St. Bernard Middle School students celebrate the Blessing of St. Joseph’s Table

Students at St. Bernard Middle School held their annual Blessing of the St. Joseph’s Table on Monday, March 17.  The blessing was given by School President, Fr. Joel Martin, O.S.B., who described St. Joseph as a righteous man. 

Fr. Joel asked the students to learn from St. Joseph who lovingly accepted Mary as his wife after Mary said “yes” to God, making possible the birth of Jesus, God among us.  By accepting and loving Mary, St. Joseph welcomed God to this world.

By imitating Joseph and Mary, the students responded to God with their own generosity by donating food items for those in need, showing God’s love.   Fr. Joel blessed the food offered for the poor, and also blessed the students who make God present in the lives of others.

The St. Joseph Altar or St. Joseph Table is an old tradition that began in Sicily.  During the Middle Ages a draught threatened to bring about a severe famine.  Only a sea of dust and withered vines remained from what had once been row upon row of brightly colored fruits and vegetables.

And so the people prayed.  They especially called on St. Joseph, considered their patron, to intercede for them, pleading for relief from the famine that gripped the island. At last the rains came and the people rejoiced.  Sometime later, to show their gratitude, they prepared a table in honor of St. Joseph; it held a special assortment of foods they had harvested, which were then distributed to those less fortunate.  The ancient custom is still celebrated, and though Sicilian immigrants introduced the tradition to America, the celebration is not confined to any nationality, but has become a popular custom for many Catholics in America.

St. Bernard students contributed hundreds of canned food items which will be donated to the St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank in Cullman.

Shrove Tuesday celebrated at St. Bernard

Students at St. Bernard Preparatory School prepared for the Lenten Season on Shrove Tuesday with a variety of activities on campus. The day combined a Mardi Gras style celebration as well as a reflection of the Lenten Season which was to begin the next day, Ash Wednesday.

“Fat Tuesday,” as it is sometimes called, was celebrated in style as students gathered in the Brahma Room for a festive musical celebration of Mardi Gras. The main event featured the St.Bernard All Saints Band.  Band director, Lester Harris, had students swaying with tunes entitled “This Thing Called Love," and "When the Saints Go Marching In," and blues tune, "Rip-Snortin' Belly-Scratchin', Hog Wallerin' Blues!"   Highlighting the event was the appearance of the Queen of Mardi Gras, Miss Miriam Stella, who distributed beads and moon pies. 

On a more serious note, Fr. Bede Marcy, Chaplain at St. Bernard Prep, met with the school body to talk about the season of Lent and encouraged students to spend the next forty days offering prayers, penance, and alms.  Traditionally, these practices are part of the Lenten preparation for the celebration of Easter. 

Since the “Alleluia” is not sung during the Lenten Season, Candace Rosenhoover and Sophia Rataj took a piece of paper on which the word “Alleluia” was written and placed it in a decorative box where it will remain until Easter. 

The day also included the burning of last year’s palm leaves which were used on Palm Sunday 2013.  These ashes were used as part of the Ash Wednesday ceremonies opening the Lenten Season.