About Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels · Los Angeles, California
The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels (Catedral de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles), informally known as the COLA or the Los Angeles Cathedral, is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the seat of Archbishop José Horacio Gómez. Built between 1998 and 2002 on a 5.6-acre site overlooking the Hollywood (101) Freeway in downtown Los Angeles, it replaced St. Vibiana Cathedral, which was condemned after the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Designed by Spanish Pritzker Prize–winning architect José Rafael Moneo in a deconstructivist/postmodern style with virtually no right angles, the 11-story cathedral seats about 3,000 worshippers and houses the relics of Saint Vibiana and a tilma relic of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a 25,000 sq ft crypt mausoleum, conference center, clergy residence, and a notable program of contemporary liturgical art.
- Established
- 2002
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Angels (Virgin Mary, under the patronal title confirmed by the Holy See and announced in 1945 by Archbishop John J. Cantwell)
- Rector
- Rev. David Gallardo (2025–present)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Why belong here
The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels is the spiritual heart of one of the largest Catholic communities in the United States — a mother church for roughly five million Catholics across the Archdiocese of Los Angeles — and it welcomes daily Mass-goers, pilgrims, and tourists into a building that is itself a 21st-century work of sacred art. Daily English Masses (Mon–Fri) and a Spanish Mass on Sunday, the Friday Blessed Sacrament Adoration, weekly Reconciliation three days a week, a monthly Wednesday organ recital series on the Dobson organ, and major archdiocesan celebrations (Feast of Saint Lawrence, Virgen de los Remedios, Memorial Mass for the Deceased) give the parish a genuinely cathedral rhythm of prayer. Its downtown location across from the Civic Center, the relic of Saint Vibiana in the Saint Vibiana Chapel, the tilma relic of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the meditation garden and Reconciliation Chapel, and a roster of outreach and volunteer programs make it a place both to belong to and to visit.
Mass times at Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Reconciliation Chapel, North Ambulatory)
- Wednesday 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Reconciliation Chapel, North Ambulatory)
- Friday 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Reconciliation Chapel, North Ambulatory)
- Private rooms offer both screened-separated and face-to-face options and are wheelchair accessible.
Adoration times
- Friday 7:30 AM – 12:00 PM in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel
History of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels
Plans for a cathedral in Los Angeles reach back to 1859, and the predecessor Cathedral of St. Vibiana was dedicated on Main and Second Streets in 1876 by Archbishop Joseph Sadoc Alemany. After the 1994 Northridge earthquake closed and the City of Los Angeles condemned St. Vibiana's in 1996, Cardinal Roger Mahony announced a new site. On December 23, 1996, the Archdiocese purchased a 5.6-acre parcel on Bunker Hill — bounded by Temple, Grand, Hill, and the Hollywood Freeway — for $10.85 million. The Ground Blessing took place on September 21, 1997; construction of the parking structure began in October 1998; excavation of the cathedral foundations began in May 1999. The cathedral was blessed and dedicated on September 2, 2002, becoming the first new Roman Catholic cathedral in the western United States in roughly thirty years.
- 1876: Cathedral of St. Vibiana dedicated on Main & 2nd Streets
- 1994: Northridge earthquake severely damages St. Vibiana's
- May 1995: Old cathedral closed for repairs
- 1996: City of Los Angeles condemns St. Vibiana's
- July 22, 1996: Cardinal Mahony announces search for new site
- September 14, 1996: Advisory Board selects the Bunker Hill site with architect Moneo
- December 23, 1996: 5.6-acre site purchased for $10.85 million
- September 21, 1997: Official Ground Blessing Ceremony
- October 1998: Parking structure construction begins
- May 1999: Cathedral foundation excavation begins
- Spring 2002: Construction completed
- September 2, 2002: Solemn Blessing and Dedication
Architecture, Design, and Art
Spanish architect José Rafael Moneo (commissioned 1996, Pritzker Prize laureate) designed the cathedral with virtually no right angles, using acute and obtuse angles throughout to create a sense of mystery and majesty. LEO A DALY served as architect of record and Fr. Richard S. Vosko as liturgical design consultant. The 11-story, 64,990 sq ft building is constructed of architectural concrete in the sun-baked adobe color of the California Missions and engineered for a 500-year service life. The 151-million-pound structure sits on about 198 base isolators so it can float up to 27 inches during a magnitude 8.0 earthquake. At completion it housed the largest installation of alabaster windows in the world; solar panels provide about 15% of its electricity.
