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 in Oakland was a beautiful church built in 1893. It served as the main church, or cathedral, for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland in Oakland, California. This grand building was used from 1962 until it was badly damaged by the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. The damage was so severe that the cathedral had to be torn down in 1993.
Contents
How the Church Began
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As the city of Oakland grew, more churches were needed. In 1885, Archbishop Patrick W. Riordan decided to create a new church parish. He chose January 29, 1886, the feast day of Saint Francis de Sales, to start this new parish.
Father Thomas Mc Sweeney was chosen as the first pastor. He held the first Mass for the new St. Francis de Sales Parish on February 21, 1886. Soon after, Father Mc Sweeney bought land on Grove Street to build the church.
Early Buildings and Schools
Instead of building a permanent church right away, they built a temporary one. This building had the church upstairs and a school on the ground floor. Archbishop Riordan blessed this new St. Francis de Sales Church/School on February 27, 1887.
The St. Francis de Sales School opened on July 18, 1887. It was an elementary school for both boys and girls. It also had a high school for girls. The Sisters of the Holy Names taught at these schools. The girls' high school closed in 1931, and the elementary school closed in 1977.
Building the Grand Church
Father Mc Sweeney originally planned a smaller church. However, a very generous woman named Mrs. Mary J. Canning made a large donation. She gave $142,000 to help build a much grander church.
The first stone of the permanent church was laid on September 13, 1891. The church was designed in a Gothic Revival style. It was made of red brick and featured 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 St. Francis de Sales Church was officially opened and blessed on July 9, 1893. A special visitor, Archbishop Francesco Satolli, came from the United States to dedicate it. He even brought a personal message from Pope Leo XIII to Mrs. Canning, thanking her for her amazing support.
Pastors of the Church
Father Mc Sweeney led St. Francis de Sales for 23 years. After he became ill, Father Patrick Joseph James Keane took over in 1910. Father Keane later became a bishop.
Over the years, several other pastors led the church. Monsignor Joseph M. Gleason, a historian and community leader, became pastor in 1942. Later, Father Richard A. O'Donnell, who grew up in the St. Francis de Sales Parish, became pastor. He had even been an altar boy for Father McSweeney.
Becoming a Cathedral
In 1962, Pope John XXIII created the new Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland. Bishop Floyd Lawrence Begin was chosen as the first Bishop of Oakland. When asked where his cathedral would be, Bishop Begin chose St. Francis de Sales Church. It officially became the Diocese of Oakland's cathedral.
After this, the cathedral was updated. The red brick was painted white, and some parts of the altar area were changed. In 1968, Monsignor O'Donnell retired as pastor.
Music and Later Years
In the 1970s and 1980s, the cathedral became famous for its amazing music program. People called it the "Oakland Cathedral Sound." A special pipe organ was installed in 1982, which helped create this unique sound.
Bishop Floyd Begin passed away in 1977. The next bishop, Bishop John Cummins, was installed at a larger venue, not at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral.
The Earthquake and Demolition
On October 17, 1989, a big earthquake called the Loma Prieta earthquake hit. The cathedral was badly damaged. One year later, Bishop Cummins announced that the church would have to be torn down. The diocese could not afford the $8 million needed to repair it and make it safe from future earthquakes. In 1993, the beautiful cathedral was demolished.
A new cathedral, called Cathedral of Christ the Light, was built in a different location. It cost about $131 million and was officially opened on September 25, 2008.
Rectors of St. Francis de Sales Cathedral
These are the priests who served as rectors (leaders) of the cathedral:
- 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
