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Saint Joseph’s Co-Cathedral and Rectory
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| Location: | 721 Canal Boulevard Thibodaux, Louisiana |
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| Built: | 1923 |
| Architect: | Joseph A. Robichaux |
| Architectural style: | Renaissance Revival |
| Governing body: | Private |
| NRHP Reference#: | 86000435 [1] |
| Added to NRHP: | March 5, 1986 |
St. Joseph Co-Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral located in Thibodaux, Louisiana, United States. Along with the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma it is the seat of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Saint Joseph's Co-Cathedral and Rectory.
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St. Joseph Parish was founded as a mission church in 1817. Two years later a small wooden church building was constructed near the current church cemetery. It is the oldest Catholic parish in the diocese and many of the other churches were founded from it and served by its priest.[2] The Rev. Charles Menard had a brick church built in 1849 and it was destroyed by a fire in 1916. The relics of Saint Valerie survived the fire and are in the current church in a glass sarcophagus. The present church was begun in 1920 and completed three years later in the Renaissance Revival style. The first Mass was celebrated on January 25, 1923. The ornamental marble and plaster work was added in 1931 and the final paint scheme was done in 1954.
On March 2, 1977 Pope Paul VI established the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux.[3] St. Francis de Sales Church in Houma became the cathedral of the new diocese and St. Joseph Church in Thibodaux became the co-cathedral.
The exterior of St. Joseph Co-Cathedral is composed of pressed brick with stone trim. Two twin towers flank the main façade, which features a rose window. The roof is covered in terra cotta tile.
The main feature in the interior is the 34 foot (10.4 m) high Baldachin in the apse.[2] Symbols of the Four Evangelists are carved into its upper edge. The same symbols are found on the columns in the church. On the dome above are found the symbols of the Tree of Knowledge, the Tree of Life, a snake, an apple, and peacocks symbolizing the triumph and glory of the risen Christ.[2] The coat of arms for Pope Pius XI and Archbishop John Shaw of New Orleans are also found there. The stained glass windows portray the life of Christ and the seven Sacraments. A crest appears on all the columns with an emblem of faith, hope, charity and the Ship of Life. They are above a cast of grapes and wheat, which symbolizes the Eucharist.
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