The St. Joseph Altar Committee of St. Charles Borromeo was organized in 1994 by a handful of Church members. Currently, the membership is over 50 members - both male and female.

The St. Joseph Altar started in Italy after a famine hit the area. The local residents prayed to St. Joseph and the fava bean harvest saved the community from starvation.

Each year on the anniversary of St. Joseph's Feast Day, March 19th, an altar used to be erected in his honor. People from all walks of life were invited to share this day with the members. The altar served all meatless dishes and various Italian cookies. All food on the altar was supplied through members, parishioners and area businesses. In addition, twice a year the members of the St. Joseph Altar would make and sell hot tamales to cover the cost of the supplies purchased to hold this altar. Recently we have started making Italian cookies to sell as Christmas gifts as an additional fundraiser.  Today we have a parish potluck instead of the altar, where parishioners are asked to bring their favorite Italian dish to share.

The St. Joseph Altar Committee returns all profits derived from the Altar to various organizations, i.e., St. Vincent Depaul of St. Charles, Picayune Industries, or seminarians, and various nursing homes in the area.

Phone: (601) 798-4779