Brotherhood of Saint Joseph the Craftsman

The Brotherhood of Saint Joseph the Craftsman was canonically established on 20 March 1958 in the parish of Santo Domingo de Guzmán, with its statutes approved and a provisional board formed under the presidency of Antonio Delgado Rodríguez. The image’s first procession took place on 5 May 1959, with Manuel Lara Lara as manijero (lead bearer) for its debut outing. From its earliest days, the brotherhood was closely linked to the world of work, and in particular to Lucena’s carpentry trade and industry.

The titular image displays an iconography close to the work of Diego de Mora, depicting Saint Joseph in early maturity carrying the Christ Child. Notable features include the polychromy of the ensemble, the vegetal estofado decoration, and the symbols alluding to the carpentry trade carried by two small angels at his feet.

Throughout its history, the brotherhood went through difficult periods, particularly during the crisis affecting Lucena’s confraternal world in the middle decades of the 20th century. Its reorganisation came in 1986, driven by a steering committee chaired by Antonio García Sánchez and the work of numerous brothers led by José Jiménez Pino, marking the start of an important period of consolidation in heritage, worship and organisation.

Among its principal milestones are the restoration of the titular images, the creation of the current processional throne designed by Francisco Angulo Servián, the revival of traditional devotions such as the Seven Sundays of Saint Joseph, the founding of the Asociación Josefina in 2000, and the brotherhood’s incorporation into the Agrupación de Cofradías de Lucena in 2007.

In 2008 the corporation celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of its founding with numerous religious, cultural and exhibition events, including a major exhibition dedicated to the figure of Saint Joseph in Lucena’s artistic heritage, coordinated by Francisco López Salamanca. Likewise, in 2017 the musical composition Misa de San José, by Fernando Chicano Martínez, was premiered, and that same year the book La Hermandad de San José Artesano, 50 años de historia was published.

The brotherhood marked the Jubilee Year of Saint Joseph in 2021 with a special programme of events and talks. The closing ceremony of this commemoration was held at Córdoba Cathedral, to which the titular image was transported to take part in a solemn diocesan celebration. Each year, it celebrates the Feast of Saint Joseph on 19 March with special acts of worship.