Cathedral of Saint Francis de Sales (Oakland, California) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral ofSaint Francis de Sales |
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| Location | Oakland, California |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Founded | 1886 |
| Dedication | July 9, 1893 |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1893 |
| Closed | 1989 |
| Demolished | 1993 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Brick |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Oakland |
The Cathedral of Saint Francis de Sales was a beautiful church in Oakland, California. It was built in 1893. From 1962, it served as the main church, or cathedral, for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland. Sadly, it was badly damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Because of the damage, the cathedral was torn down in 1993.
Contents
Building the Cathedral
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As the city of Oakland grew, more churches were needed. In 1886, a new church parish was started. It was named after Francis de Sales, a saint who lived from 1567 to 1622.
The first Mass (a church service) for the new parish was held in a hall. Soon after, a temporary building was put up. This building had a church upstairs and a school downstairs. The school opened in 1887. It taught both boys and girls in elementary school and girls in high school. The Sisters of the Holy Names taught at the school. The high school closed in 1931, and the elementary school closed in 1977.
Designing the Church
A kind woman named Mrs. Mary J. Canning donated a lot of money to build a grand new church. She gave $142,000, which was a huge amount back then!
The new church was designed in a Gothic Revival style. This style looks like old European cathedrals. It was made of red brick and had a tall steeple and beautiful stained glass windows. The architect, Charles Devlin, did such a good job that he was chosen to design another important building, St. Patrick's Seminary.
The church was officially opened on July 9, 1893. A special visitor from the Vatican, Archbishop Francesco Satolli, came for the dedication. He even brought greetings from Pope Leo XIII to Mrs. Canning for her generous gift.
Becoming a Cathedral
For many years, St. Francis de Sales was a regular church. But in 1962, something big happened. A new Catholic area, called the Diocese of Oakland, was created.
The first Bishop of Oakland, Bishop Floyd Lawrence Begin, chose St. Francis de Sales Church to be the main church for the new diocese. This meant it became the cathedral.
After this, the church was updated. The red brick inside was painted white, and some parts of the altar area were changed. The church also became known for its amazing music program in the 1970s and 1980s. People called it the "Oakland Cathedral Sound." A special pipe organ was installed in 1982 to help create this beautiful music.
The 1989 Earthquake
On October 17, 1989, a powerful earthquake, called the Loma Prieta earthquake, hit the area. The Cathedral of Saint Francis de Sales was badly damaged.
One year later, the Bishop announced that the church would have to be torn down. It would cost too much money to fix it and make it safe from future earthquakes. In 1993, the beautiful cathedral was demolished.
A new cathedral, called the Cathedral of Christ the Light, was built in a different location. It was finished and opened in 2008.
Leaders of the Cathedral
Many priests served as leaders, or rectors, of St. Francis de Sales Cathedral during its time as the main church for the diocese:
- Monsignor Richard A. O'Donnell, 1962–1968
- Monsignor Michael H. Lucid, 1968–1971
- Monsignor Joseph Skillin, 1971–1973
- Father Robert Fontaine, 1973–1975
- Father E. Donald Osuna, 1975–1986
- Father James T. Keeley, 1986–1993
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de San Francisco de Sales (Oakland) para niños
