Sisters decorate Saint Joseph’s Table to celebrate feast day

The feast of Saint Joseph on March 19 is a significant day for the Ursuline Sisters, who literally have Saint Joseph in the name of their community. On March 19, 2024, for the second year, the Sisters in Saint Joseph Villa celebrated with Saint Joseph’s Table, creating a beautiful display of food and decorations.

This is the history of Saint Joseph’s Table: During a time of drought in medieval Sicily, food crops for both people and animals withered. The people prayed to Saint Joseph for help. When the rain came, there was much rejoicing. After the harvest, to show their gratitude, the people prepared a table with special foods to honor Saint Joseph and to celebrate and share with the poor.

The Sisters in the Villa decorated a Saint Joseph’s Table throughout the day on March 19, then gathered at 2:30 p.m. to share in the goodness and say a prayer to Saint Joseph. Here are some pictures from the day.

Sister Grace Simpson arranges jonquils and other flowers in vases to place on the tables in Saint Joseph Villa.
Sister Margaret Ann Aull, left, and Sister Susan Mary Mudd, center, join Ashley Wilkerson, the activities coordinator for the Sisters in the Villa, in setting up Saint Joseph’s Table.
Sister Catherine Kaufman, left, gives Ashley Wilkerson a pointer about decorating the table.
The completed Saint Joseph’s Table.
Sister Joyce Marie Cecil, center, gets ready to help herself to some of the treats on the table, as Sister Karla Kaelin, in the background, approaches the table.
Sister Catherine Kaufman, left, enjoys some treats from Saint Joseph’s Table with Sister Marie Bosco Wathen.
Ashley Wilkerson, left, activities coordinator for the Sisters in the Villa, tells the story of Saint Joseph’s Table.
Each of the tables in the Villa had this message about the importance of Saint Joseph.
The Sisters read a prayer to Saint Joseph together at their table. From left are Sister Grace Simpson, Sister Marie Carol Cecil, Sister Melissa Tipmore, and Sister Lois Lindle.
Sisters Francis Louise Johnson, left, Karla Kaelin, center, and Mary Gerald Payne pray to Saint Joseph, the protector and provider of the Holy Family.
The prayer to Saint Joseph includes the line, “We have complete confidence in your loving care for new life and in your fidelity to the family.” Praying here are, from left, Sisters Margaret Ann Aull, Joyce Marie Cecil, Ruth Gehres and Eva Boone.

 

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