Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland

This 2008 consecrated Cathedral for the Diocese of Oakland is quite unique. It uses the ancient elements of water, fire, wood, sand and light to build a glass and wooden cased structure that is the bishop's seat for the Oakland Diocese. This Cathedral has 17 different language masses - a reflection of the mixed cultures that comprise this complex diocese. http://www.ctlcathedral.org/parish/parish.shtml

It is shaped in the ancient Christian symbol of a fish. This symbol is most easily recognised in the ceiling (pic below). One can also see the seated and blessing image of Christ in the pixel light of the Omega window behind the altar. They are the organ pipes to the right an left of the window.

Being along way removed from what I experienced in Europe, I imagine that this Cathedral building is not everyone's 'cup of tea', but it does have some very beautiful and moving features. An highlight for me was the Mausoleum which is housed below the Cathedral building.

To enter the Mausoleum (pic above left), one enters past flowing water that comes from the Baptismal font in the cathedral entrance above. Then there is a gradual down slope to a catafalque (pic right) where the coffin or cremated urn is placed before being interred into its designated place in the walls of the Mausoleum. This catafalque was an altar from the previous parish church of St Francis de Sales which was subsumed into this new cathedral. The light surrounding the main altar of the cathedral above passes down onto this catafalque, so we experience here the moving symbols of the waters and light that we experience from our baptism to our earthly death and heavenly welcome. 

The final part of the cathedral that impressed me was the new garden (pic left) in memory of the innocent who suffered from clergy abuse. It was thought of and designed by survivors of abuse. The last words of the plaque here say..."Never again".

This page is dedicated to the victims of clergy abuse. Never again!