- Architect: José Rafael Moneo (Spain); Pritzker Prize laureate
- Architect of Record: LEO A DALY
- Liturgical Design Consultant: Rev. Richard S. Vosko
- Style: Deconstructivist / Postmodern; virtually no right angles
- Capacity: 3,000 worshippers (5,000+ in the plaza)
- Materials: Architectural concrete, Spanish alabaster, bronze
- Nave length: 333 feet (101 m)
- Weight: ~151 million lb on ~198 base isolators (floats up to 27 in. in M8.0 quake)
- Service life target: 500 years
- Solar generation: ~15% of electricity
- Great Bronze Doors and Virgin Mary statue by Robert Graham
- Alabaster Window — largest installation of alabaster windows in the world at completion
- Bronze Native American memorial sculpture by Johnny Bear Contreras
- Cathedral Dobson organ (4-manual)
- Three fountains; 50-foot concrete cross 'lantern'
Interior Points of Interest
The cathedral's interior unfolds as an ambulatory that circles the nave and leads worshippers toward light filtering through Spanish alabaster. Numbered stations on the Cathedral's self-guided tour include the Gateway Pool and Water Wall, the Great Bronze Doors, the South Ambulatory, the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, the Retablo, the Baptistery, the great Alabaster Window, the South and North Tapestries, the Sanctuary, Altar, Ambo, the Cathedra (bishop's chair), the Cathedral Dobson organ, the North Ambulatory, the Chapel of Reconciliation, the Meditation Garden, the Shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe (housing a tilma relic), and the Donor Wall.
- Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament
- Chapel of Reconciliation (North Ambulatory) — screened or face-to-face, wheelchair accessible
- Saint Vibiana Chapel — relics of Saint Vibiana
- Shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe with tilma relic
- Retablo, Baptistery, Cathedra (bishop's chair)
- Meditation Garden and Children's Garden
- Donor Wall
Mass and the Sacraments
The cathedral celebrates Mass in English Monday through Friday at 7:00 AM and 12:10 PM, and on Sundays at 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM (English) and 12:30 PM (Spanish). The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM in the Reconciliation Chapel along the North Ambulatory. Friday-morning Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament runs from 7:30 AM to 12:00 PM in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. Weddings are scheduled on Fridays (3:00 PM and 5:30 PM) and Saturdays (12:30 PM, 3:00 PM, and 5:30 PM) with at least six months of preparation required by the Archdiocese and at least one Catholic party.
- Daily English Mass — Mon–Fri 7:00 AM and 12:10 PM
- Sunday Mass — 8:00 AM & 10:00 AM English, 12:30 PM Spanish
- Reconciliation — Mon/Wed/Fri 11:00 AM–12:00 PM (Reconciliation Chapel)
- Adoration — Friday 7:30 AM–12:00 PM (Blessed Sacrament Chapel)
- Weddings — Fri 3 PM & 5:30 PM; Sat 12:30 PM, 3 PM, 5:30 PM
- Baptism, Anointing of the Sick, Funerals — by arrangement with the parish office
Music Ministry and the Cathedral Dobson Organ
Music is central to the cathedral's life. The Cathedral Dobson organ, a four-manual instrument, was modified during installation to meet seismic-stability requirements before the pipes were reinstalled. The Cathedral hosts a free monthly Wednesday Organ Recital Series (September through July, no concert in December) featuring guest organists such as Sook Hyun Kim, Brandon Zhou, Sean Tang Wang, Emma Whitten, Patricia Wang, Juhee Lee, Dr. Paula Lee Seo, Dr. Lynette Ball McGee, Sean Coburn O'Neal, Dr. Michal Szostak, and André Lombardi. Masses are also livestreamed at olacathedral.org/live.
- Cathedral Dobson organ (4-manual, seismic-rated)
- Monthly Wednesday Organ Recital Series (free)
- Livestream of Masses at olacathedral.org/live
- Music preparation for major Archdiocesan liturgies
Mausoleum and Cemetery Ministry
On the lower level of the cathedral, directly across from the Saint Vibiana Chapel, the Crypt Mausoleum offers 1,275 crypt spaces and 4,794 columbarium niches, plus more than 200 cenotaph memorial opportunities. The mausoleum displays sixteen large stained-glass windows along its north and south hallways and nine lunettes, all originally from Saint Vibiana Cathedral and restored by Judson Studios; two new guardian-angel windows at the entrance were also created by Judson Studios. A dome from a Calvary Mortuary private chapel was moved intact and reinstalled in the ceiling. All past bishops and archbishops of Los Angeles are memorialized here, and the remains of several pre-2002 ordinaries were transferred into the mausoleum. Proceeds from crypt and niche sales go to the Cathedral Foundation Endowment Fund, restricted to the maintenance and operation of the cathedral.
