St. Michael High School Resumes St. Joseph Altar

After many years of absence, St. Michael High School in Baton Rouge’s (SMHS) St. Joseph Altar resumed this year with strong support from students.

Before building the altar, students participated in a 30-day Holy Cloak of St. Joseph novena, according to Molly Armstrong, SMHS religion instructor, who helped organize the altar. “You put yourself under the protection of St. Joseph and his holy cloak,” explained Armstrong.

St. Michaels’ students started the novena on Nov. 18. Some students made a pilgrimage to St. Joseph Abbey in Covington the Thursday following Ash Wednesday.

After completing the novena, students began preparing the altar, which Father Joseph Bresowar, co-chaplain at SMHS, blessed on March 18.

“We had a lot of students do the baking because we had the basic life skills class and individual students making cookies,” said Armstrong. “They also made some of the lamb cakes.”

Faculty members, parents, and community members also donated food items and flowers.

Those attending the blessing had an opportunity to eat meatless spaghetti, cookies, and food items donated by an Italian restaurant.

The extra food from the altar was given to the Missionaries of Charity at St. Agnes Church in Baton Rouge to feed those in need.

Armstrong said she was “absolutely” encouraged by the students’ response to reintroducing the altar.

“We’re definitely going to do it again next year,” said Armstrong.

The students conveyed that they felt a special connection to St. Joseph through working on the altar.

"I enjoyed helping set up the altar and take it down because I felt that my efforts toward honoring the saint also honored his role in Jesus' life. St. Joseph is also a father figure to many and helping make the altar look nice for others to enjoy was fulfilling," said tenth-grade student Katie-Lynn Junca.

Hail O Glorious St. Joseph, thou who art entrusted with the priceless treasures of heaven and earth and foster-father of Him Who doth nourish all the creatures of the universe. Thou art, after Mary, the Saint most worthy of our love and devotion. Thou alone, above all the Saints, wert chosen for that supreme honour of rearing, guiding, nourishing and even embracing the Messiah, Whom so many kings and prophets would have so desired to behold - From the Holy Cloak of St. Joseph Novena