Parishes give honor to foster father of Jesus
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
By Dorothy K. LaMantia | Correspondent
As foster father of Jesus and spouse of the Blessed Mother, St. Joseph has become a symbol of protection and providence and one of the most beloved saints worldwide.
Click here to view photo gallery.
Yet it was in Sicily where celebrating the Feast of St. Joseph rose to a high art. Centuries ago, the island suffered a draught resulting in famine. After citizens prayed to St. Joseph to deliver them from starvation, the rains returned and the land produced food again. After the first harvest, the people held a special feast of thanksgiving to him, and a tradition was born.
Over time the feast and its customs evolved, with the St. Joseph’s Table as its centerpiece. Its three levels, resembling steps, symbolize the ascent from earth to heaven. An image of St. Joseph stands at the candlelit top, surrounded with flowers. Bread - often baked into shapes like carpentry tools or a staff - and sweets, especially cream-filled sfingi, are placed on the steps below.
In St. Ann Parish, Lawrenceville, founded and built by Sicilian immigrants during the Great Depression, St. Joseph’s Day is a well-loved tradition where faith and culture are celebrated and cherished.
On the evening of the Feast Day, Father Michael T. McClane, pastor of St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square, celebrated the Mass in both Italian and English. A social gathering centered around the St. Joseph Table followed in the Parish Development Center.
In his homily Father McClane, who is three-quarters Italian and fluent in the language, extolled the beauty of Italy and its culture while exhorting the congregation to cultivate the faith.
“No matter how proud we are of our art, architecture, history, opera, and language, none of those things would have meaning without God. Just imagine if Caravaggio, Michelangelo, or Fra Angelico did not have Bible stories or events from Church history to draw upon when they created their paintings,” said Father McClane.
“In your work of celebrating and promoting Italian faith and culture…promote the faith as well and make it part of your programming. Let’s make sure that our children and grandchildren receive the treasure of Faith as well,” he added.
"We used to have whole dinners, but they became so popular, we couldn't handle the crowds, and we had to downsize," said Christine Barranco, pastoral associate, who named parishioner Josephine Gagliardi as the moving spirit of the parish's festivities honoring St. Joseph.
“I have prepared this bread for 30 years,” said Gagliardi in a telephone interview. “It is a tradition my husband brought from Sicily.”
Admitting that at age 82, the preparation of the bread was becoming difficult, Gagliardi reached out to the Gingered Peach, a new bakery in Lawrenceville, to assist her in making three loaves of bread for St. Joseph’s Table.
“We made the bread in three different shapes: the Baby Jesus, the crown of the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph’s staff,” she said. “It is important to make this table in the traditional way. I love it—it is a great memory!”
St. Robert Bellarmine Parish, Freehold, enjoyed a parish family party March 14.
The parish hall’s décor was faithful to the traditions of St. Joseph celebrations, including a St. Joseph Table and a small table set for three with fine crystal, china, and silverware for the Holy Family.
“It was all about fellowship and family, in honor of St. Joseph, who was a family man,” said welcome committee coordinator Pam Stengel. “The parish decided to supply the main dishes, but the St. Joseph Table was for covered dishes made and brought in by individuals. In the tradition of the celebration, people were asked to bring a dessert or a pastry, pasta or bread, or salads and side dishes.
“This is something I have wanted to do for a long time,” said the pastor, Msgr. Sam Sirianni. “It was something that was done in the parish I grew up in. People made and brought their special recipes. It was wonderful - people enjoyed each other’s company and told stories; we reconnected our faith with our heritage.”
In St. Mary Parish, Barnegat, the decorating committee set the St. Joseph table for which Deacons Phil Fiore and Joe Vivona supplied loaves which they distributed to Mass attendees in both the Barnegat worship site as well as in St. Mary of the Pines Church, Manahawkin.
In St. Joseph School, Toms River, Father Scott Shaefer, pastor, celebrated Mass for the whole school and delivered a homily which tied the lessons taught by the life of St. Joseph with the theme of vocation.
“Even though St. Joseph made the decision that he would not marry Mary, he was not closed off to hear God speak. He listened to the angel,” he said. “Through the intercession of St. Joseph, we can pray to him so that we listen to what God wants us to do.”
He reminded the students that the patron saint of their school is the only one whose name is followed by ‘Spouse of someone else.’ His vocation was to be not just a carpenter but a husband and father.”
Nine boys whose names are Joseph carried the gifts to the altar during the Offertory, while eighth- grader Patrick Maguire dressed as St. Joseph.
The rest of the day served as a “Pray and Play Day,” when the upper classes buddy up with a younger class for a day of activities - including “Kahoot,” a game played using iPads; geography, math and art projects - all of which related to St. Joseph.
In Hamilton, the students in Our Lady of Sorrows School, Mercerville, attended Mass which was hosted by the school’s kindergarten class, which read the themes for the liturgy.
Others participating in the procession carried an image of St. Joseph, flowers, and his symbols, a carpenter’s hammer and nails. The children’s choir led their peers in song.
The parish’s celebration began at noon with Eucharistic devotion, lasting until 6:30 p.m., said Michael Amantia, director of the parish’s music ministry.
“At seven the Mass for parishioners was held,” he said. “The ladies of the Altar Rosary Society prepared a St. Joseph Table, which is more a sweet dessert table, although it includes St. Joseph bread from Franc’s, an authentic Sicilian bakery in North Trenton.”
Approximately 150 parishioners attended the Mass, which Amantia called, “a new tradition at Our Lady of Sorrows.”
