Cathedral of Christ the Light (Oakland, California)

Cathedral of Christ the Light
Exterior view of The Cathedral of Christ the Light
Cathedral of Christ the Light
Location in California
Cathedral of Christ the Light
Cathedral of Christ the Light (California)
Cathedral of Christ the Light
Cathedral of Christ the Light (the United States)
37°48′38″N 122°15′47″W / 37.8105°N 122.2631°W / 37.8105; -122.2631
Location2121 Harrison St.
Oakland, California
CountryUnited States
DenominationRoman Catholic
Membership530,000
Websitewww.ctlcathedral.org
History
DedicationSeptember 25, 2008
Architecture
Architect(s)Craig W. Hartman
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
Tom Milholland
Aryan Sarkar
Kendall/Heaton Associates
Architectural typeModern architecture
Late 20th century abstract
Groundbreaking2005
Completed2008
Specifications
Capacity1,800
Number of floors17
Floor area343,000 sq ft
Materialsceramic frit, concrete, Douglas fir, glass frit, steel
Administration
DioceseDiocese of Oakland
Clergy
Bishop(s)Michael C. Barber, SJ
RectorBrandon Macadaeg

The Cathedral of Christ the Light, also called Oakland Cathedral, is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland in Oakland, California. It is the seat of the Bishop of Oakland. Christ the Light was the first cathedral built entirely in the 21st century and replaced the Cathedral of Saint Francis de Sales, irreparably damaged in the Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989.

The Cathedral of Christ the Light Complex, as a larger cathedral center, is composed of the cathedral church, the chancery office of the bishop's curia, a conference center, rectory (priests' residence), Order of Malta Northern California Health Clinic (which provides free diagnostic services to people without health insurance), and a mausoleum. The mausoleum features twelve crypts reserved for the bishops of Oakland and burial sites available to the members of the diocese for a comparable price to the other Catholic cemeteries in the diocese. The cathedral center also houses City Lights Cafe and the Cathedral Shop, as well as a public plaza and garden.

The Cathedral of Christ the Light was designed by architect Craig W. Hartman, of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. The Catholic Cathedral Corporation of the East Bay, the incorporated owner of the cathedral, chose Webcor Builders as the general contractor of cathedral construction.

Originally planned in 2000 under the direction of Bishop John Stephen Cummins and finally breaking ground on May 21, 2005, Christ the Light was consecrated and dedicated by Bishop Allen Henry Vigneron on September 25, 2008. On All Souls' Day November 2, the mausoleum was dedicated and the first Bishop of Oakland, Floyd Lawrence Begin, was reburied in one of its crypts.

Located at 2121 Harrison Street in Oakland, the cathedral serves as the mother church of approximately 530,000 Catholics in the counties of Alameda and Contra Costa.