St. Joseph's Downtown

St. Joseph's Catholic Church in downtown San Antonio was founded in 1868, but the building itself was not completed until 1896. Begun by a German missionary priest, St. Joseph's was the first German-speaking Catholic community in San Antonio.

Today, the church sits next to a Dillard's department store. Apparently, churchgoers were haggled by other locals to leave their church when the department store was to be built. Parishoners loved their parish so much, though, that they decided they'd just have to be neighbors.

The church's sanctuary is absolutely stunning. Visit it at 623 E. Commerce Street (next to Dillard's).