Houston's new Co-Cathedral

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Light_Seeker said:
Actually, if u are planning to visit & want to experience something really special, visit Annunciation Church in downtown too, right across from the ballpark. Its a beautiful traditional small Church that celebrates TLM occasionally. A good picture can be found here

I’ve taken several of my out-of-town visiting family there, they were iinspired. And these family members are ultra conservative ortho-roman catholic, if there was such a term. Very beautiful parish.
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Annunciation is the oldest church building in Houston, you can find even more photos here. It’s not far at all from the co-cathedral, so anyone stopping by should definitely take the opportunity to go to Annunciation as well. The window depiction of the Annunciation behind the altar is breathtaking.

The co-cathedral is not far from the Galleria, less than 10 miles away if I remember correctly. If you take Memorial from the Galleria, it turns into Texas Ave, which is the street where you’ll find Annunciation parish. 1618 Texas St @ Crawford. Then to get to the co-cathedral, take Capitol (the next street south of Texas Ave) up to Fannin, take a left and head on down to the co-cathedral @ 1111 St Joseph Pkwy. There’s only a little more than a mile distance between the two.
 
BeeSweet said:
Annunciation is the oldest church building in Houston, you can find even more photos here. It’s not far at all from the co-cathedral, so anyone stopping by should definitely take the opportunity to go to Annunciation as well. The window depiction of the Annunciation behind the altar is breathtaking.

The co-cathedral is not far from the Galleria, less than 10 miles away if I remember correctly. If you take Memorial from the Galleria, it turns into Texas Ave, which is the street where you’ll find Annunciation parish. 1618 Texas St @ Crawford. Then to get to the co-cathedral, take Capitol (the next street south of Texas Ave) up to Fannin, take a left and head on down to the co-cathedral @ 1111 St Joseph Pkwy. There’s only a little more than a mile distance between the two.
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So, if I’m coming from Texas 6, do I take IH-10? I say this because that is the route from College Station. If I were coming from Laredo, I’d be using Hwy 59, since that’s a straight shot to Houston. I guess I’ll have to use Mapquest. 🤷

I will say this, I was overwhelmed with Houston’s size during my first trip. I had to stay at the Galleria for a tour and travel expo and wound up going to Mass at St. Thomas, only because I didn’t know of any church closer. But, now I know, thanks to you, guys.
 
benedictgal said:
So, if I’m coming from Texas 6, do I take IH-10? I say this because that is the route from College Station. If I were coming from Laredo, I’d be using Hwy 59, since that’s a straight shot to Houston. I guess I’ll have to use Mapquest. 🤷

I will say this, I was overwhelmed with Houston’s size during my first trip. I had to stay at the Galleria for a tour and travel expo and wound up going to Mass at St. Thomas, only because I didn’t know of any church closer. But, now I know, thanks to you, guys.
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Take Hwy 6 till it turns into Hwy 290, then Hwy 290 to loop 610 NORTH to I-45 South (this is a bit tricky, 610 north is on the right, and 610 south is on the left, be sure to follow the signs here!). You’re best off avoiding I-10 for now, they’ve closed large sections of it every weekend for the last several months. There’s major construction going on there now, it can be an absolute nightmare (besides, the view of the skyline coming in on I-45 South is one of my favorite views!). When you’re coming into town on I-45 South, you’ll want to stay in the left lane and take the Milam exit (the sign will say “Downtown Destinations”). Texas Ave will be only a few blocks into town, you’ll turn left and go up about three blocks I think, not far. Most all the streets in downtown are one way, be cautious of that.

If you’d like directions to a local eatery, let me know what cuisine you like! 😃 I live three miles from downtown, I’m fairly familiar with the place 😉 .

If you want to PM me before you go, I’d be happy to help you understand these directions. Houston traffic is a nightmare, I know!
 
I got to go Friday night to the cathedral. All i can say is that pictres donot do it justices. If you can make the trip then do it.

The beauty of the white marble aganist the statues , the red altar marble and just the size is breath taking.

Yes there are kneelers. You can take pictures just not during mass as that would be rude. Reminds me of mass at Notre Dame in Paris. A tourist walked right up the middle isle during the Eurcharist prayer and snapped a picture of the windows and then moved on. It may be a beautiful building but it is still a house of God.

Hopeful these pictures will post…

photos-h.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v192/233/81/711775912/n711775912_762351_7112.jpg
 
👍 Big second on Our Lady of Walsingham. Liturgy, music, people, building, clergy…all beautiful. One of only 6 or so in the US. I really think their Sunday High Mass is not to be missed…or the choral evensong once a month at 5pm Sundays.
 
Went to the 5PM Mass there tonight…a simple but majestic beauty!

The relief work on the Stations of the Cross, the Alter tables and Baptismal pool, and the Saints statues are beautiful. The Corpus is huge … no doubt you’re in a Catholic Church! I have mixed feelings on the stained glass, while beautiful, I agree with Benedictgal, it does have a modern, chiseled appearance. The choir & orchestra are located behind & above you, under the large stained glass entrance, which I really like … no sideshow distractions from musicians & choir!

Sound bounces & echos a lot in this marble enclosure, Father even mentioned he is learning to talk slower and annunciate more clearly. THis makes the choir & orchestra sound wonderful on some selections, yet garbled on others. Theres no cry room, & several infants were delighted in hearing their screams 😛

Strange thing happened halfway thru Mass, a uniformed police officer, wearing his weapon, walked briskly up the side & around the corner while the sacrament was being prepared. Then walked out right before Communion started. It appeared he was checking for someone that may have evaded him by ducking in Church. Never seen that before!

