Vatican Confers Basilica Designation on St. Joseph Cathedral
By Roberta Ward

Bishop Pierre DuMaine has announced that the Vatican has conferred the designation of "minor basilica" on St. Joseph Cathedral, thus honoring its historic and artistic place, not only in the local Catholic community, but in the whole community of the Santa Clara Valley. Major basilicas are only those such as St. Peter's which are located in Rome.

Granted by the Vatican's Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, the status of minor-basilica is given to few churches which must meet special requirements of historical, artistic and pastoral significance.

St. Joseph's history runs deep - it was a parish as early as 1803 and the present cathedral church is the fifth building in the core of the City of San Jose. It is a national historic landmark.

Artistically, its architecture is itself a "work of art" being designed in the form of a Greek cross which provides perfect geometry and a floor plan that accommodates centrality for worship. Among the new liturgical furnishings, the round altar is set directly under the dome which contains a Bavarian glass skylight, stained glass works and murals.

There are many artistic works in the cathedral, including the Stations of the Cross, paintings, stained glass windows - old and new - and statues, all of which were refurbished in the massive renovation of the late 1980's.

Music, too, is part of the artistic aspect of the cathedral with numerous concerts and special liturgical events enhanced by original compositions and orchestral accompaniment.

The religious and pastoral life of the parish is both centered on its downtown location, present to both the business community and the poor of the city, as well as the whole of the Church of San Jose which gathers as one worshiping community for special diocesan events, for example, the annual Chrism Mass.

The St. Joseph Office for Social Ministry provides assistance to the urban poor, homeless and unemployed as well as to those marginally employed who struggle with the high cost of living in "Silicon Valley."

- reprinted from the January 14, 1997 issue of The Valley Catholic