We invite all households (whether you're a family, a couple, or an individual) to sign up to take home the Chalice for a week and to spiritually fill it with your prayers for an increase in vocations!
To sign up, click the button below:
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"Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will
receive it and it shall be yours." Mark 11:24
There was once a small village that was suffering from a severe drought.
The crops were dying, and the villagers and their animals had very little
water to drink. One day, to try to find a solution to the drought, the village
priest called the villagers to gather at the village square to pray together for
rain. Only one little boy brought an umbrella.
Since I was a child, I have heard people pray for an increase of vocations to
the Priesthood and Consecrated Life while also hearing about the sharp
decline of those answering God’s call. We are so blessed with the Priests,
Deacons, and Consecrated brothers and sisters here in the Diocese of
Rochester, AND we need to pray for more men and women to answer
God’s call to serve in ministry.
When you pray for rain, bring an umbrella.
Today I am pleased to announce the launching of the St. Louis Church
Vocations Chalice. This is a program first developed in the Diocese of
Atlanta and since then, promoted by the USCCB for all Dioceses, Churches,
and Schools to adopt. The purpose of the Vocations Chalice is to encourage
families to pray for and promote vocations to the Priesthood and
Consecrated Life.
Each week at one of our Masses, an assigned family or parishioner will be
called by the priest to come forward to receive the chalice, a blessing, and
a binder of suggested prayers for the week. The family takes the chalice
home and puts it in a place of honor. Each day for a week, during prayer
time (morning, bedtime or at meals), the family prays for an increase to and
perseverance of vocations. They can also send a note of support to a
Seminarian, Priest or Sister. The following Sunday the family returns the
chalice bag for another family or parishioner to take home.
We will launch this program on the first Sunday in Advent, November 27th
at the 10:30 AM Mass. Each month the Vocations Chalice will be handed out
at a different Mass so that all our parishioners, no matter what Mass they
attend, will have an opportunity to participate. If you would like to sign up to
take the Vocations Chalice home for a week, a signup sheet will be located
in the Narthex after all the Masses on the weekends of November 13th and
20th. After that, we will use an online sign-up for weekly signups.
I would be very happy to speak to anyone interested in participating in or
coordinating this new ministry at St. Louis Church. You can reach me at
585-586-5675 x 5228 or [email protected].
The harvest is great but the laborers are few. Let us together beg the
Master of the harvest to send out laborers.
God bless,
Rebecca Mitrousis, Pastoral Care Associate