St. Joseph Altar
Sun, Mar 17
|St. Joseph Activity Center (Gym)
Come view the St. Joseph Altar and enjoy a family meal as we celebrate the feast day of our patron saint.


Time & Location
Mar 17, 2024, 10:30 AM – 2:00 PM
St. Joseph Activity Center (Gym)
About the event
We invite you to participate in the special tradition of the St. Joseph Altar as we celebrate the feast day of our patron saint.
The St. Joseph Altar will begin at 10:30 AM following 9:30 AM Mass and continue until 2:00 PM. All are welcome to view the altar and enjoy a family meal in the St. Joseph Activity Center during this time.
History of the St. Joseph Altar
The St. Joseph Altar is an offering of love, labor, and sacrafice in honor of St. Joseph, our patron saint, but also the patron saint of the Sicilians and the Universal Roman Catholic Church. According to legend, the St. Joseph Altar originated many centuries ago in Sicily during a period of drought and famine. In desperation, the people turned to St. Joseph asking his help and intercession. When the rains came and the crops prospered, their prayers were answered. In thanksgiving, the community made offerings to St. Joseph of their most prized possession: food.
The custom and devotion continue to this day. Each year, altars laden with food are prepared to celebrate the feast day of St. Joseph.
Interested in volunteering?
Please prayerfully consider participating in this year's altar by volunteering. There are several ways you can volunteer to help:
Serve the Day of the Altar
We need volunteers to serve food and drinks, clean tables, and help where needed during the altar. The following shifts are available:
- 10:15 AM - 12:00 PM
- 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
- 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (clean up)
Click here to view available shifts and sign up online or call the church office at (318) 865-3581.
Donate Fruits and Vegetables
Please drop fruits and vegetables off at the Church Office/Family Life Center no later than Wednesday, March 13th.
We are in need of the following fruits and vegetables:
- 28 heads of purple cabbage
- 60 red apples
- 30 bunches of green bananas
- 60 eggplants
- 60 green apples
- 35 lemons and 35 limes
- 60 oranges
- 40 pineapples
Bake Cookies
If you would like to help the St. Joseph Catholic Church Blessed Is She women's group bake Italian cookies for the altar, please email Luisa LeMoine at llemoine@stjosephchurch.net or call the church office (318) 865-3581. Cookies can be dropped off at the church office Monday, March 11, 9 AM - 4 PM.
Donate Baked Goods
Cakes, cookies, brownies, and other baked goods are needed for the St. Joseph Altar cake table. Drop off for these items will be March 16, 12-3 PM in the St. Joseph Activity Center (gym). Contact Kay Nader with questions or to donate: (318) 286-1590; kay.nader@gmail.com.
Monetary Donations
Monetary donations to help with the purchase of items for the St. Joseph Altar are also appreciated. Items we will be purchasing include flowers, fish, ingredients for cookies, salad, dressing, bread, paper goods, etc.
Monetary donations can be made online here through St. Joseph Catholic Church's online giving fund (choose St. Joseph Altar as "Fund") or by check. If donating by check, please make check payable to St. Joseph Church with reference to St. Joseph Altar in the memo and drop off or mail to the church office at 211 Atlantic Avenue, Shreveport, LA 71105.