Annual St. Joseph Altar held in Rayne

RAYNE - The annual celebration of the St. Joseph Altar, honoring the patron saint on his feast day of March 19 has become a tradition at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Rayne following a centuries-old Italian custom.
This 2019 Feast of St. Joseph tradition was held Tuesday, March 19, during a full day of traditional activities and events.
The Altar commemorates St. Joseph, who answered the prayers of Sicians enduring famine brought on by a drought in the Middle Ages.
The day began with the Tupa Tupa Ritual held at 9 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, a reenactment of the Holy Family’s journey to Bethlehem.
The three students serving as members of the Holy Family were Joseph - Layne Shoffiett, Mary - Ella Dupuis and Jesus - Brayden Richard.
Angels were Owen Arceneaux, Ainsley Beckwith, Addison Beslin, Luke Braquet, Ava Constantin, Jack Cramer, Hayden DeRouen, Chloe Guidry, Emma Hidalgo, Nicholas Himel, Cole Matte, Ella O’Meara, Joslyn Orillion, Elizah Prejean, Jake Privat, Izabelle Reiners, Evan Schexnayder, Elijah Simien, Lukas Theunissen, Ally Trahan and Emilee Trahan.
The Tupa Tupa ended at the St. Joseph Family Life Center for the formal Blessing of the Altar by Fr. Kevin Bordelon, pastor, followed by the public viewing of the Altar until 6 p.m.
The solemnity of St. Joseph Mass was held later in the day at 6 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church.
All in attendance were then invited to the Family Life Center for the traditional Italian Meal (meatless spaghetti) served to the public at no charge
Guests were also presented Altar remembrance packets of rosaries, bottles of holy water and blessed salt.
Through the generosity of donors and hard-working volunteers, the Altar was again adorned with many decorative cakes, cookies and breads, as well as locally grown produce, all blessed during the impressive ceremony and either consumed as part of the celebratory meal or donated to the poor and needy of our area at the close of the celebration.
Thanks are also expressed for the monetary donations made during the weekend to help defray costs of the Altar. One hundred percent of all net proceeds will also be donated to the poor and needy of our area.

Offering of Love
The St. Joseph Altar is an offering of love, labor & sacrifice honoring our patron saint on his feast day. This celebration has become a tradition in St. Joseph Parish, and throughout the world.
According to legend, this custom originated in Medieval Sicily during a time of drought and famine. In desperation, the people prayed to St. Joseph for help and intercession. When the rains came and their crops prospered, their prayers were answered! In thanksgiving they made offerings of food, their most prized possession, on a beautiful altar. They then invited all the poor and needy to share in their prayers and festivities.
The altar draped in white and adorned with flowers, had three levels to represent the Holy Trinity. The choicest grains, fruits, vegetables, breads, seafood and wines were selected, shaping and designing them into elaborate decorations and placing them in pairs to represent the balance and harmony of creation.
This devotion continues, as an altar laden with food is prepared annually by the parishioners of St. Joseph Parish in Rayne. In holding with tradition, each celebration is an act of humility and love where all food and decorations are derived from the generosity of friends and neighbors. Likewise, all proceeds are then donated to the poor and needy of the area.