- 1,275 crypts; 4,794 columbarium niches
- 200+ cenotaph memorial opportunities
- Restored stained glass from St. Vibiana Cathedral (16 windows + 9 lunettes)
- Guardian-angel etchings and windows by Judson Studios
- Burial niche of actor Gregory Peck
- Mausoleum Director: Daniel Martinez, (213) 680-5226
Visiting, Tours, and Hours
The Cathedral is open to visitors daily: Monday–Friday 6:30 AM–6:00 PM, Saturdays 9:00 AM–6:00 PM, and Sundays 7:00 AM–6:00 PM. Self-guided tours are welcomed at any time, while guided tours are offered by appointment only through Tour Coordinator Cari Hilger at (213) 680-5215. A numbered 'Cathedral Guide' on the parish website walks visitors through 18 points of interest, from the Gateway Pool to the Donor Wall. The Cathedral Gift Shop and the Galero Grill café are open during visiting hours, and the Gift Shop can also be browsed online at cathedralgiftshop.com.
- Hours: Mon–Fri 6:30 AM–6:00 PM; Sat 9:00 AM–6:00 PM; Sun 7:00 AM–6:00 PM
- Self-guided tours always available
- Guided tours by appointment — Cari Hilger, (213) 680-5215
- Cathedral Gift Shop and Galero Grill on site
- Online Gift Shop: cathedralgiftshop.com
Cathedral Staff and Pastoral Leadership
The cathedral is led by its pastor in close coordination with the Archbishop of Los Angeles and the Office of the Archbishop. The Auxiliary Bishop of the Our Lady of the Angels Pastoral Region, Most Rev. Matthew G. Elshoff, O.F.M. Cap. (ordained at the cathedral on September 26, 2023), oversees the surrounding region of 76 parishes. Operational staff include the Volunteer Coordinator, the Cathedral Gift Shop, and the Mausoleum Director.
- Archbishop: Most Rev. José H. Gomez
- Pastor: Rev. David Gallardo (2025–present)
- Auxiliary Bishop of the Our Lady of Angels Region: Most Rev. Matthew G. Elshoff, O.F.M. Cap.
- Volunteer Coordinator: Cari Hilger — (213) 680-5215
- Mausoleum Director: Daniel Martinez — (213) 680-5226
- Cathedral Gift Shop: (213) 680-5277
- Office of the Pastor (Weddings): [email protected]
Archdiocesan and Civic Celebrations
Because it is the mother church of the Archdiocese, the cathedral hosts major annual celebrations that bring together the wider Catholic community of Los Angeles. These include the Feast of Saint Lawrence Mass honoring the diaconate community (August), the Virgen de los Remedios Mass with procession from the Cathedral Plaza (September), the Archdiocesan Memorial Mass for the Deceased, and various Holy Day and civic observances. Parking validation is typically extended to Mass attendees on holidays such as Labor Day.
- Feast of Saint Lawrence — annual Archdiocesan Mass for the diaconate community
- Virgen de los Remedios Mass — annual commemoration with pre-procession
- Memorial Mass for the Deceased
- Labor Day and other holiday Masses (with parking validation)
- Archbishop's liturgies and ordinations (e.g., Bishop Elshoff's ordination in 2023)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Monsignor Kevin Kostelnik2002–2017
Founding pastor; oversaw the construction of the cathedral under Cardinal Roger Mahony and shepherded its first fifteen years.
- Reverend David Gallardo2017–2022
Arrived at the cathedral in 2016 as a transitional year under Monsignor Kostelnik; first Hispanic pastor; led the parish through the COVID-19 pandemic, the local synod process, the 2025 Jubilee Year launch, and the National Eucharistic Revival; then assigned as pastor of St. Ignatius of Loyola, Highland Park.
- Monsignor Antonio Cacciapuoti2022–2025
Previously pastor of St. Bede the Venerable in La Cañada Flintridge for 12 years; succeeded Father Gallardo.
- Reverend David Gallardo2025–present
Returned to the cathedral as pastor following Msgr. Cacciapuoti's tenure.
