The clouds parted after the rains and the sun broke through, setting the stage for a spectacular dusk for the more than 500 guests assembled outside Christ Cathedral on Saturday, Oct. 13.
As if on cue, a rainbow appeared just as the Most Rev. Kevin W. Vann, Bishop of Orange, joined the pianist to play three tunes: “Getting to Know You,” “California, Here I Come” and, of course, “Over the Rainbow.”
Light into darkness, and darkness into light, were the perfect themes for the “First Lighting & Blessing of the Quatrefoils,” a key milestone in the $77 million renovation of the former Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove that began June 1, 2017.
Christ Cathedral, purchased by the diocese in 2012 for $57.5 million, twinkled at dusk like the Milky Way when the switch was flipped to turn on the lights behind the quatrefoils – aluminum, triangular-shaped structures that improve the acoustics and temperature control in the interior of the cathedral.
More than 11,000 quatrefoils — none are believed to exist on any other building in the world, Church officials say – are fixed to the steel skeleton of the cathedral.
The triangles on each panel remain open to varying degrees (between 15 and 45) to let in light based on how the sun passes over the cathedral, the very Rev. Christopher Smith, rector and episcopal vicar at Christ Cathedral, said.
“Not only do they help with the acoustics and interior temperature,” Smith said, “but they’re also aesthetically beautiful.”
A handful of blessing ceremonies have been held during the transformation of the former Crystal Cathedral into Christ Cathedral. But the Oct. 13 event marked the first time that select members of the public – those who donated a minimum of $10,000 to the successful For Christ Forever Campaign, which is supporting the extensive remodeling of the church, got a sneak peek inside to see the progress.
And it served as a chance for Bishop Vann to announce he’s making a second personal pledge toward the remaining $5 million needed to complete the For Christ Forever campaign.
Dedicated is scheduled for July 17, 2019.
Full story at OC Catholic.
The diocese already had purchased land near South Coast Plaza to build a new Cathedral when Bishop Tod Brown decided to purchase the Crystal Cathedral. I suspect they could have built a beautiful CATHOLIC Cathedral on that South Coast Plaza land for a lot less money, and they still are begging for even more money. Just one more scandal to add to all of the rest.
And I’m sure the diocese can now sell that land for a great deal more than it paid for it.
Being able to purchase the former Crystal Cathedral Campus for $57.5M was an absolute steal! I believe it came to the Church via the grace of God.
The problem is how much they are spending on the darned “remodel.”
That picture doesn’t look like a cathedral. It looks like a museum of modern art. Or a cruise ship terminal.
As I recall it was originally going to cost 4 million to remodel after purchase. Looks like a fiasco like the cathedral in Oakland.
You’re joking about the music, aren’t you?
If not, I ask if there are any bishops who are Catholic. Mr Vann in Orange certainly doesn’t preside like one.
Hahaha — never, ever, call this a Catholic Church. It looks like a Protestant glass revival tent and likely will have no more catholicity on the inside. In fact, from pictures already shown, the interior will look like a poster boy for impossibly ugly Vatican II-inspired “innovations.” Total immersion baptismal lap-pool font, yup, we got it. Anything looking like a Catholic Church? Nope.
But then, Dear Readers, the VII NewChurch intends to crush any image of the “Medieval” Catholic Church and they have done a good job in doing so. Crystal Cathedral fools suit.
What an insult to God’s house.
Can you say, “money pit”?
I’m sure if the bishop just sold some of the diocese’s real estate holdings (say, his residence in the South County) he would have enough money for the monstrosity.
Nearly every last one of the cathedrals of the California dioceses are unmitigated disasters; Our Lady of Maytag in SF, the clamshell thing in Oakland, the Taj Mahony/Yellow Armadillo in LA….and this thing, made by and for a Protestant megachurch pastor. They are all monumental embarrassments and make for a highly accurate visual representation of the situation of the Church today. Tear them all down, start from scratch and build proper Catholic Churches for the MUCH, MUCH smaller group of faithful that actually exists now!
I don’t think that is what the Lord wants.
I think that is exactly what the Lord wants.
You are exactly correct, “Andrew.” Christ deserves our best: the best architecture, intended only for Him and not remade from some other purpose, our best music, our best art, and our best liturgy.
Just imagine how will it look after major earthquake.
This is not Catholicism. I mean, I guess if you want to redefine Catholicism to mean ugly, contemporary glass houses devoid of Catholic iconography and architecture, I guess you can, or rather, they will.
If you want to define Catholicism as bishops playing show tunes, I guess you can, or rather, they will.
This, is Catholicism Redefined. Yuk.
The people who meant well and donated all that money have been had.
I have a sneaking suspicion that, at the time they were built, more than a few felt that medieval cathedrals were then modern monstrosities.
Not really, “mike m.” Beauty has been competitive in the Medieval world. Architects and true Catholics tried to out do each other to bestow their gifts to God’s glory. Churches constructed then were always sought to be beautiful and inspirational and were recognized as such. Your relativist approach that each age produces things repellent to its predecessors, is wrong, and silly.
Just more money thrown down a hole.
Is that a rabbit hole you’re referring to??????
Be happy that it doesn’t look like Liverpool Cathedral.
This is ridiculous! I believe this campus came to the Catholic Church as a gift of God. Like it or not, it’s a world-class resource and the former Crystal Cathedral structure could have made a GREAT Catholic cathedral with comparatively very little $$$.
A responsible remodel would have also preserved the watershed architectural design work of Philip Johnson and John Burgee. Instead the Bishop of Orange and his minions had to put their heavy thumbprint on what was once an award-winning design.
How many years and dollars has it been, Bishop Vann? Shame on you and your minions for allowing your egos to inflate the cost of this project and effectively ruin a great gift from God here in California.
When the legal settlements and attorney bill start to accumulate for the sexual abuse in the OC diocese start to accumulate (and they eventually will) all should remember how they were conned by contrbuting to this.
Time to flee to the desert. St. Basil, St. Anthony and St. Benedict await.
The televangelist form of “honkey tonk” religion has found its way into the Catholic Church.
The next step will be to contract the services of the likes of Jimmy Swaggart for fundraising revivals.
In addition to the outrageous cost, remember that once this “white elephant” and monument to pride is completed, the cost of upkeep will be astronomical.
Will there be self-sustaining revenue generation from operations, or will the OC Diocese cry poverty and try tobreach into our pockets?
Of course, if all else fails, they can always sell indulgences.
The Catholic Church never sold indulgences. Protestant myth.
Look up the name — Johannes Tetzel.
Besides, it was a rhetorical statement.
From your source:
Tetzel overstated Catholic doctrine in regard to indulgences for the dead.
I think it is a monstrosity, a Catholic white elephant. I’m glad I don’t live there. Not that other dioceses don’t have a problem spending money wisely. There are plenty of examples of that, hardly any diocese is exempt. There should be a way to stop unwise spending..
I honestly don’t know what to think and that it itself should count for something. The most charitable thought I can come up with is “Well, it is California”.