Dating back to the early 1700s, the St. Joseph Altar celebrated by area Catholic churches has maintained its religious significance but has also evolved to represent the devotion of Louisiana communities.
“The altar is to promote devotion to St. Joseph, especially on this day, March 19, the major feast celebrated throughout the Catholic churches,” said Father Ray Hymel of St. Gertrude Catholic Church in Des Allemands. “It also brings together the community regardless if they’re Sicilian or not. They work on this altar and it’s a beautiful gathering and producing a beautiful devotional to honor St. Joseph, and continue a tradition that is a very beloved tradition.”
St. Gertrude and St. Anthony of Padua in Luling are among the area churches hosting an altar.
The public is invited to St. Gertrude’s altar on Saturday, March 19. The altar will be blessed that morning with viewing to begin at 10:30 a.m.
The food will be served beginning at 11 a.m. and continue until it all served or 2 p.m., whichever comes first, Hymel said.
The altar is sponsored by the St. Gertrude Ladies Altar Society.
Although the altar is a Sicilian tradition, he said it has evolved to reflect the community.
“We have a little French, German and Cajun flair to our St. Joseph altar given the culture of the people of this area and the people who work on this altar,” Hymel said. “We also have a memorial table for our departed military personnel and deceased residents to be remembered, which is part of the altar.”
The altar will feature a large statue of St. Joseph and the child Jesus.
Hymel said it can also include pastries and dough usually made into the shape of chalice, Eucharistic host, lambs, sandals of St. Joseph and Jesus and the Holy family, as well as roasted bread crumbs (in place of grated cheese) to signify the sawdust of St. Joseph’s workshop.
St. Gertrude’s altar also will feature a large whole-cooked Redfish or catfish, as well as cakes shaped like Bibles and dried fava beans that is said to ensure the holder will not suffer “want of money” for the next year.
At St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, the public can visit the altar on 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on March 18 and 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on March 19. Mass for the Feast of St. Joseph will be held in the Community Activities Building at 9 a.m. (the altar will close from 4 – 5 p.m. for the church’s vigil mass).
The altar blessing will be held at 11:30 a.m. March 19 immediately followed by a spaghetti lunch. The church is asking patrons to also bring non-perishable donations for its food pantry, which coincides with the belief that St. Joseph spared the Sicilian community of drought and famine. Since the church started the altar, its food pantry has not run out of food either.
An estimated 200 people are expected to tour the altar, which is being done by church and led by Elaine Markey.
Markey began the altar at her residence two years before Father David Rabe, the church’s former pastor, asked her to bring it to St. Anthony and has been celebrated there since.
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