Four American nuns are adding a unique dash of New Orleans spice to a Moray celebration of their church’s patron saint.
The Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia traded Nashville, Tennessee, for Elgin’s Greyfriar’s Convent in August 2013.
Last year, during a celebration feast of St Joseph — the patron saint of St Sylvester’s Church in Elgin — the sisters shared a Sicilian tradition, which is still popular in Louisiana, with the church’s youth group and parents.
The St Joseph Altar started in the Middle Ages in Sicily when prayers to St Joseph at an altar adorned with decorations and food brought the people relief from a famine.
Now St Sylvester’s shall display its Scottish take on an altar on Friday and Saturday.
The display will be three-tiered with a statue of St Joseph forming the centrepiece.
St Sylvester’s member Karen Wiles said: “Last year the Dominican Sisters prepared pasta and bread dishes, and the particular tradition alive in New Orleans of honouring him by constructing special altars full of food and symbolism.
“A few of the mums were fascinated by the beauty and tradition of these spectacular sights, and the great good that could be achieved in and around Elgin where many are in food poverty.
“And, of course, it looked like a good fun thing for our church community to get together to do.”
The nuns put the church group in touch with a New Orleans woman called Irene DiPietro, who is part of the Italian community there.
Ms DiPietro was handed down the tradition of St Joseph Altars from her Sicilian grandmother and creates an altar in her Italian restaurant in New Orleans every year.
However, this year, she is making a special trip to Elgin to help set up one of our own.
Ms Wiles added: “We have been speaking to Irene over Skype, and she has sent all sorts of stuff across that we will need to create our altar. She has been really inspirational, and generous in all ways, and we look forward to welcoming her here to St Sylvester’s in March.”
Sister Anna Christi said: “We would love for the community of Elgin to join us in celebrating this tradition and come pray at and view the altar, which will be taking place for the first time, as far as any of the locals are aware, in Scotland.”
Once the altar is broken up, the goods will go to local food banks and to meeting needs around the homebound of Elgin.