YEAR OF ST. JOSEPH: Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph -- San Jose, Calif.

(Photo by David Leigh Ellis, commons.wikimedia.org)

Destination: Another of the U.S. basilicas named for St. Joseph is the Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph in San Jose, Calif. 

Masses are being celebrated outdoors and require reservations. Anyone older than 6 must wear a mask. Times are Monday-Friday, 12:05 p.m., live-streamed; Sundays 8:30 a.m. English live-streamed, 10 a.m. Spanish live-streamed, 11:30 a.m. English live-streamed, and 1 p.m. Spanish.         

Why to go: The first pueblo church was built on the site in 1803.  Made of adobe and wood, it was named in honor of St. Joseph, the patron saint of the pueblo. On the feast day of St. Joseph, March 19, 1876, the cornerstone for the fifth and present church building was laid. It was opened and dedicated on April 22, 1877. In 1981, the Vatican divided the Archdiocese of San Francisco, establishing the Diocese of San Jose. After renovations, it was dedicated as the Cathedral of St. Joseph on Nov. 4, 1990, and received basilical status in 1997. The basilica’s stained glass windows and Latin frieze on the ceiling are more than 140 years old.

Accessibility: Much of the grounds appear to be accessible to the handicapped.

(Grand) Kid friendly: All ages are welcome.

Info: Address — Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph, 80 S. Market St., San Jose, CA 95113
Phone — 408-283-8100
Website — https://www.stjosephcathedral.org/

— Sharon Boehlefeld compiled this story

Send Destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org