GARDEN GROVE, Calif. — The Diocese of Orange's Christ Cathedral completed its transformation Monday from the Protestant megachurch to the central hub of the county's Roman Catholics as religious leaders dedicated a new chapel and crypt space.

Diocese of Orange Bishop Kevin Vann told reporters Monday morning at an event showcasing the new St. Callistus Chapel and Crypts that he recently spoke with a colleague about the Diocese's acquisition of the former Crystal Cathedral megachurch during federal bankruptcy proceedings.

"We were reminiscing about our journey through the years here when I had just been named Bishop of Orange," Vann said.

"Father Christopher (Smith) actually moved in before everything started," Vann said. "So, today, with the dedication of St. Callistus Chapel, we finish it. ... That's a milestone we can be really grateful for."

Vann noted that the design of the new chapel features "memories and connections with Crystal Cathedral" throughout.

Father Christopher Smith, rector emeritus for the cathedral, said his early days on the campus "gave me an opportunity to meet a lot of the people and pastors of the Crystal Cathedral ministries, which was a wonderful opportunity to really experience the great legacy of faith upon which the whole building was built. ... And now, as we complete Christ Cathedral, we're very grateful to (Crystal Cathedral founder) Dr. (Robert) Schuller and his wife (Arvella)."

The St. Callistus parish moved into the cathedral while the Crystal Cathedral congregation set up in the St. Callistus church as part of the deal with the Diocese. The Crystal Cathedral congregation moved on a couple of years later and the land was redeveloped into homes.

Smith added, "We always envisioned a chapel that would be named after St. Callistus — after the parish that came here and became Christ Cathedral."

Auxiliary Bishop Than Thai Nguyen said, "We are excited to have this addition to the Christ Cathedral campus."

There has been "remarkable growth" since the Diocese took possession of the campus and dedicated the refurbished cathedral in 2019.

"I believe this addition will bring more activity, to bring more people to this beautiful campus," Nguyen said.

Architect Lucas Viar, head of design for Talleres de Granda of Madrid, said the mosaics, tabernacle and other works of art were inspired by the "deepest well of Christian tradition and bringing it together with thing that are very, very current and very appropriate to the Diocese of Orange."

Viar told City News Service about 65 artists worked on the chapel and that the work took about two years.

There are elements of Romano-Byzantine art matched with contemporary styles, Viar said. For instance, the altar mosaic depicting Pope St. Callistus I includes orange trees and blossoms. 

Another painting features the Diocese of Orange's first four bishops, William Johnson, Norman McFarland, Vann and Tod Brown as well as Robert and Arvella Schuller with Archbishop Fulton Sheen, who preached during the iconic "Hour of Power" broadcast in the 1970s for the Protestant megachurch. The painting also includes images of St. Junipero Serra, founder of Mission San Juan Capistrano, and Pope St. Paul VI, who was pontiff when the Diocese of Orange started in June 1976, as well as Mother Bernard Gosselin, founder of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange.

Viar also pointed to another mosaic depicting Jesus as a shepherd warding off a wolf.

"Here he's facing the wolves," Viar said. "To show the bishops don't just sit around tending to the sheep, but they have to risk their own well-being for the sheep."

The 11,000-square-foot chapel and crypts designed by architectural firm Johnson Fain, which also worked on Christ Cathedral, will provide more space for worshiping such as masses, weddings, funerals and other gatherings as well as a final resting place for the diocese's bishops.

Auxiliary Bishop Timothy Freyer said many of the Crystal Cathedral congregants continue to visit the Catholic campus.

"Some come for mass, some come to pray," Freyer told City News Service. "We still get a good number of them from that ministry."

Freyer said the COVID-19 pandemic slowed some of the progress on the chapel because many worried about their finances at the time, but fundraising picked up in earnest later.

"People started coming back in droves," Freyer said.