The mission was founded by the Cana people on February 23, 1720, because
Mission San Antonio de Valero had become overcrowded shortly after its founding with refugees from the closed East Texas missions. Father
Antonio Margil received permission from the governor of
Coahuila and Texas, the Marquis de San Miguel de Aguayo, to build a new mission south of San Antonio de Valero. Like San Antonio de Valero, Mission San José served the
Coahuiltecan Natives. The first buildings, made of brush, straw, and mud, were quickly replaced by large stone structures, including guest rooms, offices, a dining room, and a pantry. A heavy outer wall was built around the main part of the mission, and rooms for 350 Natives were built into the walls. A new church, which is still standing, was constructed in 1768 from local limestone. The mission lands were given to its Natives in 1794, and mission activities officially ended in 1824. After that, the buildings were home to soldiers, the homeless, and bandits. Starting in 1933, the
Civil Works Administration and then the
Works Progress Administration provided the labor to rebuild and restore the grounds of the mission. Some of the funding for the restoration came from money allotted by the United States for the
Texas Centennial Exposition held in
Dallas in 1936. The mission walls and Indian quarters were re-built, and the granary was restored. Mission San José is now part of the
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. In 2015, along with
The Alamo and
Mission Concepción, it became one of five missions in San Antonio designated a
World Heritage Site by the
United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Today the mission is an active parish, and is staffed by the
Order of Friars Minor. The current pastor is Fr. Rogelio Martinez, OFM. == Architecture ==