The following comes from a July 22 OC Catholic article by Bishop Vann:
Many of us, when we have had the chance to visit a great church like the National Shrine in Washington, D.C., St. Peter’s in Rome and other cathedrals and houses of worship, also have a chance to visit smaller chapels in these great places of prayer, worship and music.
What a blessing we now have on the Christ Cathedral campus. Right before our eyes is living history as chapels of prayer and worship, thanks to the generosity and goodness of so many, now come to life right before our eyes. All of these chapels on the campus are surely signs of the “living House of God” as each is blessed and dedicated.
Just this past Sunday I blessed and dedicated the “Chapel of Unity and Reconciliation” on the third floor of the Cultural Center in honor of the Sisters of St. Joseph. There is a magnificent mural by the great local artist John Swanson that depicts Jesus washing the feet of the 12 Apostles. Then there is the “Chapel in the Sky” in the Tower of Hope, which has a magnificent view of Orange County. That was also recently blessed. Then there is the large gallery, often used for prayer and funerals by the parish.
The Blessed Sacrament Chapel is a visible testimony of the necessity of “praying always” when we see folks there in prayer with their intentions before the Blessed Sacrament. There will soon be an oratory for the reservation of the Blessed Sacrament on the fourth floor of the Christ Cathedral Academy building, as a place for the staff of the Pastoral Center to pray.
There is the beautiful colored marble “Crean Chapel” in the base of the carillon.
Then there is the original Garden Grove Community Church, now known as the Arboretum, which was Dr. Robert Schuller’s original church. This now is the home for the worshipping community of the parish of Christ Cathedral, where more than 10,000 people come to celebrate Mass and pray each weekend. And most incredibly, this is all taking place before the actual Cathedral building is complete!
All of these chapels not only invite us to pray and reflect, but to show how the living Body of Christ is growing daily on the Christ Cathedral campus. I would invite everyone who reads these words to come and visit our campus. The Lord is calling you to find a “home” and blessing there.
The following comes from an August 2 OC Catholic article by Nicole Gregory:
The Chapel of Unity and Reconciliation at the Cultural Center on the Christ Cathedral campus honors the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange, who have lived and worked in Orange County since 1922, educating children, offering job skills training, teaching the deaf, advocating for social justice, and healing the sick. The chapel project was funded by a contribution from St. Joseph Health, which the sisters founded in 1920.
The story of the order actually begins centuries ago. “The Sisters were started in 1650 by a Jesuit named Jean Pierre Medaille, who gathered a group of women in the small town of Le Puy, France,” explains Sister Katherine “Kit” Gray, CSJ, Director of Mission Integration and Ongoing Formation at Christ Cathedral.
The contemporary social climate was filled with divisions and feuds all around, and Father Medaille urged the sisters to work for reconciliation—and this has been the No. 1 charism for the order ever since.
“That’s the driver for us,” says Sister Kit. “We can do almost anything for that mission of bringing people together and bringing them to God.”
Creating the chapel in a way that reflects the mission of the sisters took two years, and naturally includes a statue of Saint Joseph. “As Sisters of St. Joseph, we wanted a place where all could come together as a community, seeing and praying with each other,” says Sister Mary Therese Sweeney, CSJ, a board member of St. Joseph Health who was part of the planning committee. “We value simplicity. Our depiction of Joseph is of a simple working man who openheartedly welcomes all.”
Careful consideration was given to the artwork chosen for the chapel. “At the 1650 founding of the Sisters of St. Joseph, the language of ‘deserving poor’ was coming into use to separate the more sympathetic or attractive poor from those who could be excluded with a clearer conscience,” explains Sister Mary Therese. “For the sisters, there were only neighbors without distinction. John August Swanson’s ‘Washing of the Feet’ mural perfectly depicted the message of reconciliation that we wanted to emphasize.”
