St. Joseph, the patron Saint of the Universal Church will be honored by a traditional St. Joseph’s Table at Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church on Sunday, March 14th.

The many parish groups and all attending will assemble in the auditorium at 11:15 a.m. The statue of St. Joseph will then be taken in procession with chants of “VIVA SAN GIUSEPPE!”

Los Angeles Italian Band conducted by Joseph Sapia will play the National Anthem and the procession will enter the streets. The procession will stop at the rectory, where priests, Eucharistic Ministers and servers will join.

Knights of Columbus will escort the priests to the church were Monsignor Patrick Gallagher will be the celebrant at the 12:00 p.m. Concelebrated, High Mass.

After church services, the entire procession will again take to the streets with continuous music by the Los Angeles Italian Band, and proceed to the auditorium. At the door, the Holy Family depicted by San Pedro youth will knock and ask for admittance. They and the priests will enter. The food that will be donated to the needy will be blessed. The statue of St. Joseph is then placed for everyone to view.

The doors will open and everyone attending are served a “poor man’s meal” consisting of fried squid, pasta, vegetables, bread and desert while being entertained by the Los Angeles Italian Band. Everyone who comes forward to view the statue will receive a small bag containing a bread roll and an orange/lemon - this symbolizes the food that the people ate during a terrible famine in Sicily, Italy.

This tradition originated in Sicily many years ago where a severe drought caused many to go hungry. The faithful prayed to St. Joseph to intercede to the Lord for rain. The rains came, the crops flourished and the people were saved. These poor people promised to honor Saint Joseph and to this day they honor him throughout the world.

The Saint Joseph’s Table welcomes you to help us celebrate this day. There is no charge to attend this celebration. Free Will donations will be accepted to help our parish church and to award scholarships to deserving students in San Pedro. The Public Is Invited!