PITTSTON — St. Joseph Senior Social Club will honor and celebrate the eighth annual setting of the St. Joseph’s Table at 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 15 at St. Joseph Marello Parish, 237 William St.
Members, friends, devotees to St. Joseph and the public are invited to attend.
“La Tavela de San Guiseppe” is a tradition that began in Sicily in thanksgiving to St. Joseph, patron saint. According to legend, a severe drought occurred, resulting in countless deaths.
The people prayed for rain and, if granted, promised St. Joseph a large banquet would be prepared in his honor.
The custom, though centuries old, was brought to the United States by Italian immigrants and is observed throughout the United States in parishes with Italian ancestry.
A three-tier altar representing the Holy Trinity and Holy Family will be assembled where various types of food, canned items, homemade baked goods, flowers, candles and fava beans will be placed. The fava bean was the crop, which saved the population from starvation and is believed to be a symbol of good luck and a reminder to pray to St. Joseph. It is also believed that to carry a fava bean indicates that one’s pockets will never be empty of money, and also if placed on a pantry shelf, a home will never be without food.
Members and attendees are to bring a food item to be placed on the altar. All food items, as is the custom, will be distributed to people in need through the Pittston City Food Pantry located at St. John the Evangelist Parish.
Anyone wishing to have an item blessed may place it on the altar.
A hot buffet luncheon will be catered by Arcaro & Genell and will be served at a cost of $15 per person.
Reservations are being accepted and can be made by calling Rose Marie Amico, chairperson, at 570-654-0046 by Thursday, March 8.
