From email: Hi Roseanne! Thank you for this. It brings back wonderful old memories. You know my father is a Hungarian immigrant, but I don’t think I mentioned he was a convert to Catholicism, by work of God through the ministry of my very faithful, cradle-Catholic mother.
When I was young, we would watch Dr. Schuller’s Hour of Power on television, often before going to Mass at our Catholic parish. Sometimes, we would go to the Crystal “Cathedral” for live services there. Memories of the Hour dominate my earliest memories of Sunday morning.
When the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, the metropolitan cathedral of the province of Los Angeles (the diocese of Orange is a suffragan diocese) opened, I was the first associate director of liturgy and music (though my official title was “associate director of liturgy,” at least half my work was in music), and for at least two events, if not three, I was privileged to escort Dr. Schuller and Arvela to their seats—the VIP escort. I found him to be a kind, gentle, humble person; his wife, who only came one time if I recall correctly, was charming, kind, and together, they made me feel as if I was an old friend that they were glad to see.
While I know what went on elsewhere, my experience with them was nothing but the best. I know he had decided to sell the CC to the Catholic Church because he knew it would then always be a house of worship; at the same time, when I heard the news, I was working as a parish organist and accompanist in that diocese, and the news was received by all I knew with dismay. The acoustics, the building style, and so much more of what we knew as the “Crystal Cathedral” seemed so very inimical to Catholic sensibilities that we all felt a great disappointment. Then again, what kind of building could they possibly have built? I think it could quite possibly have been worse! . . .
From email: Hi Roseanne! Thank you for this. It brings back wonderful old memories. You know my father is a Hungarian immigrant, but I don’t think I mentioned he was a convert to Catholicism, by work of God through the ministry of my very faithful, cradle-Catholic mother.
When I was young, we would watch Dr. Schuller’s Hour of Power on television, often before going to Mass at our Catholic parish. Sometimes, we would go to the Crystal “Cathedral” for live services there. Memories of the Hour dominate my earliest memories of Sunday morning.
When the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, the metropolitan cathedral of the province of Los Angeles (the diocese of Orange is a suffragan diocese) opened, I was the first associate director of liturgy and music (though my official title was “associate director of liturgy,” at least half my work was in music), and for at least two events, if not three, I was privileged to escort Dr. Schuller and Arvela to their seats—the VIP escort. I found him to be a kind, gentle, humble person; his wife, who only came one time if I recall correctly, was charming, kind, and together, they made me feel as if I was an old friend that they were glad to see.
While I know what went on elsewhere, my experience with them was nothing but the best. I know he had decided to sell the CC to the Catholic Church because he knew it would then always be a house of worship; at the same time, when I heard the news, I was working as a parish organist and accompanist in that diocese, and the news was received by all I knew with dismay. The acoustics, the building style, and so much more of what we knew as the “Crystal Cathedral” seemed so very inimical to Catholic sensibilities that we all felt a great disappointment. Then again, what kind of building could they possibly have built? I think it could quite possibly have been worse! . . .
Hope all is well!
S.O.