Mission San Jose on San Antonio's Mission Trail

Two miles south of Mission Concepcion is Mission San Jose.

Mission San Jose was
founded in 1720.







Mission San Jose served as a center for spiritual life during the Spanish Colonial expansion in Texas.  Native Americans were taught Catholicism and Spanish culture.  After Spanish settlement and populations grew, Missions were no longer needed to convert natives and the churches were turned over to the Archdiocese of San Antonio.

A stone wall surrounds

the Mission.

This community's ovens remain,
showing that all aspects of daily
life occurred here.





After Spanish settlement and populations grew, Missions were no longer needed to convert natives and the churches were turned over to the Archdiocese of San Antonio.  This church has an active parish.

Eric in front on Mission

San Jose.

A bus tour group is at

the side of the church.

During the 1930s, the WPA (a Depression Era employment program) did restoration work on the church and the grounds.  Eighty percent of the church is original.

The carvings at the front of
the church are beautiful.

The Rose Window was sculpted

 in 1775.

Its ornate carvings testify

to the craftsmanship of

the stone carvers here.

This is where the Host was shown to celebrants during the Feast of the Pentecost.

The Side Chapel is dedicated
to the Virgin Mary.

The interior paint looks

like it was recently

done.

Statues of Saints surround the
Crucifix in the Sanctuary.

The Holy Water Fonts are

Marble.

I wonder if they are

original to the church.

Eric at the back of
the church.

Stations of the Cross
are along the walls.





Mission San Jose was named a State Historic Site in 1941, and later that year it was named a National Historic Site.