St. Joseph Altars

This was the first year in many that our homeschool group did not do a St. Joseph Altar.  No volunteers.  It's a job, for sure, but truly a blessed reward for those with the vigor, willingness, and selflessness to honor this great saint. 

These pictures show some views of our altars from the past.   Upon them are various baked breads, fruits, vegetables, can goods, candles, statues, lemons (for unmarried women), fava beans, and other donations.  One year one of our restaurant-owning dads offered a bread-making class at his restaurant kitchen right before St. Joseph's feast day..all breads were sent to the women's shelter after the feast.

The food donations are brought to the altar by the faithful and placed upon the tiered altar.  A priest is present to bless the altar and givings then a feast is held for all participants.  Our homeschool group always brought covered-dishes which were placed on a long table at the other side of the hall.  Everyone is welcome to fix a plate and enjoy the good food together.  The donated food on the altar remains untouched until the end.  All food items are collected after the blessing and feast and taken to a women/children shelter or a needy shelter for homeless families. 

Our group has always decorated a receiving table as well which is where the guest book is placed, the donation basket, a basket of fava beans, and goodie bags for the children.

Goodie bags consist of: fava bean (so you'll always have money in your pocket), piece of dried bread (to use during a storm), a holy card of St. Joseph and the Christ child, and a St. Joseph medal.

We have also had a Marian table in the past.  This is a table dressed in blue with tulle', statues and pictures of Mary, and lots and lots of candles, as well as a prayer intention basket.  This year my mother and a friend went to the St. Joseph Altar at the local Catholic school.  She told me about a neat idea they had on their altar.  The children took small baby food jars and placed blue and white votive candles in them.  With these small candles, they created a huge rosary that encircled the whole altar.  I'll have to remember that for next year.

The origins of the St. Joseph Altar stem way back.  The best book I've seen is Saint Joseph Altars by Kerri McCaffety.

St. Joseph Altar can easily be made at home on your family altar and donated food brought to a local needy place.  This online virtual altar is very nifty as well and you can place a prayer intention while your child selects a virtual food offering for the altar.

Comments

[Dawn]

What a nice post, Cay, and a lovely tradition!

[MaryM]

This is so cool, Cay. We want to do this on a larger parish scale next year.

[Maryan]

WOW!!

[Ruth Tucker]

Wow, these are incredible! I wish our parish made these altars. Great pictures.