Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph
Welcome to the Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph, the official cathedral and minor basilica for the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Jose. This large Roman Catholic church is located in downtown San Jose and is considered to be the oldest non-mission parish in the entire state, sitting right at 200 years old.
Here is a brief history of the church: The namesake of the church is Saint Joseph, the patron saint of the universal church. In 1803 the original structure was built, a then adobe building. This structure was demolished by an earthquake, as was the next one, then the last one was destroyed in a fire. The building you see today is a California Historic Landmark that was renovated in 1981, making it officially a cathedral. In 1997 Pope John Paul II made the church a minor basilica, as well.
While here your group can attend a mass service or simply take a look around, some of the most impressive pieces inside being the Odell Organ, the 39 stained glass windows, and the Latin Frieze on the ceiling. There is also an onsite Cathedral Gift Shop to pick up any religious materials you may need!
Check out this retro PBS video clip explaining the church's history a bit more.
