With shouts of "Viva San Giuseppe!" and music by the Los Angeles Italian Band, an old-world tradition will take to the streets in San Pedro on Sunday when Italian-American parishioners celebrate St. Joseph's Day.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the local observance that was begun by the late Josina Machi, Giuseppa LaFata and Paolina Manzella, along with Rosaria LoGrande, Nunzia D'Orio and Anna Anania, all immigrants from Sicily.

"When I was a little girl we brought it here," said Josephine Accetta, who was 12 when she came to San Pedro in 1946. "It got bigger and bigger. It's our tradition. "

Her aunt, LaFata, lived on 12th Street where the celebration honoring the church's universal saint began. (St. Joseph's Day is March 19, so the event is marked on the preceding Sunday every year.)

In 1973, the women, members of the Italian Catholic Federation, approached Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church with the idea of moving it to the church each year.

Combined with a Mass and a meatless "poor man's" meal served in the church auditorium - where an elaborate altar to St. Joseph also is erected - the event commemorates deliverance from a famine in Sicily during the Middle Ages.

St. Joseph is regarded by many in Sicily as their patron saint.

He's also considered one of the church's "hero" saints, the Rev. Brian Nunes said, adding that newly elected

Pope Francis also will be installed next week on St. Joseph's Day.
For San Pedro, settled by immigrant European fishing families over the last century, the celebration is a colorful reminder of the town's enduring ethnic mix.

"You don't see stuff at church like this anymore," said Nunes, administrator pro tem of Mary Star. "Here the traditions are alive and well. "

It's also turned into a significant fundraiser for scholarships that are presented to students at Mary Star and other local high schools. The meal is free, but homemade cookies are sold and donations accepted at the church auditorium.

"It started off very small," said Peninsula High School Spanish teacher Rosalia Orlando, whose mother, Manzella, was among the founders. "Every year it got bigger and bigger. "

While attendance probably peaked in the early 1980s with as many as 1,000 participants, the celebration continues to draw a substantial crowd of about 500. Many Italian-Americans in San Pedro - including Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino whose grandmother, LoGrande, was one of the founders - have grown up attending the festivities every year.

"All the old people still keep coming, but sometimes they can't make it all around the church," Accetta said.

Among the most anticipated highlights: Every year a young couple is chosen to portray Joseph and Mary (along with a young child portraying Jesus) to lead the procession from 11:30 a.m. to noon along Seventh and Eighth streets around the church.

There's now a waiting list for the leading roles.

In years past, Orlando and her husband played Mary and Joseph, with their son as Jesus. Later, their son played the role of Joseph.

The procession - which also features a statue of St. Joseph held aloft as the Holy Family knocks on closed doors until they reach their welcome at the auditorium - and meal are both devotional and festive.

"It's a lot of noise," Accetta said of the procession. "It's fun. "

Once inside the auditorium, participants are greeted by an altar heaped with homemade and naturally grown foods - flava beans, fish, squid, fruits and vegetables, pasta and bread.

And lots of cookies, said Accetta who noted she'd made about 1,000 Italian cookies by Friday.

It's all open to the public, she said, and the meal is free, meant to be shared with all who come.

Will the tradition be carried on by future generations?

"I'm sure hoping it will," Orlando said. "I have four sisters and this is one thing we do every year to remember and honor our mother who started this with the other ladies. "

"I keep telling my kids, you've got to continue this," Accetta said.

By Donna Littlejohn