Took some snapshots after Mass, along with many other people. A slideshow can be found here.

Please excuse a few of the out-of-focus pics, learning to steady a brand new camera that is half the size of my hand 😦
 
Light_Seeker said:
Chris Popelka is the new Director of Music at the Co-Cathedral, previously the director at St John Vianney parish. I was honored to have him play at my convalidation ceremony last year at SJV. Chris has an immense God-given talent, and it was no surprise when he was ‘promoted’ from the parish to the Cathedral. I truly miss his talent every weekend, but our new director is no slouch either, just very big shoes to fill. I am so happy to hear all the positive music comments in this thread, perhaps Chris and his associates are reaching out to more people. Bless him!

Going to Mass today at the new Co-Cathedral, can’t wait!!!
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Does anyone know, by chance, if Mr. Popelka is the diocessan director of music as well, or is this another person?
 
Em I bad! You’re right print 75 clearly shows the kneelers. Print #61 threw me for a second. Even so I’m still impressed by the grit of our lone star brothers in Christ.
 
hazmatdude said:
Em I bad! You’re right print 75 clearly shows the kneelers. Print #61 threw me for a second. Even so I’m still impressed by the grit of our lone star brothers in Christ.
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Hey just be impressed that it is a debt free church. Only thing that is out standing is the organ which isn’t be delivered until 2010.
 
I will try and stop by next time I head downtown. Does anyone know if it is open during the day time or locked up when not in use?
 
PaixGioiaAmor said:
Does anyone know, by chance, if Mr. Popelka is the diocessan director of music as well, or is this another person?
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I believe Chris is one & the same, as the Diocese does not have a ‘Music’ department but uses the talent of the Co-Cathedral staff. I could be wrong. You may want to call the Diocese or email Chris. you can find his email on the website. What I think of as the ‘Diocese Choir’, which I heard last night at the Co-Cathedral Mass along with trumpets, organ, harp, etc was definitely being led by Chris on the organ & piano.
 
Thank you.

I used to know the former person who had that “unofficial” title - officially, she was a member of the liturgy office who was responsible for all music. She was retiring.

Does anyone know the builder of the pipe organ?
 
PaixGioiaAmor said:
Thank you.

I used to know the former person who had that “unofficial” title - officially, she was a member of the liturgy office who was responsible for all music. She was retiring.

Does anyone know the builder of the pipe organ?
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The current organ in the church is a “temp” (and I read below that it’s actually digital). The real organ is being made and will be installed in 2010…I think from somewhere in the states?

chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/religion/5656461.html
 
Actually, for any who may be curious, my new issue of Pastoral Music that came in the mail yesterday answered my earlier question: Galveston-Houston is still without a diocessan director of music.
 
PaixGioiaAmor said:
Actually, for any who may be curious, my new issue of Pastoral Music that came in the mail yesterday answered my earlier question: Galveston-Houston is still without a diocessan director of music.
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Hmmm. I wonder if my old choir director (Kevin who was the director for the mass) has applied. Going to have to give him a call.
 
PaixGioiaAmor said:
Actually, for any who may be curious, my new issue of Pastoral Music that came in the mail yesterday answered my earlier question: Galveston-Houston is still without a diocessan director of music.
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Interesting.
So is the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart viewed as another parish within the diocese? But have the Cardinal & Bishops as their clergy instead of a resident pastor? And the Music Director is only for this parish, but not necessarily the Diocese?

Which then leads to accounting issues … Since the parishes within the diocese are feeding into the Cathedral costs, are they also being burdened by its role as a parish? Hmmm, glad I’m not a Diocese accountant.

Just wondering out loud.
 
Light_Seeker said:
Interesting.
So is the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart viewed as another parish within the diocese? But have the Cardinal & Bishops as their clergy instead of a resident pastor? And the Music Director is only for this parish, but not necessarily the Diocese?

Which then leads to accounting issues … Since the parishes within the diocese are feeding into the Cathedral costs, are they also being burdened by its role as a parish? Hmmm, glad I’m not a Diocese accountant.

Just wondering out loud.
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Actually, in most cases for cathedrals they function as a parish would, the only difference being that the bishop is the canonical ‘pastor’ of a cathedral. Generally though the parish is in the day to day care of a rector.

For example, here in Chicago, Holy Name Cathedral is an entity unto itself. The archdiocese pays ‘rent’ to Holy Name for the large masses and celebrations that take place there.
 
Light_Seeker said:
Interesting.
So is the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart viewed as another parish within the diocese? But have the Cardinal & Bishops as their clergy instead of a resident pastor? And the Music Director is only for this parish, but not necessarily the Diocese?

Which then leads to accounting issues … Since the parishes within the diocese are feeding into the Cathedral costs, are they also being burdened by its role as a parish? Hmmm, glad I’m not a Diocese accountant.

Just wondering out loud.
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Yes it is another parish within the diocese. The old church is not sound so it will not be used for the time being. There is discussion on what is to be done with the building because it is a landmark.

If you watched the dedication the bishop handed the keys over to Father Troy and he presides over a lot of the masses. So-HEart was already doing all the multiply different language masses. Only diffence is the building.

Also the building cost of the cathedral is paid for. The keys were turned over debt fee. Only thing that cost is the basic upkeep and keeping the AC on. But that shouldn’t be a problem. Heard the masses all weekend were packed.
 
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