3rd Generation Sicilian's San Giuseppe Altar

This Altar is part of the 3rd Annual St. Joseph Altar blog fest:

Dear Evann,
Thank you for the lovely Virtual St. Joseph Day blog. It is so nice to be able to see everyone's altars and to share ideas! I really appreciate.

Thank you!

Genevieve

Going global!

Where do visitors to the Virtual St. Joseph Altar come from? According to Google Analytics: United States, Australia, India, Philippines, Canada, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Brazil, Italy, and Spain.

Demons beware!

Visit Al at Is Anybody There? for this great feast day post:

San Giuseppe - Terror of Demons

3rd Annual St. Joseph Altar Blog Fest

March is the Month of St. Joseph and what better way to give him honor than with your very own St. Joseph Altar. Sounds intimidating, but it doesn't have to be. There are certain guidelines that will help you get started, but remember, it's your Altar and it should reflect you and your family. Our first home Altar was very simple: a cake, some cookies, and coloring pages by the kids! It's a family affair, so be sure to get everyone involved.

Less than two weeks till the feast day, so start planning! A bit of history will help you begin your planning, and here are some altar photos for inspiration.

For some real inspiration, be sure to check out the 1st and 2nd Annual St. Joseph Altar blog fests!

To be included, simply make a blog post about your Altar. Be sure to include details and pics, and then link it here. Linking will begin on the March 19 Feast of St. Joseph and continue till the end of the month.

Simple or extravagant, we want to see it! So come back on, or soon after, March 19 to link your Altar post. In the meantime, head to the Virtual St. Joseph Altar for all the info you need to get started planning your Altar.

Grab the button above for your blog, link it back to this post, and spread the word!

Here is our 2012 home altar:

Sweet email from a long-time visitor

Thank you Evann for sharing your devotion to Saint Joseph with all who are new to His devotion, and those of us who know so well of Saint Joseph's kindness and blessings. 

Happy Saint Joseph's Feast Day! 

Blessings,
S

Getting the little ones involved

This cutie created her mini 3D St. Joseph Altar with some help from her mom.

If your family has made one of the mini Altars, send me a pic so I can share it here on the blog.

Celebrate St. Joseph's Day with the whole family

Susana of Montessori Candy has a very nice article posted at Catholic Child all about St. Joseph's Feast Day. It's all about getting everyone involved!

Thanks, Susana for including the Virtual St. Joseph Altar!

St. Joseph Altars in the news

With only a few days to go, St. Joseph Altar news is abundant!

St. Joseph altar is a tasty tradition at St. John's in Folsom

West Bank churches, groups prepare St. Joseph's Day altars

Altar-ations: St. Joseph festivities take months of prep filled with love

A menu with Italian and Irish overtones, plus Pears Belle Helene

St. Joseph's Day, a feast filled with gratitude

Prepare to feast

Cool kids' crafts for St. Joseph's Day

3D Cut & Color Virtual St. Joseph Altar

Cut, color, and create your own mini St. Joseph's Altar. This fun family craft will help you and your little ones learn about the lovely St. Joseph Altar tradition. Complete instructions included on the pdf download. Send me a photo of your 3d Altar and I will post it right here on the Virtual St. Joseph Altar blog.

This craft has been used by PSR classes, homeschool co-ops, and individual families wanting to teach children about this beautiful tradition.

St. Joseph Novena with Free Download!

Don't let the title fool you -- this is a really fun craft to get little ones involved in a Novena to St. Joseph. Lacy at Catholic Icing has posted a great kids' prayer craft, complete with lilies for St. Joseph, for the upcoming feast day.

Keep in mind: If you are planning a novena to end on the March 19th Feast Day, you'll need to start on March 11.

St. Joseph Coloring Page

Compliments of Vee at Paper Dali. One of her earliest creations, and one of my favorites!

Enjoy!

List of St. Joseph Altars in the New Orleans area

From wwltv.com:

The following parishes, schools and entities of the Archdiocese of New Orleans will carry on the tradition of erecting St. Joseph Altars this month.  The tradition, which is Sicilian in origin but carried on locally by Italian-Americans and people of all nationalities and faiths, includes baking cookies and cakes and preparing foods for the altar.  The offerings accompany petitions to St. Joseph or are expressions of thanks for favors granted. 

Visit wwltv.com for the complete list.

Thanks, WWL, for the link to the Virtual St. Joseph Altar!

St. Joseph parades on Saturday

The 42nd Annual New Orleans St. Joseph’s Parade is scheduled for this Saturday, March 10, 2012. Sponsored by the Italian American Marching Club, the parade is comprised of floats followed by a procession of marchers dressed in black tuxedos. The parade and marchers will make their way through the French Quarter. Marchers usually hand out silk flowers and fava beans, and dance and sing with the parade watchers.

The highlight of this parade is the "rolling" St. Joseph Altar float! Here is last years float.

Viva San Giuseppe!

Lovely email from an Altar visitor

I really enjoy getting emails from Virtual Altar visitors. Here is one I got tonight. Thanks, CDC!

+
Hi Evann,
It is my pleasure to honor St. Joseph!
I've had a devotion to him since I was a teenager in the 1970's. He's done so much for me!

The first time I saw a St Joseph Table (Altar) was in 1985, hosted by a convent in the Dallas area. We moved and didn't attend one again until we found one here in Kansas in the 1990's.

The Italian lady who is in charge of it does a great job, but can't do it every single year. So when I found yours on the "web" a year or two ago, I was so glad! It's a great idea and I'm very happy that you do it. I'm sure it's a lot of work but I hope it remains a labor of love for you to do.

May Good St. Joseph, no doubt pleased at your homage, assist you and your loved ones always!
CDC

A Virtual Altar visitor writes:

Thank you so much for this again this year.
I've been coming every year since 1999.
La Tavola di San Giuseppe is very big in my family.
I attached one of our Altars for you to see. :) thank you.
God Bless! Viva San Giuseppe
Buona Festa 
Alessandro

Wow -- since 1999!
Thank you, Alessandro, for visiting each year and for sharing the photo of one of your family's beautiful Altars!

Prayer to St. Joseph for Employment

Dear St. Joseph, you were given the responsibility of providing the necessities of life for Jesus and Mary. 

Look down with fatherly compassion upon our brothers and sisters in their anxiety over their present struggle to support their families due to job loss. 

Please help them find gainful employment very soon, so that this heavy burden of concern will be lifted from their hearts and that they soon will be able to provide for those whom God has entrusted to their care. 

Help us to guard against bitterness and discouragement, so that we may emerge from this trial spiritually enriched and with even greater blessings from God. 

Amen.