[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 121 (Thursday, July 18, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E942-E943]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN RECOGNITION OF CHRIST CATHEDRAL

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                          HON. J. LUIS CORREA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 18, 2019

  Mr. CORREA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Diocese 
of Orange Christ Cathedral on the completion of its renovations. The 
Christ Cathedral, formerly known as the ``Crystal Cathedral,'' has been 
a recognizable architectural marvel landmark in Garden Grove since 
1955. The 34-acre land has been a beacon to the community and continues 
to be a space for community members to practice their faith.
  In 1955, protestant mega-church leader Dr. Robert Schuller began 
preaching at the Orange Drive-in Theater. By 1975, his congregation 
outgrew the first church and Dr. Schuller began searching for 
architects to build a creative and beautiful space for worship. He 
worked with Philip Johnson and John Burgee to create a plan for an all 
glass church. In 2012, the campus and its buildings were sold to the 
Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange and have since become the new 
spiritual center of the division.
  Starting in 2015, the campus began major renovations including 
extensive restorations to the grounds and buildings. These renovations 
included the restoration of 11,000 glass panes, the construction of 
scaffolding inside the cathedral, and the design of sacred art. 
Construction workers involved in the project logged over 100,000 hours 
of work without a single accident. The renovations are now complete, 
and today the refurbished cathedral is ready to serve as a spiritual 
home to Orange County's more than 1.3 million Catholics, and the local 
community at-large through services and programs available to everyone 
including weddings, conferences, concerts, and family-friendly events.
  It is my distinct honor to ask my colleagues to join me in honoring 
the new building design of the Christ Cathedral.

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