La Nova Pizzeria Holds Annual St. Joseph's Table
Eric Ortner
North Buffalo Rocket / West Side Times
Joseph Licata is served a tasty bowl of pasta by Joe Todaro, Sr., while Pete Todaro serves up some lentils. photo: Eric OrtnerOn Thursday, March 16th, La Nova's Pizzeria Inc. held its annual St. Joseph's Day Table. As always, the Todaro Family put together a splendid meal and show. The table raised close to $5,000 dollars this year. All of the proceeds were donated to thirteen local charities.
In the standard tradition, lilies, holy bread, pineapple, fruits and wheat surrounded a statue of St. Joseph on the altar table. In the usual manner, many city officials and famous personalities were on hand to help serve the delightful cuisine.
The table was blessed by Father Angchimera from Nativity and Father Morino, who is currently unassigned to a parish, but has most recently been working at St. Margaret's. After the blessing, the seats were continuously filled as hungry people came in to sample some of this year's delicacies. Joe Todaro, Sr. commented about the crowds at the Feast of St. Joseph by saying, "Normally we get a few thousand. They'll just be coming in and coming in."
So how do you prepare a meal for a few thousand people? With a whole lot of help! The kitchen was mobbed with staff and a few volunteers, making dough, saucing pizza, filling artichokes, stirring lentils and cooking pasta. Although it was certainly a lot of work, the staff seemed to be enjoying it.
They were very friendly and making jokes. When asked how many people he had working for him, Joseph Todaro responded, "Could be a hundred, but who knows!"
The Feast of St. Joseph is a Sicilian tradition based on the story of the Great Drought. St. Joseph is the patron saint of the poor. During the Middle Ages in Sicily the Landlords made a promise to St. Joseph, if he could intercede with the Lord to end the great drought they would open their manors and serve the poor.
The tradition of St. Joseph's Day has continued in the New World, as Italian immigrants have brought it with them. Joe Todaro, Jr. informed that the proceeds from this year's charity went to Children's Hospital, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, West Side Community Services, 1490 Jefferson, Annunciation Church, Nativity Church, Our Lady of Coretta, Holy Angels Church, Cooleys Anemia, St. Margaret's Church, St. Paul's Church, and St. Anthony's Church.
