de Young

During the academic year I meet with five others for Education for Ministry (EfM) at St Aidan's Episcopal Church in San Francisco.  EfM is a four-year program of study in the Episcopal Church of the USA that explores the Christian faith through studying the Bible and church history while providing thought-provoking theological reflections.  EfM is based and managed from the University of the South in Sewanee, TN.

We just completed Year Three, which is on church history.  Regardless of whether we are Roman Catholic or Protestant we can take little pride (to put it mildly) in what our ancestors did to "the other" during the Reformation, especially the English Reformation.

We are open to doing things outside of the study group.  We enjoy art exhibits, music, theater and lectures on philosophy and theology.  We decided to take a little field trip to visit the M.H. de Young Memorial Museum in Golden Gate Park, since some of us (like me) had yet not been.  While at the James Turrell structure at the de Young we planned to read from texts and sing hymns that inspire us.  Two women who were also visiting joined us.

How's them apples?

James Turrell (b. 1943) designed this chamber,

using concrete, plaster, stone, and neon lighting.

It is called Three Gems, 2005

The acoustics are such that you can hear the sound of your own

voice (i.e., as others hear it) by standing on the lapis lazuli

circle in the center and speaking.  It produced a very odd
auditory experience.  It was strange to hear myself as 
through a tape recording.

Betsy

 Doug

Group Picture # 1

(l-r) Barbara, Betsy, Harlean, Leonor, and Doug

Group Picture # 2 with moi

Harlean

"Biggest safety pin I've ever seen!"

Exhibit by Claes Oldenburg (b. 1929) and Coosje van Bruggen (1949-2009).
Corridor Pin, Blue, 1999
Stainless steel, aluminum, polyurethane enamel

We ended up in the dining room where we had a little coffee break.  We enjoyed our field trip.  We'll likely do it again.

The Roman Catholic Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, CA

I hadn't seen my friend and former co-worker, Navdeep, in a very long time.  Since she lives in the East Bay we made plans to meet on Sunday for Mass at the Oakland Cathedral.

Navdeep

Christ the Light is the first cathedral to be built in the 21st century.  It replaces the Cathedral of St Francis de Sales, which was irreparably damaged by the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.

Originally planned in 2000 under the direction of Bishop John Stephen Cummins and broken ground on May 21, 2005, Christ the Light was consecrated and dedicated by Bishop Allen Henry Vigneron on September 25, 2008.

This image shamelessly taken from wikipedia/christ_the_light.  View from across Harrison Street

The cathedral is in the shape of a fish.

When you enter the cathedral you encounter the Baptistery.  This makes sense in that we are brought into the Body of Christ, the Church, through Baptism.  "Living water" flows through the Baptistery.  The water is also sanctified and reverts to its primordial state before the Fall.  It's what makes the water "holy".  It is sanctified by the Spirit through a bishop or priest.

Baptistery

Icon of Christ the Light

You behold the magnificent image of Christ the Light!  The image is made of filtered sunlight through a screen.  It is truly awesome.

Organ pipes adorn the left and right sides of the sanctuary

A mausoleum and crypt is below the cathedral.

The windows from the former Cathedral of St Francis de Sales.

St Joseph the Betrothed and the Infant Jesus

I left the cathedral inspired and renewed.  Navdeep and I had brunch at a nearby restaurant.  It was a lovely day!

Interesting Factoids of Christ the Light Cathedral

Architect:  Craig W. Hartman, FAIA of Skidmore, Owens and Merrill offices in San Francisco

General Contractor:  Webcor Builders

Year completed:  2008

Estimated cost:  $172 million

Seats:  1350

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