Tour of New Orleans’ Saint Joseph Altars
Available During PIA Reunion Time Frame
March 19, 2024
By Sandra Scalise Juneau
A NEW OPTIONAL event is announced that is occurring during the time frame of the PIA Reunion open to all attendees and their family and friends.
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On the Feast day of Saint Joseph, Wednesday, March 19th, led by Sandra Scalise Juneau, you will tour at least six major traditional Saint Joseph Altars in the New Orleans area and enjoy a Sicilian lunch while being transported in a comfortable motor coach. Attendees will be picked up at 9:00 AM at the Cambria Hotel, 632 Tchoupitoulas Street and will be returned at 6:00 PM.
The tour itinerary proceeds across the Mississippi River to St. Joseph Church in Gretna, arriving in time for the traditional Blessing of the Altar, officiated by Archbishop Gregory Aymond, and the Tupa-Tupa Ceremony (part of the celebration of St. Joseph's Table or Altar is the Holy Family knocking door-to-door for food and shelter before finding the Table).
From there we will proceed to visit at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Kenner, then to St. Francis Xavier Church in Metairie, and to visit an Altar in a private home in the area.
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Other Saint Joseph Altars we will visit will be in the magnificent New Orleans’ churches; St. Joseph Church on Tulane Avenue, Immaculate Conception Church, on Baronne Street and St. Alphonsus Church on St. Andrew Street.
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Our lunch stop will be at a Sicilian restaurant which will be serving the traditional St. Joseph’s Day feast, featuring Pasta con le Sarde and stuffed artichokes. The cost for lunch will be on individual tickets that you will pay at that time.
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The cost for the motorcoach tour is $100. In order for us to secure the transportation, we are asking for your email reply by January 15, 2025, sent to: 1ssj@att.net At that time, a link to secure your paid reservation will be on the Poggioreale in America website.
If I may answer any questions about the Saint Joseph Day Tour, please don’t hesitate to give me a call to 985-630-8017, or email 1ssj@att.net
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Having grown up in New Orleans with Saint Joseph Altars, which were brough from Poggioreale by my Sicilian grandmother, Angelina Caronna Accardo, I will be delighted to share with each of you all that I have learned about this sacred tradition!
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Ed note: Sandra Scalise Juneau, a native New Orleanian of Sicilian heritage, is author of the 2021 book “Celebrating with St. Joseph Altars, The History, Recipes, and Symbols of a New Orleans Tradition” and is on the PIA Advisory Panel.