Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels -- Los Angeles, Calif.

Destination: The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels is one of the newest cathedrals in the United States, built as the new cathedral for Los Angeles after earthquakes damaged the previous St. Vibiana’s Cathedral, which had served Los Angeles since 1876. Our Lady of the Angels was dedicated in 2002 — it’s the same age as a high school senior! 

Despite its newness — or because of it — the cathedral is home to a lively and diverse community. It serves the 5 million Catholics in the Los Angeles archdiocese. 

Mass is held at the cathedral daily at 12:10 p.m. and on Sundays at 8 and 10 a.m. (English) and noon (Spanish). Confession is also available Wednesdays and Fridays from 11 a.m.-noon. 

Photo: Above -- Visitors chat in the plaza outside the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels (CNS photo/ Victor Aleman).
Below -- Light floods in through alabaster windows that frame the cathedral’s architectural cross (CNS photo/Greg Tarczynski).

Why to go: The cathedral is filled with things to see, both inside and outside. 

Artistic highlights include architecture designed by award-winning Spanish architect José Rafael Moneo, the largest alabaster windows in the United States (the same material that makes up the Holy Spirit window in St. Peter’s Basilica), and 10 interior chapels that provide quiet and meditative places to pray. One chapel, the Art Chapel, hosts traveling exhibits of Catholic art. 

For those more musically inclined, the cathedral also holds sacred choral concerts. 

And if you want to get outside to enjoy the warm California weather, a plaza and garden space is open for prayer, meals and gatherings. A mosaic shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe is on the north plaza wall. 

Accessibility: The cathedral is accessible to those with limited mobility. Visitors attending Sunday Mass receive free parking for three hours.  

(Grand) Kid friendly: Of course! All ages are welcome. The cathedral has plenty for young ones to explore, and eye-catching art that may inspire a drawing or two. 

Info: Address — Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, 555 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA 90012  
Phone — 213-680-5200
Website — https://olacathedral.org/

— Megan Peterson compiled this story with information provided by Catholic News Service. 

Send Destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

The J. Paul Getty Museum Getty Center - Los Angeles, California

(Photo provided/Getty Center)

Destination: If you’re about “to motor west,” consider a stop to see the J. Paul Getty Museum Getty Center.
If you’d like to go to Mass before your visit, about a mile away is St. Martin of Tours Church (11967 Sunset Blvd.), where Masses are 7 and 8:15 a.m. weekdays; 5:30 p.m. Saturday; 7:30, 9, and 10:30 a.m., 12 noon and   5:30 p.m. Sunday.
Why to go:  Drawn primarily from the Getty permanent collection, the exhibit includes Medieval Bibles, missals, choir books, breviaries and psalters (Psalm books), many illuminated with vivid pigments and gold. According to a press release, the exhibit explores three aspects of religious life: both public and private devotion, and devotional literature.
Access: Strollers and wheelchairs are available at the center; baby backpacks aren’t allowed. And keep in mind, there are two Getty facilities and this exhibit is at the Getty Center in LA. Both are near the San Diego Freeway (I-405), so check for roadwork detours before you go. Public transportation is also available.
Admission: Free, but parking is $15. Hours are 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday (through Sept. 21) and Saturday.
(Grand) Kid friendly:  Prepare for your visit by checking the website’s tips for families before you go.
Info: Address: The Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90049.  Phone: 310/440-7300. Web: www.getty.edu

- Compiled by Sharon Boehlefeld
Send your Catholic destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

Editor's note: The exhibit of religious art that inspired this Destination, “The Art of Devotion in the Middle Ages,” has long since closed. The museum required that we remove the art illustrations two years after we were given permission to publish them, but we've left their descriptions in the article. We also have removed exhibit-related special events.