring the Virgin Mary.
- Weddings: Many Catholic couples choose to get married at the cathedral.
- Concerts: The cathedral sometimes holds musical performances, including concerts by the famous Libera choir.
- Organ Recitals: On the first Wednesday of every month, there is a free organ recital at 1:00 PM. Anyone can come and listen to the amazing organ music.
Pastors of the Cathedral
- Msgr. Kevin Kostelnik (2002-2017)
- Fr. David Gallardo (2017-2022)
- Msgr. Antonio Cacciapuoti (2022-present)
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles (Los Ángeles) para niños
- List of Catholic cathedrals in the United States
- List of cathedrals in the United States
- Roman Catholic Marian churches
