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By Carrie McClish
Staff writer
Students from several schools in the Oakland Diocese
will show their support for the Cathedral of Christ the Light by gathering
for a picnic on Sunday, Feb. 3, at a park on the shores of Oakland’s
Lake Merritt, across the street from the construction site.
Students will enjoy a hot dog lunch and receive t-shirts bearing the slogan,
“Catholic Schools Light the Way,” this year’s theme
for the National Catholic Education Association. Constance Dalton, principal
at St. Bede Elementary School in Hayward and the event’s organizer,
said the emphasis on light seemed to be a natural tie-in to the cathedral
and the event is a good way to conclude Catholic Schools Week.
The schools want to participate in the life of the new cathedral, said
Dalton. “We are cheering for it.”
Dalton was inspired to organize the gathering after listening to Bishop
Allen Vigneron and Father Paul Minnihan, cathedral provost, talk about
the cathedral during a meeting of local principals. They told the school
administrators that the cathedral could be the site of various school
events such as special Masses and graduations.
The Feb. 3 picnic will begin at a 1 p.m. After lunch, Father Minnihan
will talk to the students about the cathedral. A visit to the site itself
is prohibited because of safety concerns, but attendees will have a chance
to take photos of the cathedral’s exterior.
The event will be over by 3 p.m., which will allow everyone to be home
in time to watch the Super Bowl, Dalton said.11
The new Cathedral of Christ the Light gleams with special lighting
installed by the construction crew for the Christmas holidays. Dedication
of the cathedral is set for Sept. 25.
GREG TARCZYNSKI PHOTO |
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