Let’s celebrate Faith, Tradition and Family

Holy Eucharist followed by the Blessing of the St Joseph altar in the parish hall. Everyone is invited to bring a side dish or dessert to share with our parish family. The parish will provide main dish and drinks.

ST. JOSEPH ALTAR

The altars can take on many shapes; some forming a cross, while others occupy a corner table or an entire wall. Most of these altars are broken down before or shortly after the dinner. Other decorations found on the altars include candles, religious medals, rosaries, prayer cards, loaves of bread and fava beans. Much of the altar, including the citrus fruits and breads, will be given away to guests and to the poor when it is broken down.

The traditional St. Joseph Altar is constructed in the shape of the cross, with three levels honoring the Holy Trinity. This format has varied greatly over the years. A statue or picture of Joseph, often seen holding the baby Jesus stands at the center of the highest tier with flowers surrounding him. Most often the colors of red, white and green (the colors of the Italian flag) are displayed. Most altars have a basket where visitors can place written petitions.

As we prepare to celebrate the Feast of St Joseph, every family of our parish is invited to contribute and participate in the preparation and building of the altar. Please feel free to bring goods that can be placed on the altar, and distributed to the poor and the shut-ins of our community, after the feast.

For more information please contact us in the Church office at 662-323-2257

St. Joseph Altar Symbols

Shapes of the Breads and Cakes

Each food on the altar has some traditional significance. Breads are baked in the shapes of carpenter’s tools, such as ladders, saws, and hammers. Hard-boiled eggs are embedded in baked bread to symbolize the rebirth of spring and the coming of Easter. The breadcrumbs represent the sawdust of the carpenter. There are wreaths and a crown of thorns, palms branches, wheat, sacred hearts, crosses, Joseph’s staff and the Monstrance. The whole, baked fish represents the Miracle of the Multiplication of Loaves. Wine recalls the wedding feast at Cana. The fava bean, which was the only crop that survived the drought and saved many from starvation, is called the lucky bean. The legend goes, that if you carry a fava bean or “lucky bean” in your pocket or purse, you will never be without money, and the pantry with a fava bean in it will never be bare. A palm branch outside the building or house of an altar is an invitation to come in.

Monstrance Holds the Sacred Host Chalice Consecration of the Bread and Wine at the Last Supper Cross Crucifixion of Christ Dove The Holy Spirit Lamb Jesus, the Lamb of God Fish Christian symbol of Jesus Christ Bible Large cake that is one of the focal points of the altar Hearts Sacred Heart of Jesus, Immaculate Heart of Mary Wreath Crown of thorns, also symbols of eternal love Palms Palm of martyrdom, also the palms cast at the feet of Jesus as he

entered Jerusalem

Symbols of St Joseph St Joseph Patron of: Lilies - Staff - Sandals - Beard Universal Church – Workers - Dying

Ladder - Saw - Hammer Fathers and Families

You are invited to participate in the making of St Joseph’s Altar. The altar is created thanks to the generosity and hard work of many people in our parish. Please join

us to keep this beautiful tradition alive. You can bring any nonperishable food items, flowers and fruit to be placed on the altar during the coming days leading up to the Feast day on March 19th.

The items that you bring will be distributed on the days following the feast to homebound parishioners, mourners and nursing homes in our community. The collection taken at Mass will go to the St Joseph Food Pantry as they continue feeding families in our community who are in financial distress.

Everyone is also invited to bring your prayers and petitions to the Altar of St Joseph. The altar will be open for viewing and visiting all day on the 19th. I encourage you to come and bring your family to contemplate such a beautiful expression of our faith and tradition.