About St. Joseph Cathedral · San Diego, California
St. Joseph Cathedral is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego, located at 1535 Third Avenue in the Cortez Hill neighborhood of downtown San Diego, California. Founded in 1874 by Father Antonio Ubach, it is one of the oldest Catholic parishes in Southern California and serves as the principal seat of Bishop Michael Pham for more than 1.3 million Catholics in the region. The present Spanish Renaissance/Mission Revival cathedral was dedicated on January 26, 1941, after the previous church was destroyed by fire in 1937. The parish is a designated San Diego Historical Resources Board landmark (1991) and remains an active downtown parish offering Mass in English and Spanish, the sacraments, devotions, faith formation, and outreach to the wider community.
- Established
- 1874
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Michael Tran (Pastor; the official staff page lists Rev. Michael Tran as Pastor with Fr. Peter's email also in use)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego
Why belong here
St. Joseph Cathedral is the spiritual heart of the Diocese of San Diego—an active downtown parish rooted in 150 years of continuous Catholic worship (1874–2024) that still offers one of the most accessible and central parish lives in the city, with daily 12:07 p.m. Mass perfect for downtown workers, a Saturday Vigil and four Sunday Masses including a Spanish-language Mass at noon, regular confessions before the weekend, First Friday Adoration, a Tuesday devotion to Our Mother of Perpetual Help, and an Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) program for those becoming Catholic. The parish supports a Knights of Columbus council (the third-oldest in California), a Social Ministry Committee serving charities across San Diego, faith formation for adults and children, and welcomes visitors and pilgrims to one of the city's few designated historic Catholic landmarks.
Mass times at St. Joseph Cathedral
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesdays at 11:00 a.m. in the Cathedral side chapel
- Saturdays at 4:00 p.m. in the Cathedral side chapel (weekly schedule; subject to change)
Adoration times
- First Fridays – 8:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. (Adoration & Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament), with Benediction at 11:45 a.m.
Cathedral History
St. Joseph Cathedral's history spans 150 years of continuous Catholic worship in downtown San Diego. Founded by Father Antonio Ubach in 1874 with land donated by developer Alonzo E. Horton, the parish has witnessed three successive church buildings: the modest 1875 wooden-frame church (dedicated by Bishop Francis Mora), the brick church of 1894 (damaged by fire in 1903), and the present Spanish Renaissance/Mission Revival cathedral dedicated by Bishop Charles F. Buddy on January 26, 1941, after the 1937 fire. The parish became a cathedral in 1936 when the Holy See erected the Diocese of San Diego, separate from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, with St. Joseph Cathedral as its mother church. The cathedral celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2024 and is a designated San Diego Historical Resources Board landmark.
- 1874 — Parish founded by Fr. Antonio Ubach
- 1875 — First frame church dedicated Jan. 31 by Bishop Francis Mora on land donated by Alonzo Horton
- 1894 — Larger brick church completed and dedicated
- 1903 — Fire ravaged the interior of the brick church
- 1925 — Grammar school opened
- 1929 — Msgr. John M. Hegarty begins tenure
- 1930 — Austin pipe organ (Opus 1784) installed
- 1936 — Parish elevated to cathedral with founding of Diocese of San Diego
- 1937 — Bishop Charles F. Buddy installed as first bishop (Feb. 3); fire destroyed the 1894 church later that year
- 1939 — Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange and Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet open girls' high school
- 1941 — Reconstructed cathedral dedicated by Bishop Buddy on January 26 (cost ~$100,000)
- 1970 — Girls' high school merged into University of San Diego High School
- 1991 — Designated a San Diego Historical Resources Board landmark (Jan. 30)
- 2011 — Major restoration by Penick & Sons Inc. (cost $770,000)
- 2024 — Parish celebrated 150th anniversary
- 2025 — Bishop Michael Pham installed as seventh bishop of San Diego
Architecture, Art & Sacred Music
The 1941 cathedral is built in a Spanish Renaissance style rooted in Mission Revival tradition, with concrete-and-timber construction engineered to be earthquake-proof. Distinctive features include ornamental coats of arms (Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Diocese of San Diego) set in tower grilles, a relief of Mission San Diego de Alcalá at the mission cloister, three marble altars, mahogany pews, indirect lighting, and stained-glass windows made in San Diego in 1941. The building seats about 1,100 people, double its predecessor. Sacred music is anchored by the 1930 Austin pipe organ (Opus 1784; three manuals, 29 stops), one of only four Austin organs in San Diego. The 2011 restoration preserved these historic features while modernizing facilities and accessibility.
