Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral

We decided to attend Mass at The Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes.  Since it was Sunday, we wanted to go to church and we wanted to visit the Cathedral so we just combined the two.  We arrived early and found a place in the back of the church.  Although I was raised in the Catholic Church, I don't really feel comfortable any more.  For one thing with my new knee, kneeling is just impossible so I have to sit that part out.  For another since the Catholic Church doesn't have Open Communion, I always feel bad when we don't go up to Communion.  Aside from that, it was nice to attend the Mass and especially since at this Cathedral they really do all the pomp and ceremony.  

Unfortunately, we weren't able to get a good picture of the front of the Cathedral because the front of the church is too close to the street and there are trees in the boulevard. 

 The doors at the front of the Cathedral and just beautiful.

 The Bishop's Chair

 The Baptismal Font at the front of the Cathedral

 The front altar

 The old baptismal font which is on a side altar

 Prior to the service starting - the Cathedral did get pretty much filled and that is wonderful because we've visited a lot of churches that just don't have many members that attend.

 

One of the side altars where I lit a candle for my Mom.  Didn't need candles here.  You pressed a button to light the candle.  It didn't seem quite the same but I suppose it is safer.

 The side alter for Joseph

 Beautiful stained glass windows

 One of the Stations of the Cross

According to the Cathedral's website ". . . the church was remodeled in 1971, there is a mixture of old and new: Italian Romanesque style arches span the interior spaces while a square baldachino amplifies prayer and song for the congregation. The original Italian marble altar depicting the sacrifice of Calvary supplies a stunning symbolic and artistic backdrop to the new altar -- the gathering table where the community of faithful share the Eucharist. The sweet tones of the original W. W. Kimball organ in the loft complement the clear resonant notes of the Druffel Memorial organ in the transept. The crowning beauty of the Cathedral is the Bavarian stained glass windows which create a panorama of Judeo-Christian history and tradition."

Another of the gorgeous doors in the Cathedral