"Crystal Cathedral" to become an actual Catholic Cathedral?

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ElToro

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“Two weeks after announcing it was exploring the possibility of purchasing the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove from the bankrupt Protestant ministry that owns it, the Diocese of Orange has announced it has offered $50 million for the property for use as a new diocesan cathedral.”

calcatholic.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?id=72df5321-1a55-4849-a23e-96e2b526b266

I hope this edifice becomes an actual Catholic Cathedral. While the I.M. Pei design is progressive it’s also beautiful in person and it’s internationally known. At $50M it would also be about 20-25% the cost of building from scratch. Please join me in prayer.
 
I hope this does NOT happen. It’s an interesting building, but certainly not a cathedral.

Whatever happened to building churches that look like churches?
 
I don’t think it would require too much to be used as a Catholic cathedral.

Retrofit most of the seating with kneelers. I prefer theatre seating over benches anyway. Build an elevated sanctuary. Unfortunately the pipe organ would have to stay where it was due to cost, but it’s a world class instrument.

Change the existing cross to a tasteful and appropriate crucifix. Add a very nice altar and ambo. I would also have a seperate lectern for the reading of the OT and NT epistles and the singing of the responsorial psalm.

I would keep the Sony Jumbotron but I would be extremely judicious in its use. The tabernacle would be magnificent and huge. The sort of design that would be known world-wide.
 
ElToro said:
I don’t think it would require too much to be used as a Catholic cathedral.

Retrofit most of the seating with kneelers. I prefer theatre seating over benches anyway. Build an elevated sanctuary. Unfortunately the pipe organ would have to stay where it was due to cost, but it’s a world class instrument.

Change the existing cross to a tasteful and appropriate crucifix. Add a very nice altar and ambo. I would also have a seperate lectern for the reading of the OT and NT epistles and the singing of the responsorial psalm.

I would keep the Sony Jumbotron but I would be extremely judicious in its use. The tabernacle would be magnificent and huge. The sort of design that would be known world-wide.
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Two things:
  1. What do you mean by “add another lectern … psalm.” ? Isn’t that what the ambo is for?
  2. I don’t mean the things you mention, I am talking about the overall architecture. It simply isn’t suitable for a cathedral.
 
TheMc said:
  1. I don’t mean the things you mention, I am talking about the overall architecture. It simply isn’t suitable for a cathedral.
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Can you be more specific? What cathedral-y features are absent?
 
Digitonomy said:
Can you be more specific? What cathedral-y features are absent?
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The whole structure just doesn’t seem suitable for a cathedral. The glass, and the “stage”, the jumbotron. Everything about it, save the cool organ.
 
Digitonomy said:
Can you be more specific? What cathedral-y features are absent?
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All is needs is some furnishings – an altar, a credence table, an ambo, a tabernacle and some retrofitted kneelers.

Someone brought up a good point. That building would be GREAT for evangelization.
 
I must also admit to loving the low price. I would not commission a cathedral like this but a campus like this for $50 in OC? That would be a great deal.

I would also never commission a building who design was constricted by archaic materials and design methods and technology. Some seem to love long, skinny churches not realizing they were built that way due to cost and the availability of building materials in many places.

To be blunt I think Jesus Christ looks down on the Crystal Cathedral with a smile – it’s a well designed worship space. I do wonder about His thoughts on the rest of the campus though. Does he look at the size and oppulance as a negative or does He view the out-of-control spending as a means that will bring the Crystal Cathedral into His Church?
 
If you were the Bishop of Orange County and it was your responsibility what would you rename the Crystal Cathedral in all sincerity?

I would choose “Jesus the Christ Cathedral” if that was appropriate of maybe “Cathedral of Jesus the Christ.” Old Mission San Juan Capistrano is the only California Mission in OC and the oldest church in OC. Maybe “Cathedral of Saint John of Capistrano” might be appropriate?

I would really love to hear some preferences. Please, please do not ruin this thread. Thanks… 🙂
 
In would see something with “light” in it. Perhaps “The Cathedral of Christ our Light.”
 
With all that sunlight pouring in that building, how about Transfiguration Cathedral (if it’s going to be a diocesan designated cathedral,) or Our Lady of the Luminous Mysteries?

I wonder how the diocese is planning to re-do the inside, meaning the sanctuary area. From what little I have seen of it, this structure doesn’t really lend itself to the Mass without some serious redecoration. While it’s a nice acquisition, I hope that the diocese didn’t buy something that will cost them more than a new structure in the long run.
 
Maybe the Diocece will let people make suggestions and take a vote. I like Christ our Light Cathedral.
 
Does anyone have a link or links that show photographs of the Crystal Cathedral, particularly of the area of the sanctuary?
 
+The elder Dr. Schuller . . . whose encouraging worldwide evangelical ministry of love, respect, appreciation and celebration of God’s . . . at times visibly breathtaking . . . beauty of creation of the wonder of mankind in all their giftedness . . . reached millions of people for the Lord . . . and was so deeply blessed of God that the Cathedral came into being in the first place . . . was a very close and very dear friend and brother in Christ of Catholic Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen . . . whose cause is vigorously being brought forward for canonization in the Catholic Church at this present time . . . my prayer is that our dear and wonderful Archbishop Sheen will become a deeply prayer:gopray2:ful guide in Christ to the Most Rev. Bishop of Orange, Tod D. Brown . . . and all those helping him in the transitional work of preparing the Cathedral building for further service to God our Gracious Heavenly Father . . . and that dear Archbishop Sheen . . . from ** heaven ** above . . . may protect with the holy :angel1: angels of God . . . and direct . . . all transitioning matters . . . *in all holiness *. . . spiritual and material . . . on earth here below . . . regarding the Cathedral’s becoming a deeply holy Catholic Christian witness and influence for good in our Lord in the days to come . . . may it be truly filled now with the . . . fullness . . . of the Christian faith . . . which rich deposit of the vast treasures of Christianity . . . in all its fullness . . . can only be found in the Apostolic Holy Roman Catholic Church . . .

May our Wonderful God abundantly bless this rich new opportunity and work that it may radiantly glorify our . . . Redeemer and Lord . . . Jesus . . . ***the Blessed Christ of God ***. . .

St. :highprayer: Paul . . . was **God’s **own called and chosen apostle to the gentiles . . . through whom the ministry of drawing God’s gentile children close to the foot of the . . . Holy Cross of Christ . . . and to our Lord . . . and to whom Christianity was entrusted fully . . . would be a wonderful saint to honor regarding the exquisitely beautiful . . . and now completely Catholic church . . . as the wondrous . . . Work of God . . . continues to flourish even more deeply with greater light than ever before within its walls . . .

:compcoff: Newslink with picture: christianpost.com/news/crystal-cathedral-gets-50-million-bid-from-catholics-52755/

. . . all for Jesus+
. . . thank You Dear Lord+
. . . thank You Gracious Heavenly Father+
. . . thank You Sweet Spirit of our Holy God+
. . . thank you our Beloved Blessed Virgin Mary+
. . . thank you Holy Mother Church+​
 
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