PITTSTON — St. Joseph Senior Social Club will honor and celebrate the fifth annual setting of the St. Joseph’s Table at 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 17 in St. Joseph Marello Parish Center, 237 William St. Members, friends, devotees to St. Joseph and the public are invited to attend.

A hot buffet luncheon will be served at a price of $15 per person and reservations are accepted by calling Rose Marie Amico, chairperson, at 570-654-0046 by Saturday, March 12.

“La Tavela de San Guiseppe” is a tradition that began in Sicily in thanksgiving to St. Joseph who is regarded as their patron saint. According to legend a severe drought occurred resulting in countless deaths. The people prayed for rain and if granted promised St. Joseph a large banquet would be prepared in his honor. The custom though centuries old was brought to the United States by Italian immigrants and is observed throughout the United States in parishes with Italian ancestry.

A three-tier altar representing the Holy Trinity and Holy Family will be assembled where various types of food, canned items, home made baked goods, flowers, candles, and fava beans will be placed. The fava bean was the crop, which saved the population from starvation and is believed to be a symbol of good luck and a reminder to pray to St. Joseph. It is also believed to carry a fava bean, which indicates one’s pockets will never be empty of money and also, if placed on a pantry shelf a home, will never be without food.

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Members and attendees can bring a food item to be placed on the altar. All food items, as is the custom, will be distributed to people in need through the Pittston City Food Pantry located at St. John the Evangelist Parish. Anyone wishing to have an item blessed may place it on the altar.

Theresa Ormando, president, has named the following committees: Altar, Maria C. and Chester Montante; Setup, Claire LaMarca, Felicia Bellanco, Eleanor O’Dell; Buffet Table, Mary Policare, Evelyn Levandowski; Hostesses, Evelyn Defaveri, Josephine Fasciana, Barbara Galli, Emily Gorski, Sara Howanietz, Gertrude Kitchlinsky; Drinks, John Reedy; Raffle, Sam Bellanco, Dominick Policare; Cleanup, Chester Montante, Sam Bellanco, Dominick Policare, John Reedy, Carmen Montagna.

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Information provided by Maria Capolarella-Montante.