Basilica of St. Joseph, Alameda facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Joseph's Basilica
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 Location in Oakland, California
Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1109 Chestnut St., Alameda, California |
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| Area | 0.4 acres (0.16 ha) |
| Built | 1921 |
| Architect | H.A. Minton |
| Architectural style | Mission/Spanish Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000642 |
| Added to NRHP | September 18, 1978 |
The Basilica of St. Joseph is a beautiful Catholic church located in Alameda, California. It has a long history, going all the way back to when Alameda was first settled.
This church started as a small mission connected to St. Anthony's Church in Oakland. It officially became its own parish, called St. Joseph's, in 1885. Today, it is part of the Diocese of Oakland. Because of its important history and architecture, the Basilica was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 18, 1978.
Contents
How St. Joseph's Church Began
The story of St. Joseph's started in 1873. At that time, there was a growing number of Catholic people in Alameda. So, the Archbishop of San Francisco, Jose Sadoc Alemany, decided to create a Catholic mission there.
A kind person named Mr. Minturn, who was not Catholic, donated land for the church. This land was at Santa Clara Avenue and Chestnut Street. The very first Catholic church in Alameda was built on this spot in 1873. It was used for worship for over twenty years.
Priests from St. Anthony's Church in Oakland helped lead this mission. Every Sunday, Father William Gleeson would travel to Alameda. He would offer Mass (the church service) and teach Catechism, which is religious instruction.
Growing the Church Community
As more people joined, the church community grew. Father Gleeson got help from Father J. B. McNally. The church building was made bigger twice in seven years!
Finally, in 1881, a new church was built. This one was on the southwest corner of Chestnut Street and San Antonio Avenue. Father Gleeson chose this spot because it was close to the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. These Sisters had just built a girls' school next door, called Notre Dame Academy. It taught girls from first grade through twelfth grade.
Becoming a Parish
In 1885, a new archbishop, Patrick William Riordan, asked Father Michael McNaboe to start St. Joseph's Parish in Alameda. This meant St. Joseph's would be its own official church community. The parish covered the whole city of Alameda at first. Father McNaboe led the parish until he passed away in 1892.
Building a Bigger Church
After Father McNaboe, Father John J. Sullivan became the new pastor. He quickly saw that the church needed to be even bigger. The first stone for a new, larger wooden church was laid on August 12, 1894. Archbishop Riordan officially dedicated this new church on January 20, 1895.
Father Sullivan later became ill and left his role in 1898. Father Patrick A. Foley then became the pastor. He served for fifteen years before moving to another church.
In 1913, Father James Bernard Praught became the pastor of St. Joseph's. He started the St. Joseph Elementary School for boys and girls in 1916. The school building was finished in 1922.
A New Church Rises
Sadly, the old wooden St. Joseph Church burned down on September 29, 1919. But the community didn't give up! A brand new church was built. It was designed in the Spanish Colonial Revival Style, which looked like the old missions in California.
In 1925, the city of Alameda was divided into more parishes. This helped serve the growing Catholic population. St. Joseph's continued to serve the central part of Alameda.
Father Praught placed a special plaque on the St. Joseph Tower in 1928. It had a message about time, work, truth, and prayer.
On August 17, 1935, Archbishop John J. Mitty led a special ceremony. He consecrated the altar and church of St. Joseph's. This is a very important event in the Catholic Church, and only a few churches are consecrated.
Father Praught retired in 1943 after thirty years at St. Joseph's. Father Robert J. O'Connor took his place.
Changes and New Leadership
In 1957, Father Alvin P. Wagner became the pastor. In 1962, Pope John XXIII honored Father Wagner by making him a Monsignor. That same year, the Diocese of Oakland was created, and St. Joseph's became part of this new diocese.
Monsignor Wagner retired in 1983. After him, a group of priests called the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (SSCC) helped lead the parish. In 2007, the Oakland Bishop asked diocesan priests to lead St. Joseph's again.
St. Joseph Basilica: A Special Church
The new church building was designed by an architect named H.A. Minton. He had moved to California to help rebuild San Francisco after the big earthquake in 1906. The first stone for the new church was placed on August 22, 1920.
The church received a bell donated by the Knights of Columbus. This bell was made from metal from the bell of the old church that burned down. The very first Mass in the new church was held on Christmas Day, December 25, 1921.
Becoming a Basilica
In the spring of 1972, something very special happened. Pope Paul VI gave St. Joseph's Church the title of a "minor Basilica." This made it one of only four basilicas in the western United States at the time!
Being a basilica means it has a special connection to the Pope. It also means it has certain symbols, like a special umbrella (called an umbraculum) in yellow and red, and a bell (called a tintinnabulum). These are carried in processions.
The basilica also has a beautiful Schoenstein organ. In 1978, the basilica was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Pastors of St. Joseph's
Many dedicated priests have served St. Joseph's over the years:
- Father William Gleeson (1873-1885) - Served the mission church
- Father Michael McNaboe (1885–1892) - First pastor of the parish
- Father John J. Sullivan (1892-1898)
- Father Patrick A. Foley (1898-1913)
- Father J. Bernard Praught (1913-1943)
- Father Robert J. O'Connor (1943-1957)
- Monsignor Alvin P. Wagner (1957-1983)
- Father Patrick A. Goodwin, SSCC (1983-1993)
- Father Jeremiah Holland, SSCC (1993-2001)
- Father Richard Danyluk, SSCC (2001-2007)
- Father Anthony Herrera (2007-2008)
- Father Ray Zielezienski (2008-2008)
- Father Fred Riccio (2008-2013)
- Father George Alengadan (2013-present)
Schools Connected to St. Joseph's
Education has always been important to the St. Joseph's community.
Notre Dame Academy
On March 27, 1881, five Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur started the Notre Dame Academy for Young Ladies. This was even before St. Joseph's was an official parish. In 1887, Father McNaboe asked the Sisters to also teach at a boys' elementary school.
In 1922, a new elementary school for both boys and girls was built. It was a gift to the parish from Theresa Ettinger, in memory of her husband. Father J. Bernard Praught became the first principal of this new school. The last of the Sisters to teach in the elementary school left in the 1990s. As of 2015, the school had about 270 students from kindergarten to eighth grade.
In 1922, Notre Dame Academy was renamed Notre Dame Girls High School. The old high school building was taken down in 1960, and new buildings for Notre Dame Girls High School and the Sisters' Convent were built.
St. Joseph Boys High School
In 1935, Father Praught asked the Marianists (Brothers of Mary) to start a Boys High School in Alameda. St. Joseph Boys High School opened on August 26, 1935. It welcomed students from Oakland, San Leandro, and Berkeley. The Brothers of Mary left the school in 1970.
Merging High Schools
In 1983, St. Joseph Boys High School and Notre Dame Girls High School joined together. Today, this combined school is known as St. Joseph Notre Dame High School. It is recognized by important educational groups like the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
See also
In Spanish: Basilica of St. Joseph para niños
