Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph (San Jose)
The Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph is a large Roman Catholic church located in Downtown San Jose. The minor basilica is the cathedral for the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Jose in California. The basilica is named for Saint Joseph, patron saint of the universal church.
History
The original St. Joseph's Church was called San Jose de Guadalupe[1] built on the site of the current basilica in 1803, and was the first non-mission parish built in California for the benefit of Spanish settlers instead of the Mission Indians (Ohlone). The Pueblo de San Jose de Guadalupe was connected with Mission Santa Clara by the The Alameda which was part of the historic El Camino Real.
The original adobe structure was damaged by earthquakes in 1818 and 1822, and a new adobe church was built from 1835 to 1846. The second church was severely damaged by the 1868 Hayward earthquake, and work on the third church began in 1869. The third church was destroyed by fire in 1875, and a temporary fourth church was built a few blocks away while the fifth and current church was being constructed. The fifth church was dedicated by Joseph Alemany, Archbishop of San Francisco, in 1877 while construction continued. The current portico was completed in 1884, and the large dome was finished in 1885.
In 1981, a major renovation project was begun at the church, which was to become the cathedral for the new Roman Catholic Bishop of San Jose. In 1985, the church was elevated to a cathedral, pending completion of the restoration in 1990. It replaced Saint Patrick Proto-Cathedral Parish, located a few blocks away, as the cathedral of the diocese. The cathedral was made a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1997.
The Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph is listed as a California Historical Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[2]
Hours
The Cathedral is open to visitors seven days a week from 7;30 am to 3 pm and 5pm on Staurday. Guided tours are available Tuesday through Friday between 1 pm and 3 pm.
Plaques at entrance
Just inside the entrance to the Cathedral are two plaques that read:
The Most Rev. Joseph S. Alemany, O.P.
First Archbishop of San Francisco
dedicated Saint Joseph Church,
fourth on this site, on land
donated by Antonio Sunol for the
first permanent Catholic Parish
in California, founded in 1803.
Rev. Nicholas Congiato, S.J., Pastor
- 22 April 1877
The Most Rev. R. Pierre DuMaine
First Bishop of San Jose
dedicated this Church
restored and renovated
as the new Cathedral
of the Diocese of San Jose.
Rev. P. Jeremiah Helfrich, S.J. Rector
- 4 November 1990
Joseph bible quotes
The top of the walls of the inside of the Cathedral include quotes from the Vulgate about Joseph:
- Matthew 1:20 - ANGELVS DOMINI APPARVIT IN SOMNIS JOSEPH NOLI TIMERE ACCIPERE MARIAM CONIVGEM TVAM
- Matthew 1:24 - EXSVRGENS JOSEPH A SOMNO FECIT SICVT PRÆCEPIT ET ANGELVS DOMINI ET ACCEPIT CONIVGEN SVAM
- Matthew 2:13–2:14 - FVTVRVM EST VT HERODES QVÆRAT PVERVM AD PEDENDVM ET MATREM EIVS NOCTE ET SECESSIT IN ÆGYPTVM
- Luke 2:48 - DIXIT MATER EIVS ECCE PATER TVVS ET EGO DOLENTES QVÆREBVS TE
- Luke 2:51 - DESCENDIT CVM EIS ET VENIT NAZARET ET ERAT SVBDITVS ILLIS
- Luke 3:23 - ET JESVS PVTABATVR FILIVS JOSEPH
Stained glass windows
The stained glass windows going counter clockwise from the East Transept dipect:
- Agony in the Garden
- Crucifixion
- Saint Aloysius Gonzaga
- Saint Catherine of Alexandria
- Saint Patrick
- Saint John
- Saint Luke
- The Holy Family
- Saint Casimir
- Saint Edward the Confessor
- Saint John the Baptist
- Saint Mark
- Saint Matthew
- Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque & The Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Saint Francis Xavier
- Saint Claude de la Colombière
- Resurrection
- Ascension
Odell pipe organ
The Odell pipe organ was built in 1886 by the J. H. and C. S. Odell Company in Yonkers, New York. It is the only such Odell instrument surviving in its original condition in the United States. It has 40,000 parts. It has 27 ranks of 60 pipes each. It was restored during 1987-1990.
Gallery
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From the baptismal font, looking up the nave to the altar.
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The south semitransept, from the altar
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The nave from the altar, showing the baptismal font, with organ loft above
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The altar from the top of the nave with the ambo and cathedra behind it
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The altar, from the north semitransept
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Interior of the large dome over the crossing
References
- ^ History of the Cathedral Basilica of St Joseph
- ^ "Cathedral - About". Retrieved May 8, 2016.
External links
- Tourist attractions in Silicon Valley
- Basilica churches in the United States
- Roman Catholic churches in California
- Roman Catholic cathedrals in the United States
- Roman Catholic Diocese of San Jose in California
- Buildings and structures in San Jose, California
- National Register of Historic Places in Santa Clara County, California
- Roman Catholic churches on the National Register of Historic Places in California
- 1803 establishments in New Spain
- Roman Catholic churches completed in 1885
- 19th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in the United States
- Roman Catholic congregations established in the 19th century
- Visitor attractions in San Jose, California
- Churches in Santa Clara County, California
- California Historical Landmarks