The photo of the Arboretum at Christ Cathedral doesn’t show any kneelers, or did I miss them? Or maybe, the leaders/remodelers of the modern Christ Cathedral, formerly a protestant church, didn’t see the need to have those old-fashioned, uncomfortable kneelers. Do we really need to get down on our knees to worship God? YES, I need to get down on my knees to ask forgiveness for my sins, to thank God for all His endless blessings and to adore God.
“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.” – Rom: 14:11
” that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,” – Phil 2:10.
” O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker ! ” – Ps 95:6.
“Sarah” thank you. You are likely correct about the absence of kneelers (or their selective placement here and there). Not much about the Crystal Cathedral looks, or likely will be operated as, Catholic.
What, what you say — how cant this be? Because B. Vann, like many, many bishops in CA (and pretty much everywhere), really teach “Catholic Protestantism”. Nothing to offend, nothing to show that something is sinful, nothing to show that many Catholics will be going to Hell (along with many, many others).
There Catholics are pretty much making up the Faith, now. Of course, the Vatican is very pleased, as it readies the world for the “Adultery-Fornication-Sodomy Synod” in October. So busy, so much mayhem to create, and…
(Continued) “faith to destroy. Kind of like the Addams Family, without the humor”.
I do not understand the design of the Arboretum, either! Very strange! No kneelers! And all of these chapels, plus the main cathedral– are all too modern, too secular, and lack devotion to Catholic tradition, as it has existed, for more than two millennia! We desperately need, and deserve– beautiful, holy, traditional Catholic churches, cathedrals, chapels, and other places of worship! God deserves it, too!
Kneelers or only for Catholics who believe in the True Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. Since most, and I did write MOST, Catholics no longer profess the belief that Christ is present, why should they kneel. In northern Michigan, as well as in many other areas, it is hard to find a Catholic church where there are still kneelers.
Looks like no one under 60 was there.
Looks goofy.
Chapels are supposed to be in hon0r of Our Lord, Our Blessed Mother, or the saints. Whoever heard of naming a chapel in honor of a group of ladies who have not been acting like sisters since the 1970’s. I just read elsewhere that an old church in France is being torn down because there are no more Catholics. I bet in less than a hundred years, Christ Cathedral will also be dismantled because of declining numbers of Catholics.
Lk. 18:8
Thank you Pilar! AND… Speaking of Carol’s word choice of goofy…..It not only looks goofy, it IS goofy and so is this!
The Art of Spiritual Direction
https://csjorange.org/ministries/art-of-spiritual-direction/
“WARNING: Being awarded the Certificate in the Art of Spiritual Direction does not make you a spiritual director. It is a piece of paper that tells the public you have completed the program. Whether or not you will be a spiritual director is in the hands of God. The Art of Spiritual Direction Program sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange is designed to assist a person in enhancing and developing skills they already have. ”
continued….
Warning continued. “These people know – through the depth of their own prayer life, in consultation discernment with their own spiritual director, and the fact that they are already intentionally companioning someone on their spiritual journey – that they have been called by God to this ministry for the people of God. This program does not pretend to make you a spiritual director.” = The real warning should be “You are about to be fleeced for $1100 worth of more goofiness.”
continued….
“What are the costs involved?”
Fee: $1100 per year.
“A non-refundable deposit of $100 is required for application to the program. After the interview with faculty and acceptance, you will then be required to pay the balance of $1000.” = The interviewer will be closely checking to see just how gullible and un-catechized you are OR just how co-goofy you are willing to become.
Payments may be received in full on the first day of classes, or on due dates throughout the year: in September ($300), January ($400) and April ($300).
….sounds more like a Sylvia Brown seminar wherein you’re convinced of your natural talents in clairvoyance and encouraged to become a reader. Had a sister fall for that one.
I’d be interested in seeing the required reading list.
What happened to the one post per day rule?
I’m looking forward to visiting the Cathedral soon. I’ve seen it as the Protestant Church, I’d like to see it in progress and want to see it when it’s finished.