San Buenaventura Mission welcomes new St. Joseph shrine

Given that he was ordained a priest on the feast of St. Joseph the Worker in 1962, and a bishop on the feast of St. Joseph in 1975, it was only fitting that Cardinal Roger Mahony was present to bless a new statue of St. Joseph the Worker in the courtyard of San Buenaventura Mission on Aug. 24.

“St. Joseph has long been a personal patron saint,” the cardinal once wrote. “In all four Gospels, there is no mention of Joseph saying any words. Rather, his life was devoted to following God’s will, caring for Mary and Jesus, and working quietly to safeguard the Holy Family. His life-witness is what has always struck me as so inspirational.”

The statue, situated in the Garden Grotto of the 232-year-old mission, was sponsored by parishioners Elizabeth and Michael Olivas. Last weekend, during which Cardinal Mahony presided at the 12:15 p.m. Mass, also marked the return of a refurbished statue of St. Bonaventure, the parish patron saint, to the church interior.