St. Isaac Jogues Celebrates St. Joseph's Day

Standing near a lavishly decorated St. Joseph Table at St. Isaac Jogues parish Sunday afternoon, Vincenza Silvio remembers when her then 17-year-old son Frank fractured his spine in a basketball accident and became paralyzed.

During his four months in the hospital, doctors told him he'd never walk again.

"Then Dr. Bernstein said, 'it's a miracle. God answered the prayers of your mother,'" Silvio, of Niles, recalled. 

Her son, now 36, recovered fully and is not only walking, but a married father of two leading an active life.

She expresses her gratitude with a custom many Italians and Italian Americans employ to thank God for favors received.  They host, or contribute their efforts to, a St. Joseph Table in their homes or church parishes. They elaborately prepare food and decorate the table, invite guests and ask them to contribute money to help the needy. The charitable custom originated in southern Italy, Silvio said, and immigrants brought it to the United States.

"We form a committee in October, and we go out to stores and ask for donations," said Santa DiFranco, one of the organizers of the event at the Niles church, adding she had gotten donations from Valli Produce, Super Tony's and some restaurants.

While the planning takes almost five months, the actual cooking starts a week before. They make the traditional pasta sauce a week in advance. The day before, they prepare southern Italian vegetables and salads, and accept other food and supplies from parishioners. On Sunday morning, they arrive at 7 a.m. to cook the pasta. After Mass, the crowds come streaming in to eat. 

About 250 people came to dine, and later in the day, the food on the display table was distributed to the needy.