Campus Ministry and Christ the King Chapel’s faith community celebrated an age-old tradition on Sunday – the tradition of St. Joseph’s Table. Rev. Benjamin Fiore, SJ and John Hall ’88, MD, organized the event, which included Mass followed by a buffet in Loyola Hall.
St. Joseph was the foster father of Jesus. His feast day is March 19 and though traditions vary by region and city, St. Joseph’s Tables are generally filled with different types of food that hold symbolic value and organized in a way that the offerings lead up to a statue of St. Joseph, symbolizing his ascent to Heaven.
The tradition of a St. Joseph’s Table originated in Sicily. According to legend, when a great famine struck the land of Sicily, the villagers immediately prayed to their beloved St. Joseph for protection and relief. They prayed fervently and pledged that if the rain returned, they would hold a special feast to honor God and St. Joseph. Miraculously the rain started to fall and when the fall harvest came, the people of Sicily prepared a wonderful feast in thanksgiving.
Submitted by: Rev. Fred Betti, SJ, chaplain, Mission & Ministry
