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St Joseph's Basilica
Category: Religious Organizations Churches Churches [Edit]
10044 113 St NWEdmonton, AB T5K 1N8
(780) 488-7295
4 reviews for St Joseph's Basilica
4 reviews in English
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Review from Joelle F.
Edmonton, AB
7/12/2011
I loved reading the other reviews of this church, however I thought a review should be done by an actual Catholic who has attended this church many times.
The Basilica is of course a very beautiful space indeed. This was one of the reasons I got married there in 2008. Although weddings are expensive there (at the time $875) it was well worth it for the beautiful photos. Also everything is handled for you ie. soloist, musician, altar servers, priest, Eucharistic Ministers etc. They were very well-organized at our wedding rehearsal and our wedding day ran very smoothly. All in all a great place to get married.
As a place to go for Mass, I felt like just a number there because of the vast amount of people. Another complaint I have is that many of the people there don't seem to be very serious about the Mass. There is a lot of visiting and texting going on thoughout the entire Mass. Also people sit on the ends of the pews so you have to step over them all the time. They do this so they can make a quick exit right after Communion instead of staying until the end. I'm not sure why these people even bother to attend.
The priests are funny and deliver good homilies, although Father Lech can sometimes be hard to understand as he has a thick Polish accent.
The Basilica used to be my husband's parish before we got married but now you can find us at St. Alphonsus Parish. It is smaller so we feel like family there. But if you like a bigger church, then the Basilica is definitely the place for you! -
Review from Jennifer P.
Edmonton, AB
12/3/2008 1 photo
I used to live in earshot of this church and could hear the bell chime, which I really loved. It gave me the feel of living in an older, European city, if even for a brief 12 tolls.
I've never been to church here, but I've enjoyed the aesthetic beauty of this basilica, which is one of the nicest older buildings in our fairly young city. It's also alive with well-dressed people all summer as the church's front steps bustle with newly weds and their bridal parties and guests, leaving the church before moving on to a dinner and dance elsewhere. The front steps are often used for photo shoots.
They're cool in the fall to sit on and steaming in the summer months. This is a pretty place to perch and watch the city pass on by on a sunny Saturday afternoon. I voted here once and saw the inside, and it's really got a grand feel, but I'm not much one for spending time in churches, though I'd love to do a yoga practice in its echoy space on its cold floors sometime. That would be cool. -
Review from Paula K.
10/15/2008
St. Joseph's Basilica is one of the largest and most popular Catholic churches in Edmonton. The Sanctuary is absolutely beautiful, and the atmosphere is both vibrant and reverent. I myself am not Catholic, but attended a weekday Mass here with a friend of mine a few years back. I was awe struck by the art, the history, and the feeling of the place. The architecture on both the outside and inside is absolutely beautiful. This is a wonderful place to experience the faith and cultural tradition of Catholicism.
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Review from Jeanette B.
Edmonton, AB
11/9/2008
I'm not a church-goer, so I've been in few churches, but St. Joseph's Basilica is beautiful. I was here for my niece's communion ceremony. When I first walked in my mom made me cross with the holy water. I'm not sure why, because I'm not religious, but maybe she thinks it will keep me from going to hell or something. The inside of the church was kind of mesmerizing. The ceilings were high, and there was art everywhere of religious symbols and figures--it was rather amazing. My younger niece wanted to go and light a candle, so I went over with her. I had no idea you had to pay for to do this, so the lady was telling me to pay. I was a little embarrassed, and I guess it's not really paying; it's donating.
