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 In
His Light
by Bishop Allen H. Vigneron
Our new cathedral: tangible
witness to our love of Christ
Dear Friends,
The sanctuary crucifix for our new cathedral was installed two weeks ago.
A photo of it being unwrapped by workers appears on the front page of
The Voice so you can get some idea of how beautiful it is. The arrival
of the crucifix is a most powerful sign to me that we are, indeed, on
the threshold of dedicating the Cathedral of Christ the Light and bringing
this project to completion.
There are, of course, many indications that the dedication is now less
than three weeks away. The choir is practicing faithfully every Monday
evening. The Stations of the Cross have also been installed, and on the
Feast of Our Lady Queen of the World, August 22, we celebrated the blessing
of the Chancery offices, which lie just across the plaza from the cathedral.
Last week part of the choir organ arrived in time for the festivities
that lie ahead. And soon the magnificent tabernacle and the life-size
statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary will take their places in the sanctuary.
The arrival of the crucifix was for me such a powerful experience because
of the beauty of sculpture and because of what it signifies. The artist
has given us a masterpiece of Christian art. The serene nobility of the
life-size depiction of Christ in bronze draws the viewer deeply into prayer.
The arrival of the crucifix eloquently expresses the very purpose of our
Cathedral Project: that through it we witness to the world that the love
of Jesus is the light that dispels the darkness of our world.
Late last month I had the joy of giving what I’ll call an “international
tour” of the cathedral. When I was crossing the plaza, two priests
from the Archdiocese of Munich (where Pope Benedict was once bishop, you’ll
recall) introduced themselves to me. They were in San Francisco as part
of their summer holiday. While over there they heard of the beauty of
our cathedral and decided to cross the Bay on BART to see the cathedral
for themselves.
It was providential that I met them and was able to give them a tour.
They were awestruck at the cathedral’s beauty and grandeur. Without
any prompting from me they recognized clearly the foundational aim of
the project: to present the timeless beauty of Christ and his truth in
a medium born of our own age.
I think it was a grace from God for me that led me to meet these priests.
Their spontaneous response to the cathedral affirmed that what you and
I are working so hard to accomplish will bear great fruit in leading people
to experience the presence of the Lord among us and to respond by drawing
near to him.
Certainly witnessing to Christ and helping others find in him the divine
life he has shared with us is our most important service to our loved
ones and our neighbors. But I think it is especially important for the
young — for your children and grandchildren and for all the generations
that follow.
It is our providential mission to create for them this beacon of hope,
so that after we have passed to the Father, we will still speak to them
powerfully of our faith and invite them to know Christ better and to make
him better known.
Many of you, as your parish’s delegates, will be attending the first
public ceremony to take place at the cathedral, on the afternoon of Sunday,
Sept. 14. I look forward to being with you. After that service, the cathedral
will be open during the days before the Sept. 25 dedication for anyone
who wishes to go in and view it. I hope you will take advantage of this
opportunity.
The cathedral belongs to all of us; please come to see the great work
in which we are partners. And while you are there be sure to begin to
hallow it with your prayers. With all my heart I thank you for your prayerful
support in this great project to the glory of God and the spreading of
his saving light.
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"In His Light" Columns by Bishop Allen H. Vigneron
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