St. Joseph’s Altar, A Day to Feast
By
Grant Kelly
During the Middle Ages there was a great famine in
Sicily where many people were starving. The people prayed to St. Joseph, their
patron. After this the fava bean - considered to be cow fodder - began to grow,
and the island was saved from starvation. In thanksgiving, the people constructed
altars and feasted, and the remaining food was then distributed to the poor in
honor of St. Joseph, a tradition which continues today in many Italian
communities.
This tradition was introduced to Holy Trinity
Seminary last year by Joseph Sigur, a seminarian for the diocese of Beaumont.
Joseph says, “The Saint Joseph Altar is an excellent way to expose other
seminarians to Catholic cultural celebrations which they may not have
experienced. I hope to share the traditions of my family and continue this
celebration in honor of my patron.” Last year, Joseph and a small team of
seminarians spent over 30 hours baking and cooking in preparation for the meal.
It was a beautiful celebration that will be incorporated into the traditions of
Holy Trinity Seminary for years to come.
