Honoring St. Joseph: New Orleans Continues the Tradition
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March 25, 2022New Orleans is one of those rare places in the country where popular religious devotions are still strong and meaningful. The calendar year is marked by special celebrations, which move quickly from Mardi Gras to St. Patrick’s Day to the feast of St. Joseph, keeping the locals in good spirits.
Except for the past two years. The global pandemic forced the closure of the parish in 2020, and uncertainty about health conditions limited the celebrations last year. Thankfully, the revelry is back in full swing now.
Lillian Moran, beloved former parish secretary who coordinated the St. Joseph’s Day altar for many years, stepped in to help with the feast day celebration again this year. The St. Alphonsus Parish family gathered at St. Mary’s Assumption Church on March 18 for the altar blessing by Fr. Allan Weinert, C.Ss.R.
Laden with wines, breads and desserts, the altar held a few other items to maintain long-standing Italian traditions: fava beans and fresh lemons. The fava bean legend began during the famine in Sicily, where the bean was used as fodder for cattle. Crops were so poor that the farmers were forced to eat the fava beans, which grow well in poor, rocky soil. Sicilians began carrying a bean from a good crop to ensure another good crop the following year.
Legend has it that you’ll never be broke as long as you carry a blessed “lucky bean.” Some people even believe that if you keep one in the pantry, there will always be food in the kitchen. Another legend has it that a single woman looking for a husband should steal a lemon from a St. Joseph’s Day altar. If – and only if – she successfully takes a lemon when no one is looking, she will be engaged or even married by the following Saint Joseph’s Day. They apparently also work for young married women who are hoping to conceive.
Helping fate along, Fr. Aaron Meszaros, C.Ss.R., assistant pastor, admits to helping both boys and girls steal a few lemons from the altar. “It might be a few years before they are back for their weddings,” he quipped, adding “Any parish that needs more weddings may contact us and we will happily ship some blessed lemons for the low bargain price of only $29.95.”
Parishioners reconvened on St. Joseph’s feast day – March 19 – to celebrate Mass. In his homily, Fr. Allan reflected on the life of St. Joseph. He said that the life of St. Joseph demonstrates that God’s love makes us whole as we weather the storms of life in our wounded world.
He called the newly repaired St. Joseph statute, which was badly damaged by Hurricane Ida last August, a symbol of a resurrection people. Pilgrims streamed through the doors of St. Mary’s Assumption Church during the entire feast day. They viewed the altar, got a blessed candle, or picked up a few sweet treats – Italian fig, anise or sesame cookies, to name a few. Many enjoyed the time spent that afternoon with family and friends at the potluck picnic in the church courtyard.
“The St. Joseph Altar has a long history at St. Mary’s Assumption Parish. It’s a popular tradition, and a real gift to help strengthen our parish community,” Fr. Aaron said.
(Courtesy of DenverLink.)
