At Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church: An Age-Old Italian Tradition
According to legend, there was a famine in Sicily many centuries ago. The villagers prayed to St. Joseph, seeking his intercession to end the drought and provide for their families. Their prayers were answered. In thanksgiving they began the custom of celebrating his feast with the most precious gifts they had, food. Over the years the celebration has taken on many traditions and customs, the most popular is the St. Joseph’s Table. Typically, it has been filled with breads baked in the shape of carpenter’s tools, pastries, especially St. Joseph sfinge and zeppole, oranges, lemons and fava beans which were the staple food and saved the Sicilians from starvation during the famine. At our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, every year we have set a table with the statue of St. Joseph and flowers. Please consider bringing donated food to the table to help those in need in our neighborhood. Over the years and in keeping with Italian tradition donated food has been blessed during mass and subsequently donated to the Ecumenical Food Pantry in honor of Saint Joseph as a form of public charity.
Viva San Giuseppe!
Blessed Bread: The Feast Day of St. Joseph will be moved to Monday, March 20th since March 19th falls on a Sunday. (Blessed bread will be distributed at the 12:10 pm Mass at OLMC.
St. Joseph Novena: March 11 - March 19 Please join the Parish in praying the Novena to St. Joseph. This can be done by reading the short reflection for each day and following the reflection with saying the Novena Prayer to St. Joseph. Copies of the prayer can be found in the back of the Churches on the bulletin tables.
Novena Prayer: Ever glorious St Joseph, good and faithful servant, God was pleased to place his own family in your care. We thank you for being such a wonderful example of humility and faith, of prayerfulness and courage, in your ordinary daily life.
Through your intercessions, may God grant us the blessing of living continually in his presence, and responding to his love in our daily lives. And when we have lived our days on earth, may God give us the great joy he gave you –that of entering eternal life in the company of Jesus and Mary. Most loving St. Joseph, accept our Novena prayers and obtain for us through your powerful intercessions, the favors and graces we ask for in the Novena.
Pause to call to mind your special intentions St. Joseph, pray for us.
Add: Our Father… Hail Mary…, Glory Be to the Father, …, Amen
Oración de Novena a San. José Siempre glorioso San José, siervo bueno y fiel, Dios tuvo el agrado de poner a su propia familia a tu cuidado. Te agradecemos por ser un ejemplo tan maravilloso de humildad y fe, de oración y coraje en tu vida diaria ordinaria. Por tu intercesión, que Dios nos conceda la bendición de vivir continuamente en su presencia y responder a su amor en nuestra vida diaria. Y cuando hayamos vivido nuestros días en la tierra, que Dios nos dé la gran alegría que te dio: la de entrar en la vida eterna en la compañía de Jesús y María. Amado San José, acepta nuestras oraciones de la Novena y obtén para nosotros por tu poderosa intercesión, los favores y las gracias que te pedimos en la Novena. Haga una pausa para recordar sus intenciones especiales.San José, ruega por nosotros. Agregue: Padre Nuestro.…, Ave María…., Gloria al Padre…, Amén.