The tradition of St. Joseph’s Table from southern Italy to southern California

The strong ties with the Catholic religion, its traditions and festivities have always been a distinctive feature of the Italian culture all over the world. Most of them date back to centuries ago, and are still celebrated in small towns and in big cities.

 

Moving to the new world, Italian immigrants brought those beliefs and customs with them and devoutly keep them alive, passing them on to the new generations.

 

Among the most cherished is the feast of St. Joseph, that falls on March 19 and in Italy, as in some other Catholic countries, it also coincides with Father’s Day.

The Saint is widely venerated in Sicily region for preventing the famine in the Middle Ages, when a severe drought caused many people to starve. He is also regarded as the Patron of the Catholic Church, and protector of workers and family.

 

From Southern Italy, this religious tradition was imported to Los Angeles, and it has been preserved over time by the local Italian American community. In particular, it is commemorated by the St. Joseph Table Society, founded in 1973 by a group of six Sicilian women, that celebrated its 41st anniversary on Sunday, March 16, at Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church in San Pedro.

 

On this solemn occasion, the parish groups and all attendees followed the statue of St. Joseph in procession, accompanied by religious chants, the Knights of Columbus, and the Los Angeles Italian Band who performed the national anthem.

 

 After the High Mass at noon, celebrations were held in the parish auditorium, including a “Poor Man’s Meal” and live music entertainment. The Holy Family was portrayed by young people from the local community, and the Saint’s statue was placed for everyone to view and pray to. The food was blessed by the priest, and in part donated to feed people in need.

 

According to the religious belief, in fact, St. Joseph was thanked for the blessed, heaven-sent rain by the Sicilian people who prepared a large banquet in his honor to be shared with the poor. In particular, vegetables are usually served to symbolize the crops that flourished again, saving the population from hunger.

 

Free donation were collected to support the church and promote the Italian language and culture through the scholarships awarded by the St. Joseph Society to deserving graduates from Mary Star of the Sea and San Pedro high schools.