Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph (San Jose) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph |
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Spanish: Catedral Basílica de San José
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Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph
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 Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph
Location in San Jose, California
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| 37°20′03″N 121°53′27″W / 37.334036°N 121.890816°W | |
| Location | 80 South Market Street San Jose, California |
| Country |  USA |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | www.stjosephcathedral.org |
| History | |
| Status | Minor Basilica, Cathedral |
| Founded | April 22, 1877 |
| Dedication | Saint Joseph |
| Dedicated | 1990 |
| Consecrated | 1803, 1877 |
| Past bishop(s) | The Most Rev. R. Pierre DuMaine The Most Rev. Patrick Joseph McGrath |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | California Historical Landmark #910 National Register of Historic Places #77000345 |
| Groundbreaking | 1876 |
| Completed | 1885 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 950 |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Deanery 3 |
| Episcopal area | San José in California |
| Archdiocese | Archidioecesis Sancti Francisci |
| Diocese | Dioecesis Sancti Josephi in California |
| Province | Ecclesiastical province of San Francisco |
The Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph is a very old and important Catholic church in Downtown San Jose, California. It serves as the main church, called a cathedral, for the Roman Catholic Diocese of San José in California. It also has a special title: a minor basilica.
This beautiful church is named after Saint Joseph, who is considered a special protector, or patron saint, of the Catholic Church. He is also the person for whom the city of San Jose, California is named.
Contents
History of the Cathedral
The story of St. Joseph's church began a long time ago. The very first church on this spot was called San Jose de Guadalupe. It was built in 1803. This was special because it was the first church in California built for Spanish settlers, not just for the Native American communities at the missions.
This first church was made of adobe (a type of sun-dried brick). It was damaged by strong earthquakes in 1818 and 1822.
Building the Second Church
In 1835, a well-known businessman named Antonio Suñol gave the land for a new, bigger adobe church. This land was at the corner of what is now Plaza de César Chávez. Antonio Suñol and his brother-in-law, Antonio María Pico, helped build this second church. It took eight years to finish and was officially opened in 1846. Sadly, this second church was badly damaged by another big earthquake in 1868.
The Third and Current Churches
Work on a third church started in 1869. But disaster struck again! This third church was destroyed by a fire in 1875. A temporary church was quickly built nearby while the fifth and current church was being constructed.
The current church was officially dedicated in 1877, even though it was still being built. The grand entrance, called a portico, was finished in 1884. The large dome you see today was completed in 1885.
Becoming a Cathedral and Basilica
In 1981, a big project began to fix up and improve the church. This was because it was going to become the main church, or cathedral, for the new Roman Catholic Diocese of San Jose. In 1985, it officially became a cathedral. The restoration work was finished in 1990.
Later, in 1997, Pope John Paul II gave the cathedral an even higher honor. He declared it a minor basilica. This means it's a church with special importance.
Today, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph is recognized as a California Historical Landmark. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical site in the United States.
Architecture and Features
Stained Glass Windows
The cathedral has many beautiful stained glass windows. If you walk around inside, you can see pictures from the Bible and images of different saints. Some of the saints shown in the windows include:
- Saint Aloysius Gonzaga
- Saint Catherine of Alexandria
- Saint Patrick
- Saint John
- Saint Luke
- Saint Casimir
- Saint Edward the Confessor
- Saint John the Baptist
- Saint Mark
- Saint Matthew
- Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque
- Saint Francis Xavier
- Saint Claude de la Colombière
Other windows show important events like:
- Agony in the Garden
- Crucifixion
- The Holy Family
- Resurrection
- Ascension
The Odell Pipe Organ
The cathedral is home to a very special musical instrument: the Odell pipe organ. It was built in 1886 by the J. H. and C. S. Odell Company in New York. This organ is unique because it's the only one of its kind still in its original condition in the United States.
This amazing organ has 40,000 parts! It also has 27 "ranks," which are sets of 60 pipes each. The organ was carefully fixed up and restored between 1987 and 1990, so it still sounds wonderful today.
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
See also
In Spanish: Catedral basílica de San José (San José) para niños
