St. Joseph altars highlight Sicilian Catholic devotions

A statue of St. Joseph with the Child Jesus is seen in front of a recent St. Joseph Altar in Houston. The St. Joseph Altar is a Sicilian tradition that honors the patron saint of the poor, features dozens of baked goods fashioned in Christian shapes like fish, crosses, wreaths and other symbols. (Herald file photo by James Ramos)

From Spring to Dickinson, parishioners throughout the Archdiocese are celebrating the feast of St. Joseph in March by creating elaborate St. Joseph altars that honor the patron of Sicily and the poor.

The tradition is carried on from Sicily. The story holds that, during the Middle Ages, a famine struck the people of Sicily, who, in turn, sought help from St. Joseph to end their starvation and death, promising a feast in his honor if he did save them. The famine soon ended, and altars were prepared throughout the island. To honor St. Joseph, the food was given to the poor.

The faithful keep this tradition alive, with its recipes, intricate bread plaiting and more, all handed down from generation to generation. The altar is still prepared today in gratitude.

While each parish and ministry celebrates the St. Joseph Altar a little differently, most altars have three tiers. The three tiers represent the Holy Trinity, with a statue of St. Joseph sitting on the top tier. While no meat is ever used in the altar or the meal, since the Feast of St. Joseph (March 19) is during Lent, dozens of baked breads, cakes and many treats — many in symbolic Christian shapes like monstrances, chalices, crosses, fish and wreaths — fill the different levels.

At St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish, located at 7810 Cypresswood Dr., Spring, the St. Joseph Altar Guild will host their St. Joseph Altar on Saturday, March 15. Held at the parish’s Christus Hall after the 5:15 p.m. Mass, Father Norbert Maduzia, pastor, will lead the “Tupa Tupa,” a children’s depiction of the Holy Family, alongside some saints, going door-to-door looking for food and shelter, before finding the St. Joseph Table. A Sicilian dinner includes pasta, hard-boiled eggs, green beans, salad and bread. Homemade Italian cookies and cannoli will be available for sale. Admission is free; donations are accepted, which, with proceeds, will benefit the St. Ignatius Outreach Ministry. For more information or donations, email [email protected].

Also, on March 15, St. Maximilian Kolbe, located at 10135 West Rd., Houston, will host a $10 spaghetti dinner and altar celebration after the 5 p.m. Mass. Kids five and under are free. In the Heights, All Saints Parish, located at 215 E 10th St., Houston, is hosting a St. Joseph Altar with a 5:30 p.m. Mass and blessing in the church on March 15. A ticketed dinner and program follow in the parish hall. For ticket availability, call the parish office at 713-864-2653. In Galveston County, the Dickinson Italian Festival highlights the devotion to St. Joseph with their own altar from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on March 15, too. Learn more online at dickinsonitalianfestival.org.

On Sunday, March 16, the Italian Cultural Club of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, located at 6646 Addicks Satsuma Rd., Houston, will host a St. Joseph Altar starting at 10:30 a.m. with a blessing and saints celebration, followed by a pasta dinner from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Donations are accepted, and desserts are available for purchase with to-go orders available as well. Proceeds from the gathering benefit the parish’s Society of St. Vincent de Paul ministry.

A week later, on Sunday, March 23, Christ the Redeemer Parish, located at 11507 Huffmeister Rd., Houston, is set to host their St. Joseph Altar, with viewing beginning at 8 a.m. The altar will be blessed at 10 a.m. with a Sicilian spaghetti lunch served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Proceeds from the meals, which can be purchased online at ctrcc.com/st-joseph-altar, benefiting Cypress Assistance Ministry. Plates range between $10 and $5; kids three and under are free.

On Sunday, March 29, St. Rose of Lima Parish, located at 3600 Brinkman St., Houston, will host its St. Joseph Altar from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the parish hall, featuring a Sicilian pasta dinner with sales benefiting the parish St. Teresa Ministry that serves seniors.

Other parishes in the Archdiocese also host St. Joseph Altars in March, with proceeds from altar sales and donations also benefiting the parish assistance ministries.

- Ginger Palumbo contributed to this report.