From the American Italian Association of Montgomery
Main Photo: American Italian Association of Montgomery and St. Joseph Catholic Church parishioners enjoyed the St. Joseph’s Altar and Feast.
Parishioners of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Prattville and members of the American Italian Association of Montgomery (AIAM) celebrated St. Joseph’s Feast Day on March 15, 2020, at St. Joseph Catholic Church. A St. Joseph Altar was erected and decorated. Covered dishes were brought for the St. Joseph Feast table.
Fr. Charles Troncale blessed the three-tiered St. Joseph’s Altar which had been erected by members of AIAM to honor St. Joseph, the patron saint of Sicily.
The practice of erecting a St. Joseph’s Altar has its roots in the Middle Ages when the people of Sicily, Italy, were experiencing an extreme drought, resulting in ruined crops, starving livestock, and famine. Sicilians prayed to God for relief. In addition, they prayed to their patron saint, St. Joseph, to intercede on their behalf for rain. After the life-saving rains came, Sicilians celebrated by honoring St. Joseph and God with an altar and feast.
The altar was decorated by AIAM members with fruit, bread, and symbols of St. Joseph and the Holy Trinity. Members of the St. Joseph hospitality committee organized the feast. Attendees brought meatless covered dishes for all to enjoy.
A tradition of giving the extra food from the Feast to the less fortunate was begun after the first St. Joseph’s Feast Day. Continuing in that tradition, attendees were encouraged to bring two (2) nonperishable items. Those donated items along with the fruit from the altar were donated to the Autauga Interfaith Care Center (AICC) in Prattville which serves as the food pantry for the local community.
Photos Below: The St. Joseph Altar was erected by members of the American Italian Association of Montgomery to celebrate St. Joseph. Items on the altar represent symbols of St. Joseph or the Holy Trinity, including his staff, sandals, and fish. All of these were made from bread by AIAM members.
