La Tavola di
San Giuseppe (The Table of St. Joseph) Held at Queens and Staten
Island Campuses
On Sunday, March 22, St. John’s University’s Italian Cultural
Center hosted a celebration of “La Tavola di San Giuseppe”
(The Table of St. Joseph) on the University’s Queens campus.
The afternoon began with a mass of thanksgiving celebrated at St.
Thomas More Church. Following the mass, the guests gathered
in Council Hall for an afternoon filled with ethnic pride,
delicious foods and desserts. Adding to the festivities were
strolling musicians playing the guitar and mandolin while
serenading the guests with the beautiful sounds of famous Italian
melodies and song.
Joining the group this year were members of the St. John’s McCallen
Society who were welcomed by Professor Joan D’Andrea, Executive
Director of the Italian Cultural Center (ICC). Also attending was
ICC Advisory Board member, Dr. Andrew Bartilucci and his wife,
Lucy.
Rev. Tri M. Duong, C.M. blessed the
St. Joseph’s Table and all who joined in the festivities. Joseph
Sciame, Vice President for Community Relations at St. John’s and a
member of the ICC Advisory Board, also welcomed the group on behalf
of Lou Carnesecca, Chair of the ICC Board and, University
President, Rev. Donald J. Harrington, C.M.
Sciame highlighted the long-standing traditions of La Tavola
di San Giuseppe; a tradition that calls for a religious
service in honor of St. Joseph, the Patron of the Universal Church,
to show appreciation and thanksgiving for the many favors the Saint
has bestowed on the people. With the poor as invited guests, the
people will choose a special room in the house and display a
variety of foods to highlight their thankfulness for a favor
granted. As the tradition was carried to the Americas, it became
the custom to ask for donations to assist the poor. The funds
raised at this year’s luncheon are to be used for the St. Vincent
DePaul Parish in Philadelphia.
On March 19, St. John’s Staten Island Campus festivities were held.
They were coordinated by Theresa Cantarella, Director of Financial
Services and a member of the Italian Cultural Center Staten Island
Programming and Planning Committee. Again, the event began
with a brief welcome and a discussion of the traditional
celebration of the Table of St. Joseph.
Professor D’Andrea commented on her
appreciation of the University’s efforts to promote and support
such traditions. Other activities planned by the ICC throughout the
year, include: displays in the month of October, coincidental to
the celebration of Italian Heritage and Culture Month nationally,
Italian American experience lectures and symposia, the famed
Valletutti Lecture and the awarding of scholarships to worthy
candidate students to study in the summer, fall and spring study
abroad program at the Rome campus of the St. John’s
University.
For more information about the Italian Cultural Society, please
contact Professor D’Andrea at dandreaj@stjohns.edu.