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By Dorothy K. LaMantia | Correspondent
As foster father of Jesus and spouse of the Blessed Mother, St. Joseph has become a symbol of protection and providence and one of the most beloved saints worldwide.
Click here to view photo gallery.
Yet it was in Sicily where celebrating the Feast of St. Joseph rose to a high art. Centuries ago, the island suffered a draught resulting in famine. After citizens prayed to St. Joseph to deliver them from starvation, the rains returned and the land produced food again. After the first harvest, the people held a special feast of thanksgiving to him, and a tradition was born.
Over time the feast and its customs evolved, with the St. Joseph’s Table as its centerpiece. Its three levels, resembling steps, symbolize the ascent from earth to heaven. An image of St. Joseph stands at the candlelit top, surrounded with flowers. Bread - often baked into shapes like carpentry tools or a staff - and sweets, especially cream-filled sfingi, are placed on the steps below.
In St. Ann Parish, Lawrenceville, founded and built by Sicilian immigrants during the Great Depression, St. Joseph’s Day is a well-loved tradition where faith and culture are celebrated and cherished.
On the evening of the Feast Day, Father Michael T. McClane, pastor of St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square, celebrated the Mass in both Italian and English. A social gathering centered around the St. Joseph Table followed in the Parish Development Center.
In his homily Father McClane, who is three-quarters Italian and fluent in the language, extolled the beauty of Italy and its culture while exhorting the congregation to cultivate the faith.
“No matter how proud we are of our art, architecture, history, opera, and language, none of those things would have meaning without God. Just imagine if Caravaggio, Michelangelo, or Fra Angelico did not have Bible stories or events from Church history to draw upon when they created their paintings,” said Father McClane.
“In your work of celebrating and promoting Italian faith and culture…promote the faith as well and make it part of your programming. Let’s make sure that our children and grandchildren receive the treasure of Faith as well,” he added.
"We used to have whole dinners, but they became so popular, we couldn't handle the crowds, and we had to downsize," said Christine Barranco, pastoral associate, who named parishioner Josephine Gagliardi as the moving spirit of the parish's festivities honoring St. Joseph.
“I have prepared this bread for 30 years,” said Gagliardi in a telephone interview. “It is a tradition my husband brought from Sicily.”
Admitting that at age 82, the preparation of the bread was becoming difficult, Gagliardi reached out to the Gingered Peach, a new bakery in Lawrenceville, to assist her in making three loaves of bread for St. Joseph’s Table.
“We made the bread in three different shapes: the Baby Jesus, the crown of the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph’s staff,” she said. “It is important to make this table in the traditional way. I love it—it is a great memory!”
St. Robert Bellarmine Parish, Freehold, enjoyed a parish family party March 14.
The parish hall’s décor was faithful to the traditions of St. Joseph celebrations, including a St. Joseph Table and a small table set for three with fine crystal, china, and silverware for the Holy Family.
“It was all about fellowship and family, in honor of St. Joseph, who was a family man,” said welcome committee coordinator Pam Stengel. “The parish decided to supply the main dishes, but the St. Joseph Table was for covered dishes made and brought in by individuals. In the tradition of the celebration, people were asked to bring a dessert or a pastry, pasta or bread, or salads and side dishes.
“This is something I have wanted to do for a long time,” said the pastor, Msgr. Sam Sirianni. “It was something that was done in the parish I grew up in. People made and brought their special recipes. It was wonderful - people enjoyed each other’s company and told stories; we reconnected our faith with our heritage.”
In St. Mary Parish, Barnegat, the decorating committee set the St. Joseph table for which Deacons Phil Fiore and Joe Vivona supplied loaves which they distributed to Mass attendees in both the Barnegat worship site as well as in St. Mary of the Pines Church, Manahawkin.
In St. Joseph School, Toms River, Father Scott Shaefer, pastor, celebrated Mass for the whole school and delivered a homily which tied the lessons taught by the life of St. Joseph with the theme of vocation.
“Even though St. Joseph made the decision that he would not marry Mary, he was not closed off to hear God speak. He listened to the angel,” he said. “Through the intercession of St. Joseph, we can pray to him so that we listen to what God wants us to do.”
He reminded the students that the patron saint of their school is the only one whose name is followed by ‘Spouse of someone else.’ His vocation was to be not just a carpenter but a husband and father.”
Nine boys whose names are Joseph carried the gifts to the altar during the Offertory, while eighth- grader Patrick Maguire dressed as St. Joseph.
The rest of the day served as a “Pray and Play Day,” when the upper classes buddy up with a younger class for a day of activities - including “Kahoot,” a game played using iPads; geography, math and art projects - all of which related to St. Joseph.
In Hamilton, the students in Our Lady of Sorrows School, Mercerville, attended Mass which was hosted by the school’s kindergarten class, which read the themes for the liturgy.
Others participating in the procession carried an image of St. Joseph, flowers, and his symbols, a carpenter’s hammer and nails. The children’s choir led their peers in song.
The parish’s celebration began at noon with Eucharistic devotion, lasting until 6:30 p.m., said Michael Amantia, director of the parish’s music ministry.
“At seven the Mass for parishioners was held,” he said. “The ladies of the Altar Rosary Society prepared a St. Joseph Table, which is more a sweet dessert table, although it includes St. Joseph bread from Franc’s, an authentic Sicilian bakery in North Trenton.”
Approximately 150 parishioners attended the Mass, which Amantia called, “a new tradition at Our Lady of Sorrows.”
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