St. Joseph Cathedral (San Diego, California) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Joseph Cathedral |
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 Location in southern California
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| 32°43′16″N 117°09′42″W / 32.72114°N 117.16158°W | |
| Location | 1535 Third Avenue San Diego, California |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Founded | 1874 |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Mission Revival |
| Completed | 1941 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | San Diego |
St. Joseph Cathedral is a big and important Catholic church located at 1535 Third Avenue in the Cortez Hill area of downtown San Diego, California. It is the main church for the Diocese of San Diego, which means it's where the bishop of San Diego has his special chair.
Contents
The Cathedral's Story: How It Began
The church community, called a parish, started way back in 1874. The very first church building was made of wood and was built in 1875. This happened thanks to Father Antonio Ubach and land given by Alonzo Horton. Father Ubach even lived in a small adobe house right next to the church.
The first church was officially opened in 1875 by Bishop Francis Mora. Later, in 1894, the community built a much bigger church made of brick.
Becoming a Cathedral and Modern Updates
St. Joseph became a cathedral in 1936. This happened when the Pope and the leaders of the Catholic Church created the Diocese of San Diego. A diocese is a special area of churches led by a bishop. The new cathedral was built right where the older churches used to be and was finished in 1941.
In 2011, St. Joseph Cathedral got some important updates. Workers repainted and fixed the outside wood and concrete. Before that, the restrooms were improved, and the church was made easier for everyone to access. More work is planned for the future when there is enough money.
What Happens at the Cathedral Today?
St. Joseph Cathedral holds church services, called Mass, every day of the week. This includes a Sunday Mass that is spoken in Spanish. The cathedral also has special activities for young adults, opportunities for confession, and other ways for people to pray and reflect.
Many times, the cathedral is also a place for music. The San Diego Chamber Orchestra and other groups that play classical music often have concerts there.
Images for kids
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Side view of the Cathedral.
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Inside the beautiful Cathedral.
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A special plaque at the Cathedral.
Leaders of St. Joseph Cathedral
Over the years, many priests have served as the main leader, or pastor, of St. Joseph Cathedral. Here are some of them:
- Antonio Ubach, 1874–1907
- Bernard Smyth, 1907-1912
- Joseph Nunan, 1912-1914
- Eugene A. Heffernan, 1914-1919
- John J. Brady, 1919-1929
- John M. Hegarty, 1929-1940
- Franklin Hurd, 1940-1947
- Francis Dillon, 1947-1954
- William A. Bergin, 1954-1955
- George M. Rice, 1955-1969
- Anthony Giesing, 1969-1976
- Rudolph Galindo, 1976-1983
- Gilbert E. Chavez, 1983-2007
- Peter Escalante, 2007-2015
- Patrick Mulcahy, 2015-2019
- Peter Navarra, 2019-Present
More to Explore
In Spanish: Catedral de San José (San Diego) para niños
