AmericanPapist Comments
That's a good picture... it puts the cathedral nicely in context and shows how it 'fits' with the surrounding architecture, whilst still being undeniably ecclesiastical.
Agreed. If you were to look at the design sketches of the cathedral without the surrounding "landscape" it looks rather blockish.
Viewed within its context, however, it's "Houstonian" (fittingly, i would argue) as well as ecclesiastical.
Everyone here in Houston is buzzing about the Cathedral dedication this week. The local media has called it "one of the biggest events in the history of the Catholic Church in Houston." Talk about ramping things up!
We are expecting roughly 60 bishops,tops on the list will be the television commentator, Cardinal Foley.
What does Co-Cathedral mean? I'm not familiar with the phrase.
Often in a diocese where two major cities make up the see, a cathedral is named in both cities. For example, the Cathedral in question actually plays second fiddle to the Co-Cathedral in Galveston (our archdiocese is Galveston-Houston). You find the same set-up in Fort Wayne-South Bend, etc.
I'm glad that the new co-cathedral actually looks like a church! Hopefully this will start a trend!
Does anyone know about the organ? Has a builder been selected?
The local ABC station website has a whole series of short videos documenting the planning and building of this beautiful cathedral.
After viewing the one in oakland, i much prefer the houston one. makes me wish i was stillin my old hometown.
That is some cathedral! Maybe I'll move to Houston!
Other Arch/Diocese with co-Cathedrals are Springfield-Cape Girardeau, in MO, Minneapolis-St. Paul in MN, Wheeling-Charleston in WV, Pensacola-Tallahasse in FL, Houma-Thibodaux in LA, Altoona-Johnson in PA, Great Falls-Billings in MT, Kansas City-St. Joseph in MO
Yay, a Cathedral that looks like a Church!!!! It looks like it fits in nicely with the buildings around it and it says Church vs that thing in LA. I must say that I may have to borrow the title "Taj Mahony" when describing it.
The Oakland one is sickening.
All in all I think this Cathedral is a huge improvement over what we have seen in recent years and far superior to either the Taj Mahony or the half size nuclear cooling tower of light going up in Oakland but then... California... 'nuf said.
I still think it rather plain and blockish for a church building reflecting American utilitarian architecture rather than leading it forward. Also, the giant window over the entrance seems more commercial than ecclesiastical. Finally, the mostly concrete sides with only sparse windows at the top make it look something like a medium security detention facility from certain angles.
While these features are unfortunate, it must be understood where we have been. (the architectural desert) If it yet reflects certain design characteristic of recent years, that is only normal and we can certainly be forgiving. New (or a return to old) trends do not spring up over night. Repairing the architectural disasters of the last few decades will take time just as with repairing the liturgy.
What this Cathedral gets right is the traditional lay out. Its central dome reminding us of churches in Rome. The prominent if plain bell tower. And finally, crosses at the highest points of the building. As I said this most definitely a move in the right direction and in that sense they did everything right. No garish innovations serving little more than to allow an architect to grand stand. No, this is a good building. A solid foundation for other churches to model on and improve from. The new Houston Cathedral represents an architectural turning point for the church in North America.
You can learn a lot about a bishop's theology by looking closely at the buildings he builds. Card. DiNardo, here, shows himself to be solidly orthodox at his core while being charitible concerning the details. I would definitly count it a blessing to find myself in his archdiocese and would love to attend mass at this cathedral. If only Houston had less humidity and less traffic I might consider moving there.
I will also say that the stained glass is top notch as are the statues of the saints. Excellent art. No abstractions.
Also, looking up at the dome from the inside, majestic. Nice detail where the arches meet and the work on the dove is beautiful. This is definitely a church and people will feel it when they enter.
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