PROMOTING HOMEGROWN VOCATIONS THROUGH
THE STOLE & CHALICE PROGRAM
Throughout
the Archdiocese of Southern California, many parishes are working on new and
innovative ways, to promote vocations to the priesthood and religious
life.
The Stole & Chalice Program, was initially brought forth from the
Vocations Office of Los Angeles, under the direction of Monsignor Jim
Forsen.
This program provides the
opportunity for a parish family to receive a liturgical stole, chalice and
prayer folder, during the Mass, to present to a family to have in their home for one to two weeks.
The family would then display the stole and
chalice and as a family unit pray together for priests, seminarians and new
vocations to the priesthood.
The prayer
binder provided would contain prayers and materials to enhance their week-long
commitment.
The primary objective, is
directed towards promoting needed vocations to the priesthood and to inspire
homegrown vocations within the family.
It also serves to bring attention to the need of prayer for vocations
and quiet reflection on those going through the formation process for the
priesthood.
Each
Southern California parish that participates
in the Stole & Chalice Program
determines how extensive the program will be.
A number of parishes have the
program once a week, which requires a fair amount of coordination to obtain
family volunteers, schedule advanced mass participation, etc.
Typically, just one family per week receives
the stole, chalice and prayer binder, from the priest during Mass.
After the completed time with the program, the family then returns the items to the parish
office one week later so the Vocations Director or Promoter will have them available for the next family.
It is entirely up to the Vocations Director,
or promoter, to coordinate with the family and the celebrating priest for that
week so everything runs smoothly.
There
are many benefits and graces for a family trying to foster a vocation by participating in the Stole & Chalice Program.
With my work with this program as a promoter, it was noted that a
participating family was fostering more than one vocation. Their son, an Altar Server,
was presented with the Chalice. That family now has a son, who is clearly discerning
a vocation to the priesthood as a result of the Stole & Chalice Program as well as another child.
Many families have found the program inspiring
and beneficial in their ministry as parents to promote a homegrown vocation, as
well as a wonderful way to bring them
together in prayer.
I have noted many
families who have found it to be a positive, enriching program.
I am a believer that all holy vocations start
with the prayer of the family or parish community.
The
Stole & Chalice Program is an
excellent way to promote homegrown vocations.
It offers quality family time for prayers, a Rosary, viewing a vocations
DVD, Vocation prayer cards, list of Sacred Websites and much more. Some families
create their individual sacramental moments such as when they write their personal
prayer, place it in the chalice, and then pray over it together as a
family.
One mother, during one summer, participated
for three weeks and had the stole in plain sight. That family is now fostering two vocations to
the priesthood.
The power and grace of
having a sacramental stole and chalice displayed in the family home is amazing
and inspiring for teenagers.
More
important, families are brought together in quality prayer for prayer and
reflection.
The
education and holy experience of families participating in the Stole & Chalice Program continues
to be a great benefit in fostering homegrown vocations throughout many Southern California parishes.
This simple program reminds families that “Yes!"
“We need more vocations to the priesthood," “We need prayers for our priests,"
“We need prayer for our
seminarians.” “We need young women to
consider religious life." It is a
program that any parish in America
It simply takes a good coordinator the
schedule and provide the stole, chalice and detailed prayer binder with
materials.
It is a perfect program for
the Season of Advent or Lent. Please
consider it within your parish community.
All
vocations start with pray.
- Leslie
Lenko