- Architectural style: Spanish Renaissance / Mission Revival
- Construction: earthquake-proof concrete with reinforced walls and tower
- Capacity: ~1,100 seats
- Three marble altars; mahogany pews with rubber-cushioned kneelers
- Stained-glass windows crafted locally in 1941
- Austin pipe organ Opus 1784 (1930/1931), three manuals, 29 stops
- Relief of Mission San Diego de Alcalá at the mission cloister
- Coats of arms in tower grilles
- Private chapel seating 60 for sick/infirm with ramp from private entrance
Faith Formation & OCIA
St. Joseph Cathedral offers formation for both adults and children. The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA) is directed by Volunteer Director of Adult Faith Formation & OCIA Valerie Izzo and prepares non-Catholics for baptism, baptized Catholics for First Communion and Confirmation, and others curious about the Catholic faith—typically with classes on weekends, weekly attendance required, and Sacraments received at the following Easter. Adult Bible Study is offered as part of ongoing adult formation, and children's faith formation programs include preparation for First Communion (with an online registration form). The process is free, and candidates from outside the parish's geographic area are welcome.
- OCIA for non-Catholics seeking baptism
- OCIA for baptized Catholics completing First Communion and/or Confirmation
- Classes meet on weekends; Sunday Mass attendance required
- Valerie Izzo — Volunteer Director of Adult Faith Formation & OCIA ([email protected])
- Bible Study — part of adult formation
- Children's Faith Formation / First Communion preparation with online registration
Ministries, Groups & Outreach
The parish is supported by a network of ministries that serve the parish itself and the wider San Diego community. The Social Ministry Committee meets on the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Rectory Dining Room, educating parishioners on charitable needs and supporting organizations serving San Diego and its neighbors. The Knights of Columbus Council 1349, the third-oldest council in California, supports vocations, pro-life causes, Special Olympics, veteran causes and more. Liturgical ministries include Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (contact Jorge Verduzco), lectors, altar servers, music ministers, and hospitality. A Hispanic Ministry is coordinated by Alicia Gutierrez, and a parish-wide Volunteer Corps is coordinated by Liz Mazzotti.
- Social Ministry Committee — 3rd Thursday, 7:00 p.m., Rectory Dining Room
- Knights of Columbus Council 1349 (third-oldest in California) — pro-life, Special Olympics, seminarians, Wheelchair Mission
- Hispanic Ministry — Alicia Gutierrez, Faith Formation / Hispanic Ministry Coordinator
- Eucharistic Ministers — contact Jorge Verduzco
- Music Ministry (choir; Austin Opus 1784 organ)
- Volunteer Coordinator — Liz Mazzotti
Sacraments at the Cathedral
The cathedral celebrates all seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Infant baptisms, First Holy Communion (with required preparation and online registration), Confirmation (via OCIA for adults and youth preparation for teens), and Quinceañeras are arranged through the parish office. Weddings at St. Joseph Cathedral are scheduled through the parish, and couples with prior marriages are encouraged to meet with a priest or deacon early for any necessary annulment process. Reconciliation is offered Tuesday and Saturday as listed; Anointing of the Sick is available, with a private chapel and ramp serving sick or infirm worshippers.
- Baptism
- First Holy Communion / Eucharist
- Confirmation
- Reconciliation (Tuesday & Saturday)
- Matrimony / Weddings at St. Joseph Cathedral
- Anointing of the Sick
- Quinceañeras
Visitor Information, Tours & Getting Involved
Visitors are welcome for daily Mass, prayer in the open church (Mon–Fri 9:00 a.m.–12:00 noon), and devotions or confessions as scheduled. The parish offers a modern-day Virtual Tour via its website (under Parish Info). The parish office is currently not open to the public except during announced confession hours or by appointment, but staff can be reached by phone at 619-696-3277 or 619-239-0229 and by email at [email protected]. Volunteering is welcomed parish-wide, with a coordinator (Liz Mazzotti) and many ministry entry points; men are invited to join the Knights of Columbus through Chancellor Chris Wamsley.
- Church open Mon–Fri 9:00 a.m.–12:00 noon for prayer/devotions
- Virtual Tour available via sdcathedral.org
- Parish office: 619-696-3277 / 619-239-0229; [email protected]
- Knights of Columbus: Chancellor Chris Wamsley, [email protected]
- Volunteer: contact parish office or Liz Mazzotti, [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Antonio Ubach1874–1907
First pastor of St. Joseph Parish; founded the parish in 1874 on land donated by Alonzo Horton; oversaw the first wooden church (dedicated 1875) and the second brick church (1894); founded St. Anthony's Indian School in 1886; died March 27, 1907.
- Fr. Bernard Smyth1907–1912
Irish-born priest; oversaw post-fire repairs after the 1903 blaze; died February 11, 1912.
- Fr. Joseph Nunan1912–1914
Delivered the eulogy at Smyth's funeral; brief tenure of continuity.
- Fr. Eugene A. Heffernan1914–1919
Shepherded the parish through World War I.
- Fr. John J. Brady1919–1929
Focused on post-war recovery and parish expansion.
- Msgr. John M. Hegartyfrom 1929
Elevated to Monsignor; oversaw installation of the Austin Opus 1784 pipe organ in 1930; served as pastor during the 1936 elevation to cathedral and 1937 fire.
- Rev. Franklin Hurd1940–1947 (approx.)
Cathedral pastor who preached the sermon at the January 26, 1941 rededication by Bishop Buddy.
- Rev. Francis Dillonfrom 1947 onward
Continued mid-20th-century reconstruction and growth.
