Siena on Brendenwood hosts St. Joseph's Altar - WREX.com – Rockford’s News Leader

Siena on Brendenwood hosts St. Joseph's Altar

An Italian tradition was brought to a local retirement community on Tuesday.

Siena on Brendenwood hosted a St. Joseph's Altar event complete with cookies, cakes, and traditional St. Joseph Altar food.

The tradition began in the Middle Ages when the people of Sicily prayed to St. Joseph to end a severe drought in exchange for a large feast. The rain came, and altars to the saint were built and adorned with food from the harvest.

The event began at 9:00 a.m. with a blessing of the altar and a recitation of the Rosary in Italian. A table was also set for people representing the Holy Family and St. Catherine of Siena.

The altar was made of donations from around the community and monetary and extra food donations will go toward feeding the poor in the community.