Make your reservations now to ensure seating at the popular St. Joseph’s Table that will be held Saturday, March 24, at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 1500 Brookdale Road, Naperville. Guests will be seated at two times: 4:00 or 6:00 p.m. Envelopes also will be available at the celebration for freewill offerings to benefit St. Thomas ministries that aid those in need.
Reservations for the traditional meatless meal may be made by contacting st.josephtable@yahoo.com or calling the church at (630) 355-8980. When making reservations, be sure to indicate which seating time you prefer and the number in your party.
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The delicious meal will be prepared by Mike Rynne, an executive chef and member of the Naperville Knights of Columbus who donates his time and talents to this celebration. Other volunteers contributing to the success of the “table” include St. Thomas parishioners, their friends, and members of the Naperville Knights of Columbus and their wives.
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The true story about the tradition of the St. Joseph’s Table – as well as its year of origin – is lost in legend. Most variations of the story, however, agree that the celebration began in Sicily centuries ago when the people prayed to St. Joseph, asking his intercession before God to save them from a famine or a drought. Their prayers were answered, and a special feast of thanksgiving to honor St. Joseph was celebrated. For the feast wealthy families prepared an abundant display of meatless foods to satisfy the needs of the poor.
Sicilian immigrants brought the St. Joseph’s Table tradition to the United States by the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The focal point of the “table” is an altar displaying a statue of St. Joseph – one of the most beloved saints of Italian-American s – that includes flowers, fresh baked bread and other delectables.
For more information about the St. Joseph’s Table, contact Chari Rosales, director of S.T.A.F.F.S. (St. Thomas Adult Faith Formation & Spirituality), at (630) 355-8980, ext. 138 or at crosales@stapostle.org.
St. Thomas the Apostle, a parish of the Diocese of Joliet, strives to bear the Good News of God’s unconditional love to all generations through worship, faith formation, witness and service. Organized in 1984, the St. Thomas faith community numbers more than 3,300 households of more than 11,000 people. Complete news and information on parish events, guest speakers and special programs can be viewed at www.stapostle.org. For general parish information, call (630) 355-8980 or visit www.stapostle.org.
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