FIVE STAR PROGRAM RESOURCES

Traveling Chalice or Crucifix:
There are many different suppliers and options to obtain your traveling chalice or crucifix and case. We are going to just provide a few for you.

If you are using a chalice, your parish or priest may know of a chalice you can use. The Knights of Columbus may even be willing to purchase the chalice and carrying case for you. Often a parishioner may want to build the case for transporting the chalice or crucifix.
Shown below are examples products from Leaflet Missal to give you ideas. Chalices range in price from $92 for a 5 inch high one to many thousands. Item below: Chalice and Paten ($315), Crucifix and removable base ($23) and Carrying Case ($150).

The following websites seem to have items at reasonable prices:

www.leafletonline.com
www.st-jude.com
www.churchsuppliescatalog.com
www.thecatholicshop.com
www.oconnorscatholicsupply.com

The Elijah Cup (Traveling Chalice Program - Atlanta, GA)

The Traveling Crucifix (Arlington, VA)

Prayer Journal
A journal is an important part of the program as it allows you to keep track of people interested in vocations and get their ideas. It is nice if the journal fits in the carrying case so we recommend using a smaller spiral notebook with an attractive cover when you can print—something like:

St. Mary’s Traveling Chalice Program

On the first page, ask participants to record their reactions to praying for vocations and sign their name. It is good to include the name and contact information for the coordinator of the program on the inside of the front cover in case of questions.
Here are some suggested family vocation prayers.

Family Vocation Prayers

Prayer #1
Almighty and eternal God, in your unfailing love you provide ministers for your Church. We pray for those whom you call to serve the Church of ___________ as priests. Inspire in them a generous response. Grant them courage and vision to serve your people. May their lives and service call your people to respond to the presence of your Spirit among us that, faithful to the Gospel and hope of Jesus the Christ, we may: announce glad tidings to the poor, proclaim liberty to captives, set prisoners free and renew the face of the earth.

Prayer #2
O God, Father of all Mercies, Provider of a bountiful Harvest, send Your Graces upon those You have called to gather the fruits of Your labor; preserve and strengthen them in their lifelong service of You.

Open the hearts of your children that they may discern Your Holy Will; inspire in them a love and desire to surrender themselves to serving others in the name of Your son, Jesus Christ.

Teach all Your faithful to follow their respective paths in life guided by Your Divine Word and Truth. Through the intercession of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, all the Angels, and Saints, humbly hear our prayers and grant Your Church's needs, through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer #3
Loving and Generous God, it is You who call us by name and ask us to follow You.
Help us to grow in the Love and Service of our Church as we experience it today.
Give us the energy and courage of Your Spirit to shape its future.
Grant us faith-filled leaders who will embrace Christ's Mission of love and justice.
Bless the Church of ___________ by raising up dedicated and generous leaders
from our families and friends who will serve Your people as Priests, Sisters, Brothers, Deacons and Lay Ministers.
Inspire us to know You better and open our hearts to hear Your call.
We ask this through our Lord. Jesus Christ, Amen.

Prayer #4
O God, Who wish all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of Your truth send, we beg You, laborers into Your harvest, and grant them grace to speak Your word with all boldness; so that Your word may spread and be glorified, and all nations may know You, the only God, and Him Whom You have sent, Jesus Christ Your Son, Our Lord, Who lives and reigns world without end. Amen.

Prayer #5
Heavenly Father, You have asked us to pray for vocations, that there might be young men and women willing to give of themselves for the sake of the Gospel. Hear the prayers of your Church and, through the merits of Your Passion and Death, send an abundance of good and holy priests, Religious and other consecrated persons to serve faithfully the People of God. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Mary, Mother of all vocations, pray for us!

Prayers of Pope Benedict XVI -On the World Day of Prayer for Vocations 2006
Grant, O Father, that the Church may welcome with joy the numerous inspirations of the Spirit of Your Son and, docile to His teachings, may she care for vocations to the ministerial priesthood and to the consecrated life. Amen.
Sustain, O Lord, bishops, priests and deacons, consecrated men and women, and all the baptized in Christ, so that they may faithfully fulfill their mission at the service of the Gospel. Amen.

Bulletin Inserts
Bulletin announcements concerning vocations are of varying length are available here: Bulletin Inserts (Part 1) and Bulletin Inserts (Part 2). Simply cut and paste or print from the 52 week supply.

Additional suggestions maybe found here: Parish Bulletin Clips

Publicity Announcements for Events
Please note: there are materials and information throughout this website for all of these programs and others for your use each year.

Five Star Program for Vocations Brochure (Tri-fold)

Traveling Chalice Announcements:
We are launching the “Traveling Chalice Program” in our parish. We encourage parishioners to take the Chalice home for a week and pray for vocations!
Simply put it in a prominent place, pray (prayers are included) and talk about vocations.
We will start with the ____Mass. Sign up will be next weekend!

