There is the larger-than-life Honduran mahogany statue of Joseph and Mary that greets people entering the door, a massive rock fountain baptismal font at the front of the church, and on either side of the altar, radiant stained glass windows depicting the life story of St. Joseph.

All was viewed for the first time by more than 800 parishioners at a Mass of dedication celebrated by Bishop William K. Weigand on Dec. 12.

Members of parish community, established in 1991, were more than ready to move from the temporary worship space provided at the parish center to a church large enough to accommodate their growing population.

“Waiting to move into the new church is like everything in life: you work your way through some ups and downs,” said Father Vincent O’Reilly, pastor of St. Joseph Parish. “Then there is great satisfaction and enthusiasm when you reach your goal.”

Begun three years ago, the parish’s $4.5 million building project includes a new 700-seat sanctuary with chapel, sacristy, server’s dressing room and music room, parish offices and a new two-story rectory.

Father O’Reilly said it was evident from the first day the building committee met that the final design would be something truly inspired by Scripture.

“We had a great deal of discussion,” he said. “There was a whole collage of scriptural passages we felt could be summarized under the symbolism of Christ as the rock.”

Harry Coburn, chairman of St. Joseph’s building committee, said the committee visited several churches in the Sacramento area studying the structure and location of baptismal fonts as a key decision that would shape the liturgical design of the church.

“When you are baptized you are reborn and come to a new life,” he said. “We saw biblical references of rock as symbolic of emerging to that new life.”

To find a rock to match their vision, the church contracted Sierra Hills Stone, which located an 11,000-pound soapstone boulder in Angels Camp, much of which would become the baptismal font.

A video camera focused on the font and two screens installed in the front of the sanctuary will enhance baptisms, which will be scheduled during Masses.

Other significant liturgical features such as the altar, lectern, tabernacle, and holy water bowl were also designed with pieces of the golden-brown boulder.

Four of the church’s stained glass windows, crafted by Hogan Studios in Crescent City and named “Joseph Windows,” were inspired by scriptural stories of the life of Joseph and the Holy Family.

The architect selected for the project was Booker Gery Architects based in Modesto. Construction work was completed by Jackson Construction of Sacramento.

Diane Lueders, St. Joseph parish secretary, said that having a beautiful new church to celebrate the passages of spiritual life is exciting, but the true joy of the parish is the community of parishioners.

“When people come to church they come together and you see them caring about each other,” Lueders said. “We’ve got a lot of young families and older citizens. It’s just a good mix.”

It is a church population which has now reached 1,600 families and is ready to spread its wings. One of the members is Jody Kienzler, director of music. Kienzler said the adult and children’s choirs have outgrown their previous home in the Notre Dame School gymnasium where they have been located since she arrived in 2001.

“It’s going to make all the difference in the world to be able to make music in this acoustically perfect building,” she said.

Father O’Reilly commended parishioners on their generous support of a fund-raising campaign that was both challenging and broadly supported.

“We’re not a wealthy community, but the parishioners have been both every encouraging and generous,” he said.

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