St. Joseph Cathedral St. Joseph Altar

Church parishes in the Diocese of Baton Rouge celebrated the Feast Day of St. Joseph with St. Joseph Altars. A St. Joseph Altar is a Sicilian Catholic tradition of building a food altar, typically on March 19, as an act of thanksgiving for favors granted, and to petition for special needs.
The altar is a charitable display designed to feed the poor, honoring St. Joseph through meatless, symbolic, and religious-themed food. Surplus food is donated to local charities to help freed those in need. St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton Rouge Pastor, Father Cary Bani, blessed the Cathedral's St. Joseph Altar on March 19 after the noon Mass. Many Mass attendees stopped by the altar to take pictures, submit petitions, and pray, and accepted the Cathedral's invitation to enjoy a meatless lunch. Photos by Debbie Shelley | The Catholic Commentator