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THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

GARDEN GROVE – The Crystal Cathedral sanctuary known around the world for its flying angels and messages of positive thinking on Wednesday became a place of prayer for its new owners: Orange County’s Catholics.
More than 1,200 Catholics filled the cathedral for the first Roman Catholic event held in the Protestant megachurch since the campus was bought by the Diocese of Orange in a court-ordered bankruptcy sale.

•With candles on each side, the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was temporarily placed in the front of the Crystal Cathedral sanctuary for the Orange County Catholic Prayer Breakfast – the first Catholic event in the cathedral since it was purchased by the Diocese of Orange. The Lady of Guadalupe is the patroness of the Diocese of Orange.

•Outside the future Christ Cathedral, helium balloons were strung up in single rows to resemble the beads of a rosary. Inside, more than 1,200 Catholics received a bag with literature and one special gift: a silver-toned and white-beaded rosary from Italy.

• Wednesday’s Catholic prayer breakfast was videotaped by the same crew members who videotape the Sunday morning Crystal Cathedral services, which are distributed worldwide through the “Hour of Power” television show. Wednesday’s service will be broadcast on two websites: magisreasonfaith.org and oc-foundation.org.

Voices at the Crystal Cathedral
“Sometimes, God speaks to us in beauty, even if some people think of it as a financial burden. Here, we have excellence in art, excellence in liturgy, excellence in education. Having a beautiful place like this is an inspiration to look at our own lives and ask how can we be more excellent.”

Cheryl Loofbourrow of St. Hedwig Catholic Church in Los Alamitos, who played flute in the Crystal Cathedral orchestra when she was younger.

“To me, the cathedral is a miracle – a sign of God’s love to his people. The Rev. Schuller said he wanted his beautiful church to continue its Christian mission.”

Sister Mary Bernard, a Carmelite sister from Alhambra who joined other nuns in a chant during the early morning prayer service.

Congregants listened to chanting Carmelite nuns and recited a rosary.
They prayed in front of an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, blessed by Pope Benedict XVI.
And they heard messages from priests and a bishop.
“This is an example of what future events and gatherings can be like – the space, the spirit, the message,” the Rev. Christopher Smith said following the prayer breakfast.
Smith will lead the transformation of the Crystal Cathedral into a Catholic place of worship the diocese will rename Christ Cathedral. The Crystal Cathedral Ministries will stay on the campus until June, when it will transfer to the nearby St. Callistus Catholic Church under an arrangement with the diocese.