page_title: Cathedral of Saint Francis de Sales (Oakland, California)
section_title: Origins
hierarchical_section_title: Cathedral of Saint Francis de Sales (Oakland, California) / Origins
caption_attribution_description: English: The nave of the former St. Francis de Sales Cathedral in Oakland, California. It served as the cathedral of the Catholic Diocese of Oakland from 1962 until it was damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. It was toen down in 1993.
context_page_description: Cathedral of Saint Francis de Sales in Oakland was an 1893 church, which served as the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland in Oakland, California from 1962 until it was damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.
context_section_description: San Francisco Archbishop Joseph S. Alemany erected in Oakland, St. Mary's of the Immaculate Conception in 1853. As Oakland expanded, the archbishop founded in 1871, St. Anthony's in Brooklyn (East Oakland), 1876, Sacred Heart in Temescal (North Oakland) and 1879, St. Patrick's in West Oakland. As the population grew in central Oakland, the need arose for a parish between St. Mary's at 7th and Jefferson Streets and Sacred Heart at 40th and Grove Streets.
  The new Archbishop Patrick W. Riordan discussed founding a new parish in Oakland with the pastors of St. Mary's - Father Michael A. King, Sacred Heart - Father Lawrence Serda, St. Patrick's - Father John B. Mc Nally and St. Anthony's - Father William Gleeson, in late 1885. The archbishop picked January 29, 1886, the feast of bishop and doctor, St. Francis de Sales, (1567-1622) to erect the new parish. Father King suggested his able assistant, Father Thomas Mc Sweeney as the founding pastor, Archbishop Riordan made the appointment February 6, 1886. Father Mc Sweeney said the first Mass, of St. Francis de Sales Parish on February 21, 1886 in Hanifin's Hall at San Pablo Avenue and 19th Street. The first baptism recorded at St. Francis de Sales, March 21, 1886.
  Father Mc Sweeney with the approval of Archbishop Riordan acquired property on Grove Street between Hobart and 21st Streets. The practical decision, delay a permanent church. A temporary building, constructed, the church upstairs with a ground floor, school. Archbishop Riordan blessed the new St. Francis de Sales Church/School on February 27, 1887.
  St. Francis de Sales School opened July 18, 1887, an elementary school for boys and girls and a girls high school. The Sisters of the Holy Names staffed the schools. St. Francis de Sales Girls High School closed May 31, 1931. After ninety years, St. Francis de Sales Grammar School closed June 10, 1977. 
  Father Mc Sweeney had a predominantly Irish congregation. He sought about $15,000 to build a modest church. Mrs. Mary J. Canning (1830-1904) and her husband, James (1810-1892) would allow Mc Sweeney to build a grand church. Their first donation was $75,000. Mrs. Canning would donate $142,000 to build the church.  Archbishop Riordan laid the cornerstone of the permanent church September 13, 1891. The structure was designed in a Norman Gothic Revival style, made of red brick, with a steeple and stained glass windows. The architecture, Charles Devlin's work on St. Francis de Sales, impressed Archbishop Riordan. Devlin was awarded the task to design St. Patrick's Seminary in Menlo Park, California.
  St. Francis de Sales Church was dedicated by Archbishop Francesco Satolli, the Apostolic Delegate to the United States on July 9, 1893. Cardinal Satolli gave personal greetings from Pope Leo XIII to Mary J. Canning for her financial support in building St. Francis de Sales.
  Father Mc Sweeney led St. Francis de Sales for twenty-three years, his health broke with a series of strokes in 1909. Archbishop Edward Joseph Hanna appointed Father Patrick Joseph James Keane, Administrator of St. Francis de Sales in 1910. Father Mc Sweeney departed Oakland, for an extended rest in his native Ireland. Father Mc Sweeney never returned, dying July 28, 1915. Archbishop Hanna made Father Keane, second pastor of St. Francis de Sales. In 1920, Pope Benedict XV selected Father Keane to be Auxiliary Bishop of Sacramento. March 17, 1922, Pope Pius XI appointed Keane Bishop of the Diocese of Sacramento. He died in Sacramento, September 1, 1928.
  St. Francis de Sales had four pastors in the 1920s, Father Francis X. Morrison appointed in 1920, died September 18, 1924. The new pastor Father Edward Dempsey, formerly pastor of St. Mary's in Oakland. Father Dempsey led a group of pilgrims to Rome. On May 24, 1924, the small group from St. Francis de Sales met Pope Pius XI, who gave Father Dempsey the honor of Domestic Prelate. Dempsey died January 21, 1928.
  Archbishop John J. Mitty appointed Monsignor Joseph M. Gleason fifth pastor of St. Francis de Sales. Gleason was appointed Domestic Prelate by Pope Benedict XV 
caption: The nave looking toward the gallery.
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