Annual Christmas Dinner 2013
Annual Spaghetti Dinner - October 12 & 13, 2013
Wow! What a weekend...many, many thanks to all the Ladies of the Sodality on another, very successful fundraiser. We are incredibly blessed with talented and gifted members, all of which contributed this weekend to make it extra special. Details of how successful will be posted as soon as we know the results. More thanks to our parish families from St. Henry's and St. Elizabeth's for your continued support of the LAS efforts to ensure the needs of the altar are met. We could not do it without your support
St. Joseph's Altar - Sunday, March 18, 2012
St. Joseph's Altar began many centuries ago in Sicily after a terrible famine. During the drout, the people of Siciliy prayed to St. Joseph, their patron saint, for relief. Their prayers were answered and the famine ended. In gratitude, they prepared a table with foods they had harvested. After paying homage to St. Joseph, they distributed the food to the less fortunate.
The altar is traditionally set up in three tiers, representing the Holy Trinity. A statue of St. Joseph is placed on the top tier surrounded by flowers, greenery, and oranges, which represent the sweetness of St. Joseph. Breads, cakes and sweets are baked in symbolic Christian shapes--chalices, crosses, doves and lambs--and are placed on the altar. No meat is found on the table due to the feast occuring during the Lenten Season.
The fava bean, called the "lucky bean" may be the most interesting item found on the altar. The fava continued to grow during the famine and provided food for the Sicilian people to survive. Some believe that a pantry containing a fava will never go bare. It serves as a token of the altar, a reminder of God's provisions through the intercession of St. Joseph.
All attendees of the 2012 St. Joseph's Altar celebration took home a gift bag from the Ladies Altar Sodality containing a fava bean, an orange, a baked item, a St. Joseph's prayer card, and a note explaining the history of St. Joseph's Altar. Lunch was provided to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish by Jim and Nick's BBQ.
May Saint Joseph always smile upon you!
The altar is traditionally set up in three tiers, representing the Holy Trinity. A statue of St. Joseph is placed on the top tier surrounded by flowers, greenery, and oranges, which represent the sweetness of St. Joseph. Breads, cakes and sweets are baked in symbolic Christian shapes--chalices, crosses, doves and lambs--and are placed on the altar. No meat is found on the table due to the feast occuring during the Lenten Season.
The fava bean, called the "lucky bean" may be the most interesting item found on the altar. The fava continued to grow during the famine and provided food for the Sicilian people to survive. Some believe that a pantry containing a fava will never go bare. It serves as a token of the altar, a reminder of God's provisions through the intercession of St. Joseph.
All attendees of the 2012 St. Joseph's Altar celebration took home a gift bag from the Ladies Altar Sodality containing a fava bean, an orange, a baked item, a St. Joseph's prayer card, and a note explaining the history of St. Joseph's Altar. Lunch was provided to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish by Jim and Nick's BBQ.
May Saint Joseph always smile upon you!
2010 Annual Christmas Dinner ~ Monday, December 6
Over 40 ladies attended the annual Christmas Dinner. Char House catered the event and all enjoyed a wonderful meal with 'the holy women of Gardendale' (quoted from Fr. Deering's opening prayer to begin our lovely evening). Dessert was divine and our Secret Santa gift exchange was enjoyed by all who attended. A special 'thank you' to Deb for the wonderful pictures and to Anthony Bishop for the outstanding Christmas Tree!
"Breakfast At Bettie's" ~ Saturday, December 4, 2010
The ladies gathered at Bettie's house once again this year to prepare special Christmas boxes for our homebound and/or sick parishioners. Over 40 boxes were prepared this year--and in record time! How wonderful it is that we can gather together in a home so blessed and spread love and more blessings to those who may need a little cheer this year. Thank you to all the ladies who took time this year to fellowship at Bettie's and spread the love of CHRISTmas to our extended St. Elizabeth Ann Seton families!
Ladies Day Retreat at Blessed Sacrament Church
October 9, 2010
What a wonderful day at Blessed Sacrament! Twenty-six ladies from both St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and St. Henry's traveled by our church vans to this beautiful church for a day spent with our Lord. Fr. Joseph Underwood spoke to the group about prayer. Afterwards, Fr. Underwood and Fr. Jim Booth celebrated Mass. The ladies were provided the opportunity to pray in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament during Adoration and the Sacrament of Confession. Lunch was served downstairs in the Parish Hall and included a question and answer discussion with Fr. Jim Booth. All the ladies commented what a wonderful way to get away from our daily routines and choose 'the better part' in His presence. We are looking forward to our future plans for another Women's Retreat.
Annual Spaghetti Dinner - September 18-19, 2010
Fr. Deering mingling with our spaghetti dinner guests.
Word has it that this years spaghetti was the best yet! All totaled, the ladies sold 422 plates of spaghetti (take out and eat in)! Our spaghetti dinner is the Sodality's largest fundraiser of the year. All proceeds of the spaghetti dinner provide funds to support the needs of the altar, i.e. candles, linens, cassocks, surpluses, etc. Our raffle included artwork purchased at the El Nino gift shop in Hanceville. The total raised was over $3,000! Many thanks to all the ladies who worked so hard for the success of the dinner and all our parishioners from St. Elizabeth's and St. Henry's that supported our efforts!