Thousands of cookies and breads shared an altar with statues honoring the Blessed Family. The Metairie Manor residents guild spent months planning the altar that opened to the public on March 14th.

The altar was placed in the large dining room at the facility. It served as a meeting place for some of the residents to come together to talk about traditions, many mentioning several superstitions that come with the St. Joseph's Altar.



The women all agreed that if a lemon was taken off the altar then that woman would soon be married or even be with child.
The altar also served as a place to remember those who have passed on.
Metairie Manor guild president, Janice Nicholas, says that it took the residents more than a week to bake the 3,000 cookies that lined the altar. The breads that were creatively shaped were purchased from a local bakery. They came in many shapes, like that of an alligator, a saw and even a ladder among other things. Those breads were meant to represent Louisiana and the history of St. Joseph, the foster father of Jesus, who spent his life as a carpenter.


There were fancy cakes that were also baked by the residents or donated. Metairie Manor resident and guild treasurer, Frances Munaco, says the best part of the altar is a statue of the Blessed Mother. She says that the statue is donated to the altar every year by a resident.

Mrs. Frances says that while she's not of Italian descent, she married into an Italian family. Frances says that they hold the tradition of the St. Joseph's altar sacred. One of the biggest traditions is that of the "lucky beans" which were placed in glass containers on the altar. 
The Metairie Manor guild says they hope to expand the altar next year and invite additional Christopher Homes sites to attend.