Make your reservations
now to ensure seating at the popular St. Joseph Table that will be held
Saturday, March 15, at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 1500 Brookdale
Road, Naperville. Guests will be seated for the traditional meatless meal at
two times: 4:00 or 6:00 p.m. New and warmly welcomed to the celebration this
year is Frank Caruso, well-known professional accordionist and instructor who
has appeared with many famous artists.
Reservations 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.
Although there is no
cost to attend, envelopes will be provided at the celebration for freewill
offerings that will be distributed to the St. Thomas Food Pantry, St. Thomas
Cares and the St. Vincent DePaul Society.
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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 members of the
St. Thomas the Apostle Knights of Columbus Council and their wives.
Accordionist Caruso has
provided music for thousands of private and public events over the years, and
has performed with Luciano Pavarotti in concert at the United Center. He also
has appeared with Henry Mancini, Louie Bellson, Herbie Hancock, Billy Joel,
Maynard Ferguson, Dave Douglas and the Count Basie Orchestra. Caruso also teaches
jazz studies at North Central College in Naperville, and at Elmhurst College.
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The true story about the
tradition of the St. Joseph 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 array of
meatless foods to satisfy the needs of the poor.
Sicilian immigrants
brought the St. Joseph 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-Americans – that includes flowers, fresh baked bread and other
delectables.
For more information
about the St. Joseph 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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