Saint Joseph Parish/Diocesan Shrine of Saint Joseph is pleased to announce that the restored paintings of Saints Francis, Margaret, and Anthony, along with the Holy Family, the Carmelite Scene, and our beautiful Baptismal Font, have been returned to the parish, just in time for Christmas. St. James will return shortly, following some additional conservation treatment.

These original pieces, dating back to Mission San Jose’s 1809 adobe church, have survived the earthquake of 1868 and were re-installed in the reconstructed Mission Church of 1985. As treasured artifacts of our parish, we are delighted to share them with all people of goodwill everywhere.

The preservation of these interior objects is integral to Mission San José’s plans to maintain and preserve its priceless and sacred artifacts, as well as the physical structures of California’s 14th Mission, now the Diocesan Shrine of Saint Joseph. As a parish, it is our responsibility to preserve and care for these historical and sacred artworks.

Over the past many years, our parish has collaborated with the California Missions Foundation and the Committee for Restoration of the Mission San Jose (CRMSJ) to secure funding and support for this type of conservation effort.

We extend our sincere appreciation to the California Missions Foundation and the Committee for Restoration of the Mission San Jose for their support and generous grants, which have covered the entire cost of this conservation project. We are also deeply grateful to our parishioners, friends of the Mission, and private donors, whose contributions have made this project possible.

If you are interested in supporting these meaningful and worthy preservation and restoration projects, please call the Parish Office or donate here.  For more information about the CRMSJ, please go to https://www.crmsjca.org/support.