50-Foot Cross Lighted for 1st Time at Unfinished Downtown Cathedral

Calling it a “beacon of God’s presence,” Cardinal Roger M. Mahony on Sunday night turned on the lights at a six-story-high cross at the unfinished Roman Catholic cathedral in downtown Los Angeles.

As hundreds watched, Mahony started a countdown and then pulled a red lever that illuminated the 50-foot cross for the first time at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.

The cross overlooks the Hollywood Freeway and will become a major addition to the downtown tableau of twinkling skyscrapers and glowing billboards.

Mahony said he hopes the cross, which is still under construction, will be set aglow again for the Christmas holidays.

“The light shining from this cathedral, especially at night, is going to be a great symbol of God’s presence in our midst,” Mahony said.

The ceremonial lighting took place in the cathedral plaza in front of a audience of about 400 donors, among them actor Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife, Maria Shriver.

Intended to provide a preview of the cross for the donors--Mahony called them the “cathedral builders”--the lights stayed on for a couple of hours.

The concrete cross, built within the cathedral’s east wall, is itself not illuminated. Encased in glass and translucent alabaster stone, its outline is set aglow by the surrounding light.

When completed, the cross will be visible at night for several blocks, and to motorists driving northwest on the Hollywood Freeway through downtown.

“I think its going to be nice for people driving up the Hollywood Freeway to see this place of reflection,” said Mike Flynn, a Pasadena resident.

“I think it’s awe-inspiring,” said Beth Shimkin.

Mahony said the $75-million cathedral is still scheduled to be completed next year. He said the building’s bronze doors would be installed in January, and the plaza should be done by April.

When finished, the 11-story cathedral will cover 57,000 square feet of interior space, and, at 333 feet in length, will be a foot longer than St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York.