Greg Lopez
March 15, 2018
Thibodaux cop arrested on drug charges
March 16, 2018
The Altars to St. Joseph can be traced back to the people of Sicily who prayed to their patron saint for relief from famine. There had long been no rain and the crops had turned to dust. As the prayers to St. Joseph went up, down came the rain, providing the island with the water needed to restore life.
The people of Sicily erected a table of the foods they had harvested to give thanks. The food was than distributed to the hungry. As the tradition continued, the altars became more and more elaborate. The Sicilian immigrants introduced the altar to America, although it is now celebrated by all nationalities at Catholic churches and homes around the country.
Today, the altars are filled with beautiful breads in the shapes of crosses, staffs or even fish. Delicious cookies and pastries are offered as well. The feast is centered around family. Often children participate in the Tupa Tupa, which is a small play depicting the Holy Family knocking on three doors, seeking food and shelter.
Although the feast day for St. Joseph isn’t until Monday, March 19, many Altars around the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux will be open for viewing beginning this afternoon. The public is welcome to view these altars:
St. Francis de Sales, Houma
March 18, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
March 19, 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.; Tupa Tupa 8:30 a.m.
St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, Thibodaux
March 19, 6:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Annunziata, Houma
March 17-19
Christ the Redeemer, Thibodaux
March 19
Cannata’s Family Market, Houma
March 16-20, during store hours
Holy Savior, Lockport
March 19
Maria Immacolata, Houma
March 17, 4:30-7 p.m.
March 18-19 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Our Lady of the Rosary, Larose
March 19, 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Rouses Markets:
March 16-19, during store hours
#6 – 5818 West Main St., Houma
#15 – 1410 St. Charles St., Houma
#16 – 204 North Canal Blvd., Thibodaux
Sacred Heart, Cut Off
March 19, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
St. Bernadette, Houma
March 19, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
St. Bridgette, Schriever
March 18, 11:30 a.m.
March 19, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
St. Eloi, Theriot
March 19, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
St. Genevieve, Thibodaux
March 19, 8:15 a.m.- 7 p.m.
St. Hilary, Mathews
March 19, 8 a.m. – 5:15 p.m.
St. Joseph, Chauvin
March 19, 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
St. Joseph, Galliano
March 19
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
St. Mary’s Nativity, Raceland
March 18, 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
March 19, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Clement home, Thibodaux
Hosted by the Battaglia family, 812 Jackson Street
March 19, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
