La Tavola
di San Giuseppe (The Table of St. Joseph) was held at both the
Queens and Staten Island campuses of St. John’s University.
On Sunday, March 18, St. John’s University’s Italian Cultural
Center (ICC) hosted its celebration following a mass of
thanksgiving celebrated at St. Thomas More Church. The guests
then gathered in the D’Angelo Center for an afternoon filled with
ethnic pride, delicious foods and desserts. Adding to the
festivities, music was played throughout the afternoon.
Participating with a traditional blessing of the St. Joseph’s
Day breads and foods, Rev. Tri M. Duong, C.M. blessed all present
as well. In attendance were Board members: Prof. Joan
D’Andrea, Executive Director of the ICC, vice-president emeritus
Dr. and Mrs. Andrew Bartilucci, Mary Pelkowski, Prof. Caroline
Fuchs and Dr. Florence Russo. Prof. D’Andrea and Ms. Pelkowski
coordinated the day’s events.
Joseph Sciame, Vice President for Community Relations who serves
also as the Chair of the ICC Advisory Board, 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. Past traditions included the invitation of
the poor as invited guests, with the people choosing a special room
in the house and a 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 were donated to
Father Tri to be used for a service activity for the poor in
Panama.
On March 19, St. John’s Staten Island campus festivities were
held, and Theresa Cantarella, Director of Financial Services and a
member of the ICC’s Advisory Board coordinated them. In his
update on the activities of the ICC, Sciame commented on other
activities planned by the ICC throughout the year, that include:
displays in October, coincidental to the celebration of Italian
Heritage and Culture Month nationally, Italian American experience
lectures and symposia, 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, and
the latest good news of the approval of an Italian American Studies
Minor at the University.
For more information about the Italian Cultural Center, contact
Professor D’Andrea at dandreaj@stjohns.edu.