M arch 18, 2001 in St. Eugene's Catholic Hall.
The people of Sicily
suffering from a severe drought prayed
to St. Joseph, their patron, to end the terrible
famine that gripped the island. When the rains came, the people rejoiced. To show their gratitude they prepared a table on which was placed an assortment of food from
their successful harvest. The "altar" table was prepared
in honor of St. Joseph to show their gratitude for his intercession on their behalf. The food from the
altar was distributed to the poor and need.
The Sicilian immigrants brought
the custom of the St. Joseph Altar with them
to the United States which is celebrated
on St. Joseph Day, March 19.
For those who prepare the altar
it is a prayer of petition or a prayer of thanksgiving.
For all who visit, it is an opportunity to honor
our special patron, St. Joseph.
Viva San Guiseppe!
To you, O Blessed Joseph,
do we come in our need, confident
that you will hear our prayer. Through the
tender and chaste love that bound you to the
Immaculate Virgin Mother of God and through the paternal love with which you embraced the
Child Jesus, we humbly beg you to look upon
us with the same affection and through
your power and strength aid us
in our necessities.
O glorious St. Joseph,
spouse of Mary our Mother,
obtain for each of us a pure, humble
and charitable mind, and perfect resignation
to the Divine Will. Be our guide, our father,
and our model through life, that we may
merit to die as you did in the arms
of Jesus and Mary.
Amen
Church & Cemetery
