St. Joseph’s Altar
Each March 19 – the feast day of St. Joseph, Husband of Mary – our parish celebrates a treasured Sicilian tradition by honoring St. Joseph with a beautifully adorned altar. This practice dates back to medieval Sicily, during a time of famine and hardship, when people prayed for Joseph’s help and, in gratitude, created altars of food and flowers to share with the poor.
In Sicilian-American communities like ours, the tradition was brought to Louisiana by immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The altar typically features three tiers symbolizing the Holy Trinity, with a statue or image of St. Joseph at the top, surrounded by loaves of bread shaped like tools, pastries, fruits, vegetables, and candles. Guests are invited to take symbolic items—like bread or fava beans—as a blessing.
At Our Lady of Pompeii, our St. Joseph’s Altar is set up each year in the parish hall. Parishioners gather to pray the novena and rosary leading up to the feast, and to prepare the altar with decorated breads, imported Sicilian pastries, and lovingly arranged produce. The altar serves not only as a beautiful devotional display but also as a tangible sign of generosity: all food is blessed and shared with those in need in our community
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