Join Us for the St. Joseph Table on Sunday, March 22nd.

Join us on Sunday, March 22nd after the noon Mass in Beaven Hall for the St. Joseph Table!

Over the years this tradition has taken various forms from a sweet table prepared by the ladies of our parish to the most recent beautiful Sunday dinner spread hosted by the Aluise family, and last year for the first time hosted by the Knights of Columbus.

This year we invite you to the table whose proceeds will support the Catholic Extension Society’s work among the poor of our country. The St. Joseph Table offers our faith community time to gather, have a great meal, and this year to come together to support the Franciscans working in Wyoming who are helping the needy.

So many might be asking the question:

What is a St. Joseph Table?

Here are some insights:

  • This meal honors the foster-father of Jesus, husband of Blessed Mother Mary on or near his feast day of March 19th each year.

  • As it occurs in Lent the meal is traditionally meatless and to be served at no cost to the guests so that donations can be taken up for the poor to coincide with Lenten almsgiving practice.

  • What began as a devotion in medieval Sicily after time of famine when prayers to St. Joseph for his intercession brought relief, the practice spread with the immigration of Italians all over the world.

  • Formerly they were hosted in homes and parish priests would come to bless the table at your house. Parishes began hosting meals for their communities beginning in the 1950's at St. Callistus parish in the Tri-Taylor St. neighborhood of the west side that held a parade each year similar to the large parade hosted each year in New Orleans with floats and marching bands.

So what is on the menu??

  • traditional St. Joseph Linguine Pasta with fried breadcrumbs resembling the sawdust from his carpenter's shop in Nazareth

  • Rotini with marinara sauce or butter sauce for the kids

  • Salad

  • Baked fish fillets

  • Shrimp Cocktail

  • Vegetable side dishes

  • Vegetable and Cheese platters

  • sweet table with "zeppole" desserts: custard, cannoli, nutella

  • Coffee and drinks

So we hope you will join us!

Can't make it please consider a donation of items to help prepare the meal!

CLICK here for the Sign-Up Genius link!

Thanks to the parishioners and school parents who have already made contributions!

Questions?? Please email Mr. Accardi at jaccardi@stbenedict.com

or call his direct line at (773) 509-3832.

What else is provided?

Everyone in attendance receives to take home:

  • blessed bread

  • holy card

  • traditional lucky fava bean.

Why a fava bean?

Fava beans play a large role in the Sicilian tradition of the St. Joseph Table. They may be served in a frittata (omelette) or in garlic sauce. When dried and blessed, it becomes the very popular “lucky bean.” Legend has it that you will never be poor as long as you carry one. Some believe that if you keep one in the pantry, there will always be food in the kitchen. The myth of the fava bean began during the famine in Sicily, where the bean was used as feed for cattle. To survive, the farmers prepared them for the table. Hence, they considered themselves lucky to have them. The bean is also a symbol of fertility since it grows well even in poor, rocky soil. Italians would carry a bean from a good crop to ensure a good crop in the next year. The blessed dried beans are distributed at the St. Joseph Table along with a piece of blessed bread.

Bulletins, Homepage Featured, Knights Of Columbus, Parish Featured, Parish LifeJoe Accardi