Cathedral of Saint Francis de Sales in Oakland
| Cathedral of Saint Francis de Sales |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Location | Oakland, California |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Founded | 1886 |
| Dedication | July 9, 1893 |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1893 |
| Closed | 1989 |
| Demolished | 1993 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Brick |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Oakland |
Cathedral of Saint Francis de Sales in Oakland was an 1893 church, which served as the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland in Oakland, California from 1962 until it was damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.
San Francisco Archbishop Joseph S. Alemany erected in Oakland, St. Mary's of the Immaculate Conception in 1853. As Oakland expanded, the archbishop founded in 1871, St. Anthony's in Brooklyn (East Oakland), 1876, Sacred Heart in Temescal (North Oakland) and 1879, St. Patrick's in West Oakland. As the population grew in central Oakland, the need arose for a parish between St. Mary's at 7th and Jefferson Streets and Sacred Heart at 40th and Grove Streets.
The new Archbishop Patrick W. Riordan discussed founding a new parish in Oakland with the pastors of St. Mary's - Father Michael A. King, Sacred Heart - Father Lawrence Serda, St. Patrick's - Father John B. Mc Nally and St. Anthony's - Father William Gleeson, in late 1885. The archbishop picked January 29, 1886, the feast of bishop and doctor, St. Francis de Sales, (1567-1622) to erect the new parish. Father King suggested his able assistant, Father Thomas Mc Sweeney as the founding pastor, Archbishop Riordan made the appointment February 6, 1886. Father Mc Sweeney said the first Mass, of St. Francis de Sales Parish on February 21, 1886 in Hanifin's Hall at San Pablo Avenue and 19th Street. The first baptism recorded at St. Francis de Sales, March 21, 1886.
Father Mc Sweeney with the approval of Archbishop Riordan acquired property on Grove Street between Hobart and 21st Streets. The practical decision, delay a permanent church. A temporary building, constructed, the church upstairs with a ground floor, school. Archbishop Riordan blessed the new St. Francis de Sales Church/School on February 27, 1887.
St. Francis de Sales School opened July 18, 1887, an elementary school for boys and girls and a girls high school. The Sisters of the Holy Names staffed the schools. St. Francis de Sales Girls High School closed May 31, 1931. After ninety years, St. Francis de Sales Grammar School closed June 10, 1977.
Father Mc Sweeney had a predominantly Irish congregation. He sought about $15,000 to build a modest church. Mrs. Mary J. Canning (1830-1904) and her husband, James (1810-1892) would allow Mc Sweeney to build a grand church. Their first donation was $75,000. Mrs. Canning would donate $142,000 to build the church. Archbishop Riordan laid the cornerstone of the permanent church September 13, 1891. The structure was designed in a Norman Gothic Revival style, made of red brick, with a steeple and stained glass windows. The architech, Charles Devlin's work on St. Francis de Sales, impressed Archbishop Riordan. Devlin was awarded the task to design St. Patrick's Seminary in Menlo Park, California.
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