St. Joseph School

  St. Joseph Elementary School faculty and students recently collaborated on setting up a special decorative altar in honor of St. Joseph Day which was held May 19th. In the Catholic Church, Joseph, the husband of Mary and legal father of Jesus Christ, is venerated as a saint. He's viewed as both the patron and protector of the church, the patron saint of workers, and is obviously the patron of St. Joseph Church and School as well. A special feast day, known as the Solemnity of the Feast of St. Joseph, is held annually on that date.This religious feast is especially unique in 2021 since Pope Francis had declared it to be the "Year of St. Joseph" for the worldwide church.
   Constructing such altars has been a tradition for centuries. It began in Italy during the Middle Ages when droughts and famine were plaguing the country. Local parishioners prayed to St. Joseph for relief. When the rains finally came, local farmers and fishermen established altars in their homes to thank him. They were laden with fruit, fish, fancy pastries, decorative breads and much more. Families then shared their good fortune with the needy.
      The school began working on an altar, which was set up in the cafeteria, on March 15th. Principal Courtney Pope wanted the children involved so they could be introduced to this wonderful tradition and develop a sense of ownership. Classroom teachers urged the Kindergarten through 3rd grade students to bring things to be placed on the altar such as religious items, handmade flowers, candles, or symbols of St. Joseph such as carpentry tools or sawdust. Administrative Assistant Jane Royal made the homemade bread dough, and art teacher Shannon Chamoun crafted it into the likenesses of the chalices and Eucharists seen.