Message from the 3rd Vice President

Hello brothers and sisters, I continue to pray for those affected by the COVID epidemic. I pray for all who have experienced loss and that everyone stays safe and that we will get back to our normal activities soon.

I wish we could celebrate our traditional St. Joseph’s feast this year. My mother who was born in Sicily, always baked for our local St Joseph’s table. As you know, St Josephs’ day, March 19 is a special day in Italy. Giuseppe is one of the most popular names in southern Italy, and Mary’s husband is celebrated on this date, as Festa del Papa, or Father’s Day. Giuseppe, which translates to Joseph in English, is the saint of children, unwed mothers, and the needy.

The celebration originated in the Middle Ages during a horrible drought. People of Sicily prayed to San Giuseppe to help them with rain, and the rains came. The fava bean was the most plentiful crop and is now a symbol of good luck and generosity. To show their appreciation for San Giuseppe’s help, Sicilians set out tables filled with food and invited anyone who wanted to, to enjoy the feast. The day is now known as one of helping those in need and offering food to the poor. Zeppole is one of the most traditional pastries prepared on this special day.

Both the Catholic and Lutheran churches celebrate the day. Celebrations include fava beans, wearing red clothing and erecting altars, filled with bread, and usually a grand parade where they carry the statue of Saint Joseph through the town. In Hackensack, NJ where I was born they used to pin money for the poor on the ribbons hanging from the statue.

From a religious aspect, March 19, which is always during Lent, is a day of abstinence. This explains the custom of Saint Joseph tables being covered with meatless dishes.

In Sicily, it takes many women, who work for days to prepare the ornamental bread. Many are braided into shapes of a cross or crown, staffs, and palms, each representing Jesus, Joseph, and Mary respectively. The breads are then placed on a three-tiered altar, representing the Trinity, and covered with beautiful linens. The altar table is blessed by a priest, and after the celebration, children take the altar down, and the food goes to the needy. People also place other items on the altars, including flowers, limes, candles, wine, fava beans, especially prepared cakes, bread, and cookies (as well as other meatless dishes), and of course, zeppole. You may also see breadcrumbs on many altars, representing sawdust from Joseph, the carpenter.

God bless everyone, will have more trivia next month.