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4TH ANNUAL ST. JOSEPH'S ALTAR
thank you to all that helped make it a success!
Pictures are being collected. Send your photos of this event to [email protected]
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HISTORY OF
ST. JOSEPH'S ALTAR
The St. Joseph Altar is Sicilian in origin. During a terrible famine, the people of Sicily pleaded to St. Joseph, their patron saint, for relief. St. Joseph answered their prayers, and the famine ended. In gratitude, they prepared a table with foods they had harvested. After paying homage to St. Joseph, they distributed the food to the less fortunate. The Altar is set up in three tiers, representing the Holy Trinity. A statue of St. Joseph is placed on the top tier, usually surrounded by flowers, greenery & fruit. No meat is prepared for the Altar. This is probably because St. Joseph’s Feast falls in the Lenten Season and also because meat was a rarity to the Sicilian peasants. Breads, cakes and cookies, baked in symbolic Christian shapes, are prepared for the Altar. Pastries in the shapes of monstrances, chalices, crosses, doves, lambs, fish, bibles, hearts, wreaths and palms adorn the tiers of the Altar. Symbols of St. Joseph – such as lilies, staffs, sandals, ladders, saws, hammers and nails – are also used. There is symbolism in many of the items on the Altar. Breadcrumbs rerpresent the sawdust of St. Joseph the Carpenter. Twelve whole fish represent the apostles. Wine is symbolic of the Miracle at Cana.
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Alms-Giving
Part of the St. Joseph's Altar tradition is to share the fruitful bounty with those less fortunate. In the spirit of Alms-giving, we will sponsor a food drive to support Unity Acres, Orwell, NY.Please bring non-perishable food items listed below to the Church prior to our Celebration on Wednesday, March 19th. Baskets will be provided in the Church vestibule for your convenience.- Canned fruits and veggies
- Cake Mix
- Brownie Mix
- Pudding Mix
- Jell-o
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traditional foods
Traditionally, no meat is prepared for the Altar. However, because this is a first class feast, we are able to have meat. Please bring a family-sized dish to share. If you’d like to bring something more traditional, here are some fun websites you can visit for inspiration:Tell us what you are sharing. RSVP
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fava beans
The most interesting item found in the goodie bag is the fava bean. In Sicily, the fava was fodder for cattle. During a great famine the people resorted to eating them to survive. They were considered lucky to have favas to eat, hence the fava bean is also known as a “lucky bean.” Some believe that the pantry that contains a fava bean will never be bare. The fava, or lucky bean, serves as a token of the Altar – a reminder of God’s provisions through the intercession of St. Joseph. Don’t leave without yours!
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PETITIONS ANd tHANKSGIVING
The altar is a medium of petition and thanksgiving. Petitions of the faithful are written on pieces of paper and placed in baskets on the Altar. Photos of deceased relatives & friends decorate the Altar as well. Visitors to St. Joseph Altars are given small paper bags containing a few blessed items from the Altar. The bags usually contain a holy card and a small medal. Various cookies or small breads may also be in the bag.
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St. Joseph Novena
March 11 thru 19
Click image for 9-day novenaSt. Joseph's intercession has been sought for centuries. Bring your intentions to his Altar. A prayer request basket will be provided.
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CELEBRATE ST. JOSEPH'S FEAST WITH US
Each year, on March 19th, Catholics celebrate the Solemnity of St. Joseph, protector of the family and patron of the universal Church and of workers. The importance of this day in Catholic tradition extends throughout the world, but one related custom in particular originated on the island of Sicily: St. Joseph's Altar.
PLEASE BRING A DISH TO PASS - This is a big part of the tradition... sharing from our own bounty with others in attendance. Use the RSVP form to let us know what you plan on bringing. (We appreciate your thoughtful contribution... in the past we have not had enough food for the abundant turnout of visitors).
PLEASE BRING A DONATION FOR THE POOR - This year, we are offering our gifts to the men of Unity Acres, a house of hospitality located in Orwell, NY, which serves the needs of men who are battling homelessness due to alcohol and/or substance abuse. Baskets to collect your donations will be provided in the vestibule of our Church
RSVP - Please tell us that you are coming and what you will be sharing with the community.
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