A New Tradition at St. Catherine - St. Joseph's Altar

 
According to Italian tradition, specifically Sicilian tradition, a great famine came to the land in the Middle Ages. In their desperation the people prayed to St. Joseph, their patron saint. They asked him in their prayers for his divine intercession to bring relief from their sufferings. Thankfully the rains came and the people were saved from death. The people promised that if God answered their prayers through St. Joseph’s intercession, they would prepare a large feast to honor him. Giving food to the needy became a St. Joseph’s day custom.  Out of that tragedy the tradition arose of remembering that terrible event by erecting St. Joseph’s Altars. Today this is a tradition that is celebrated very much by the Italian community in America. Upon a typical St. Joseph’s Altar people place flowers, limes, candles, wine, fava beans, cakes, breads and cookies, and Zeppole, an Italian pastry.  The Altar consists of three tiers to represent the Trinity. The feast of St. Joseph takes place on March 19 ^th. It is our intention to erect a St. Joseph Altar in St. Catherine’s to honor this feast day. We would like this to become an annual custom in our parish.  On that Altar we will place breads and foods in the week leading up to the feast. On the Feast of St. Joseph we invite our parishioners to bring bread and food for blessing. After the Blessing is done this food will be taken to the various homeless shelters in Austin. This will be our good Christian act, a work of charity during Lent.

Click HERE to see photos of our altar at St. Catherine