A long-standing Sicilian tradition that combines faith, family, and community continues to thrive in St. John the Baptist Parish, thanks to the Monica family. For over 75 years, they have honored St. Joseph with a special altar, an important custom rooted in Sicilian culture and religion.
The Tradition’s Origins
The tradition began in 1947 when Vita Monica, a lifelong member of St. Hubert Church in Garyville, Louisiana, created the first St. Joseph Altar at her home while she was expecting her sixth child. Since then, the Monica family has continued this beautiful custom every year. Even after Vita’s passing, her children kept the tradition alive by setting up a smaller altar in their own homes.
The St. Joseph Altar, also called the St. Joseph Table, is an old Sicilian custom that includes food offerings like baked breads, pastries, and fresh produce. These offerings are made in gratitude for blessings and prayers answered. On March 19, the Feast Day of St. Joseph, the family comes together to pray and share food, honoring the patron saint of Sicilians.
The History of the Altar
The altar tradition dates back to a famine in Sicily, where communities prayed to St. Joseph for help. When their prayers were answered, they created elaborate tables filled with food to share with others. Frank Monica, Vita’s son, explains that the tradition is much more than just a family custom: “It’s faith, family, and gratitude.”
A key part of the celebration is a special meatless spaghetti dish, a humble recipe that has been passed down through generations. The dish includes a slightly sweet sauce with cauliflower, a signature of Vita Monica’s cooking. The dish is served at lunch and dinner on March 19 at St. Hubert Church Hall.
The altar also features symbolic items, such as fava beans, also known as “lucky beans,” because they survived the Sicilian famine. Visitors to the altar can take home a fava bean, a St. Joseph prayer card, and traditional Italian cookies.
The Monica Family’s Legacy
The Monica family, originally known as Monaco, moved to Garyville after a local lumber mill attracted workers to the area. Vita and her husband raised eight children, supported by her extended family, including her four sisters, who helped prepare food for the altar each year.
After the death of her husband, Vita relied on her eldest son, Anthony “Sugar Boy” Monica, to help support the family. When Anthony was drafted into the Army in the 1960s, and his brother Epifano “Fano” Monica joined the Marines, Vita prayed to St. Joseph for their safe return.
She promised to create her largest altar in thanksgiving, which she did when both sons came home safely. The altar she built stretched from wall to wall.
Expanding the Tradition to the Community
In recent years, the Monica family has expanded the tradition to include the broader community. In 2025, Frank Monica, along with his wife Nancy and siblings Carl Monica, Anita “Cookie” Accardo, and Maria Stein, partnered with other residents to host the first public St. Joseph Altar at St. Hubert Church Hall.
The event requires weeks of preparation, with family members baking traditional cookies and breads to share and sell before and after Mass. This year’s altar is expected to be even larger, continuing a tradition that blends faith with Sicilian cultural heritage.
For Frank Monica, a retired football coach at St. Charles Catholic High School in LaPlace, the altar is a tribute to his mother and a way to reconnect with the community. He explained, “It’s a way to honor her and bring people together. Everything on the altar has meaning and history.”
Frank Monica, known for his success as a high school football coach, holds the record for the most career wins among coaches in the River Parishes, with more than 280 victories and multiple state championships. He has been inducted into several prestigious sports halls of fame, including the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Preserving the Tradition for Future Generations
As the preparations for the altar continue, the Monica family hopes this beloved tradition will not only be preserved but also passed on to new generations. The St. Joseph Altar continues to be a symbol of faith, gratitude, and cultural heritage in the community.
