The Cathedral of Saint Joseph is the mother church for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jefferson City in Missouri.

[2] The site, across from Jefferson City's Memorial Park, was chosen by Monsignor Joseph A. Vogelweid, who was the first Vicar General of the diocese.

The design of the stained glass and marble in the cathedral was performed by Robert Brunelli of Kansas City, Missouri.

On December 27, 1968, Bishop Marling contacted Pope Paul VI to declare that the new church was to be the new Cathedral for the Diocese.

The cathedral church is built of reinforced concrete and steel, with an exterior facade of Indiana limestone.

The outer roof is made of copper, with sixteen gables in a design which signifies a crown.

Sound and surface noise inherent in terrazzo flooring required unusual attention to achieve good acoustics in the large open, room.

Other acoustical features include the padded red oak pews, as well as the decorative faceted glass windows.

The sanctuary itself is oval-shaped and was designed specifically for ceremonies in which the bishop presides and for post-Vatican II liturgy.

Five faceted glass windows in the chapel, created by Jacoby Studios in St. Louis, symbolize the functions of the priest.

The second window shows the Greek symbols Chi-Rho, with rings and leaves indicating a priest's role in performing Christian marriages.

The fourth window pictures a shepherd's crook and book, alluding to the pastoral duties and to promulgating the Gospels.

The fifth window, which is in the sanctuary of the chapel, shows crossed branches, a crown, and a star as reminders of eternal reward in victory over death, and the priest's function in performing Christian burial.

The cross was created by Lage's Cabinet Shop of Jefferson City for the Jubilee Year of 2000.

The Cathedral features an undercroft, which serves as a large multi-purpose room for various parish and diocesan functions.

The right and left sets of doors have handles in the shape of a Greek Alpha and Omega, recalling John's beatific vision of Christ in Revelation.

A bronze medallion embedded in the center set of doors depicts an eternal Christ, seated among the sun, moon, stars, and rainbows of the heavens.

The other hand holds the book of Scriptures, with the words "Ego sum lux mundi," which means "I am the light of the world."

The Christ image is situated on one side of the medallion, so that it remains whole, even when the Cathedral doors are open.

[3] The twelve triangular stained glass windows in the nave of the cathedral employ their symbolism in color and light.

As one moves from the sanctuary, on either side, the color in the windows grows proportionately lighter to surround a figure of the Risen Christ over the doors of the cathedral.

Marble figures of St. Joseph and of the Blessed Virgin Mary stand in wall niches in the cathedral.

A figure of the Sacred Heart of Jesus stands at the Blessed Sacrament Chapel to the left of the nave.

The fourteen Stations of the Cross which adorn the cathedral's walls are Italian marble, a gift from the former seminary of the diocese.

A dramatic decorative point in the cathedral is the tier of pipes set into the wall at the organ.

In 2006, the Vatican organist, James Edward Goettsche, performed a concert for the golden anniversary for the Diocese.

In 2002, the school population had grown sufficiently to add the position of assistant principal, hiring Mrs. Susan Ponder, who had previously taught 3rd grade at SJCS.

Beginning in the summer of 2008, following a parish Capital Campaign, a new construction project added a new library, cafeteria and kitchen, computer and science labs, administrative offices and sixteen new classrooms (including band and music rooms).