In 1955, Pope Pius XII instituted the feast of Saint Joseph the Worker in response to workers’ observance of the “May Day” Holiday. This led to the annual celebration of the said feast coinciding with the historic day of honor for workers worldwide.
Joseph, the Lord’s foster father, was a carpenter who worked hard to sustain the needs of Jesus and Mary. He, as well, taught his carpentry skills to Jesus as the latter worked in his shop. With this, Joseph was honored as the Patron Saint of Workers.
Indeed, Joseph has been blessed with a life pleasing to God. And this blessed life inspired Filipinos by having a deep admiration for him, which can be seen evidently in their devotion to Him.
Here are the 5 cathedrals in the Philippines dedicated to Saint Joseph the Worker that welcome thousands of devotees honoring the Patron Saint of Workers.
Saint Joseph the Worker Cathedral (Diocese of San Jose de Antique)
Located in San Jose de Buenavista, Antique, near the provincial capitol, Saint Joseph the Worker Cathedral serves as the seat of the Diocese of San Jose de Antique. Its bell tower is the tallest one in the entire Antique province.
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Saint Joseph the Worker Cathedral Parish (Diocese of San Jose, Nueva Ecija)
On the 16th of February 1984, the Apostolic Constitution Saepe Catholicorum Utilitas issued by St. Pope John Paul II erected the Diocese of San Jose in Nueva Ecija and established the St. Joseph Parish Church in San Jose City as the new diocese’s episcopal seat. It was in 1997 that the parish church was commenced to be reconstructed into a new Cathedral.
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Saint Joseph the Worker Cathedral (Apostolic Vicariate of San Jose, Mindoro)
On the 27th of January 1983, St. Pope John Paul II in dividing the island of Mindoro into two Apostolic Vicariates of Calapan and San Jose entrusted the spiritual welfare of Catholics in Occidental Mindoro to Bishop Vicente Manuel, SVD, DD. This as well led the parish church of San Jose to be converted into a cathedral that would serve as the episcopal seat of the Apostolic Vicariate of San Jose, Mindoro.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/St-Joseph-Cathedral-Parish-102961151370052
Saint Joseph the Worker Cathedral-Shrine Parish (Diocese of Tagbilaran)
One of the first 6 parishes founded by the Jesuits in Bohol, the parish of Tagbilaran was dedicated to Saint Joseph the Worker by Rev. Fr. Joaquin de San Jose with its patron saint’s enthronement in 1767. The church was once home to centuries-old original frescoes that depict catechetical themes and biblical scenes.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tagbilarancathedral
Cathedral of Saint Joseph the Worker (Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay, Palawan)
Serving as the episcopal seat of the Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay in Northern Palawan, the Cathedral-Parish of Saint Joseph the Worker is as well pasturing 16 chapels from Taytay’s 3 barangays and 13 sitios.
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References:
Saint Joseph the Worker: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-joseph-the-worker
A Tourist Guide to Notable Philippine Churches by Layug, Benjamin L.
St. Joseph Parish to St. Joseph Cathedral Bits of History: https://www.facebook.com/KatedralNiSanJosee/posts/2016703525147091
History of San Jose by Rudy Candelario: https://sites.google.com/site/occidentalmindorohistory/historysanjose
History of St. Joseph’s Cathedral: https://www.bohol-philippines.com/tagbilaran-cathedral-of-san-jose.html