To promote family prayer and awareness of vocations, we are introducing The Traveling chalice Program. It will be easy to participate in the program. Each week, a parishioner will take the Chalice home, put it in a prominent place and pray daily for vocations.

Suitable prayers are included. They may wish to talk about vocations, the need for priests and religious and how they can affirm priests and religious in their vocations.

In response to Christ’s call, “Pray the LORD of the Harvest that there be laborers for the vineyard”, we are presenting the Traveling Chalice Program. Each week a family or individual will accept the responsibility of praying for vocations. They will be provided with the prayers and Chalice to use as a focal point and reminder during meals. Watch for the sign up weekend coming soon!

The “31 Club” Announcements:
The “31 Club” is a great club to belong to! No dues, no meetings, just put your name on the sign in the in the vestibule of the Church and attend one Mass a month to pray for vocations. (Some say a Rosary or spend an hour in an Adoration Chapel.) You pick the day of the month and pray particularly for vocations on that day. Remember our most powerful ally when it comes to vocations is prayer!

The “31 Club” is a group of people in our parish who are praying for vocations. There will be an opportunity to join “the Club” this week and next weekend. We will have cards in the pews for you to sign if you can go to Mass, offering it for an increase in vocations, on a date you choose, each month for a year.
Although everyone has a vocation (priesthood, consecrated life, marriage or single life) prayers are requested for an increase of those called to priesthood or religious life to respond generously.
If you cannot attend Mass, you may want to say a Rosary, pray at an Adoration Chapel or say extra prayers for vocations. Watch for the poster showing the names of those who joined “the Club”!

Priesthood Sunday Announcements:
Priesthood Sunday is a special day set aside to honor the priesthood in the United States. It is a day to reflect upon and affirm the role of the priesthood in the life of the Church as a central one. In keeping with the theme, our parish is planning ………..

Priesthood Sunday is a day when Catholic parishes show support for their priests with prayer, celebration and dialogue. The purpose of Priesthood Sunday is to engage every level of the church in a conversation about the priesthood. Let’s show appreciation for …….. who serves us so faithfully!

We are planning to ………..
Priesthood Sunday is next weekend. Our priests give of themselves every day in so many different ways. It is an honor to recognize them and show appreciation for all that they do for us. Priesthood Sunday is celebrated across the United States and our parish is planning ………..

Today is Priesthood Sunday, a day to reflect on all our parish priests do for us. They are there for us from cradle to grave and we rely on them day in and day out. Without the Sacrifice of Holy Mass, we would have no Eucharist, the heart of our faith. Please join us as we……………..

Information for other Vocation events:

Celebrate Priesthood Sunday!

World Day of Prayer for Vocations
World Day of Prayer for Vocations is celebrated on Good Shepherd Sunday (the fourth Sunday of Easter). Resources available here: Planning Kits, these planning kits include lesson plans, promotion announcements, prayer service ideas, and more.

Additional information can be found at http://www.vianneyvocations.com and
http://usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/vocations/

World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life
National Vocations Awareness Week
World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life and National Vocations Awareness Week are two additional major events we invite you to consider. There are, again, resources here: Planning Kits, these planning also have extensive aids and suggestions.

SCRIPT FOR HOLY HOUR FOR VOCATIONS

1. Format without priest present

1) Opening Song:
Be not Afraid, Here I am, Lord, Lord, Whose Love in Humble Service, Servant Song, Ubi Caritas, Where Charity and Love Prevail, We are Called, The Summons, (or other fitting vocation/servant songs).

2) Brief introduction and invitation to prayer by the leader:

Leader: In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. All: Amen.

Leader: Lord we ask you to open our minds and hearts to your Spirit. Help all of us to be open and ever discerning of Your will for our lives. We pray that all of us may respond generously and lovingly to unique calling to a state of life that you have designed us to live and have planned for us. We pray to have hearts as Mary, always freely and joyfully saying “yes” to you in all your plans; that we may say with Mary “Be it done unto me according to your will, Lord!” We ask this through Christ our Lord,

All: Amen

3) Reading of Scripture: One or two selections of readings can be chosen for this time.

Suggested readings:

Harvest is abundant Lk 10:1-9
You didn’t choose me, but I chose you JN 15:16-17
Come and see JN 1:35-39
Calling of Samuel I Sm 3:1-10
Parable of the Five Talents Mt 25:14-30
Joseph be not afraid to take Mary as your wife Mt 1:18-25
Give your as a living sacrifice Rm 12:1-2
Calling of Jeremiah Jer 29:11-16/Jer 1:4-94)

4) Reflection/Meditation on the Scripture

5) Silent prayer and possible music (the Rosary may also be said here).

6) Intercessions (use these or write your own)

As we gather here to pray together, let us ask that God opens our hearts to His call for each of our lives.

We pray for all those who are seeking their calling to a permanent state of life, that they may not fear the calling of the Lord and that they may respond lovingly.