Founded in 1901, Christ Church offers a wide variety of activities, including five different choirs, Sunday school for children, a young-adult group, book groups, a Working Mother's Fellowship and a seminar series, among other programs. The Episcopal Youth Community, for high school students, also leads two yearly trips, including one to the Taize monestary in France.
The Rector is Rev. Michael A. Bird.
In the church's monthly newsletter, Father Tom Verber muses on the generous deeds of his church and school staff, noting that the new principal of Our Lady of Grace School, Ryan Brusco, helped "repaint the walls around the lunch area." Students of the school, writes Father Tom, spent time preparing background scenery for a summer school stage play.
It's this level of community involvement that defines Our Lady of Grace Church, making it the ideal place to come for answers about tying the knot, starting a Christ-centered family, baptisms and many other spiritual needs.
Standing on the perimeter of Lake Merritt, Cathedral of Christ the Light serves as the home of the Diocese of Oakland as well as members of the St. Francis de Sales Cathedral, which was damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Since its dedication in 2008, the visually stunning cathedral offers weekday and weekend masses, as well as concerts and guided and self-guided tours.
Parking and Public Transportation at Cathedral of Christ the Light
$5 parking for tour participants; free for Mass attendees. The 19th Street BART is about six blocks from the cathedral. AC Transit lines 11 and 12 stop at the corner of Grand and Harrison.
Best time to go to Cathedral of Christ the Light
On the second and fourth Tuesday Cathedral organist Dr. Rudy de Vos gives a demonstration of the Conroy Memorial Organ as part of the docent-led tour. If inspired, attend Sunday Mass to hear music and a message.
Admission to Cathedral of Christ the Light
Free. The Cathedral offers guided tours daily at 1 p.m. There are no walk-in guided tours on Saturdays or Sundays. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to tour departure.
Must see/do at Cathedral of Christ the Light
Attend one of the evening concerts, held several times a month. Recent guests include the Pacific Boychoir Academy and organists Ryan Enright and Bryan Dunnewald,
Other places to visit near Cathedral of Christ the Light
Take a stroll around Lake Merritt, or explore some of the many shops and restaurants around bustling Uptown Oakland.
Insider tip for visitors to Cathedral of Christ the Light
During the week, stop by for a quick bite or an espresso from Verve coffee at City Lights Café, located outside the cathedral. Its outdoor seating offers sunny views of Lake Merritt.
Author's bio: Heather Johnson is a freelance writer based in Oakland, California.
Located in historic Filipinotown, Our Lady of Loretto is a part of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. It serves the very large Philipino area residents and are very involved in the community. It offers many programs for not only the congregation, but the community as well. The doors are always open to help the poor and suffering.
At one point the largest parish in the Archdiocese of Newark, St. Anne is still one of the largest with 3,400 member families. In 1909, the church started out of a house in the Warren Point section of Fair Lawn and by 1926 a church building was built on St. Anne's current site. The present church building was constructed in 1958, and the rectory, office complex and meeting rooms were added in 1966.
There are over 1,000 students enrolled in the church's Sunday classes, sacramental classes, summer sessions, home schooling, and special education programs. Bible study and pre-baptismal and parent sacramental programs are available for adults in the church's diverse community.
The sprawling church also offers boy scouts, girl scouts, a basketball league, six different prayer groups, a club for seniors, support groups, and a nursing ministry, among various other programs and societies.
First Parish in Framingham is a Unitarian Universalist Congregation located next to the Town Green. The church's history dates back to the founding of Framingham in 1700.
The spiritual leader of the Congregation is Rev. Kathleen Hepler. The congregation hold weekly services on Sundays at 9:15 and 11am Sept. through May. 10 am services are available from Memorial day through August.
First Parish offers many opportunities to connect, deepen and serve for youth and adults. Religious exploration programs for pre-k through grade 8, and youth groups for teenagers. Childcare is available during both services. First Parish is very active with social action work groups, fellowship events, spiritual journey groups and more. The congregation has a choir, children's choir, handbell choir and youth chimes choir.
St. Paul Roman Catholic School is located in the rear of the St. Paul Roman Catholic Church. This school teaches K-8, offering a library, computer lab, science lab, and Internet in each classroom. The curriculum is designed to balance both secular and religious education. Uniforms are required.
One of Brookline's oldest churches, First Parish in Brookline traces its roots back to 1717. It still meets in Brookline's original town hall, which predates the town itself, and an adjacent church building constructed in 1893.
Though nearly three centuries old, First Parish is "passionately dedicated to responding meaningfully to the world here and now and to spiritually nurturing ourselves and our children for the challenges of the future." The Rev. Martha Niebanck and Rev. Jim Sherblom serve as the congregation's co-ministers.
St. Martha Catholic Church is an excellent resource to Catholics in the community. Providing plenty of youth programs, as well as communion and confirmation programs, the congregation donates time, money and food to the community. Wednesday and Sunday service is available, and the large building provides classrooms, halls for prayer, as well as facilities to celebrate larger events, like weddings and wakes.
St. Paul's Lutheran Church offers 11:00am Sunday services and 9:30am junior church services. The church offers a range of ministries and activities for adults and children.
