Commitment to daily prayer brings families closer and promotes vocations

Three parishes organize programs to boost awareness of vocations in everyday life

By Phyllis Hemann
Associate Editor

Parishes and schools around the diocese regularly pray for vocations and search for ways to promote the religious life and vocations to all ages.

Several parishes have found a way to actively involve parish families and organizations in promoting vocations each week through a program where people take charge of a religious item as a reminder to pray daily.

Prayer for Vocations Click here

Since 1998, St. Bernard of Clairvaux Church in Bella Vista has had the "Vocations Cross." Christ the King Church in Little Rock began their "Vocations Chalice" program approximately three years ago. Their program inspired Our Lady of the Holy Souls Church in Little Rock to also start a "Vocations Chalice" program in April.

Every week at Mass a different family takes home the cross or chalice, places it in a place of honor and comes together to pray daily for vocations. A special prayer is provided to say each day.

"To have that chalice present in the home that the priest uses to consecrate the blood of Christ, it is incredibly special. There is a respect for what it represents," said Mary Battreal, coordinator of the Vocations Chalice at Christ the King. "When we were the family that had it, my granddaughter was excited about it. She kept asking me 'Can I see it? Can I touch it?' It makes an impression on all ages, and that in itself promotes vocations."

The prayer that Holy Souls gives each family to pray (See sidebar) was written by their pastor and diocesan assistant vocations director Father Erik Pohlmeier.

"We wanted to enhance a vocations-friendly environment, and this sounded like a perfect way to do that. It is something visible that people can take part in, and that makes young people or any age think about vocations," said David Easley, coordinator of the Vocations Chalice for Holy Souls.

St. Bernard gives a cross out at their two Masses, while Christ the King and Holy Souls presents the chalice to a parish family at one of their Masses.

When Holy Souls began their program, they made a system where parishioners or parish organizations can sign up online to have the chalice. People can sign up at Christ the King and St. Bernard by phone.

Participation is not limited to families with small children, Battreal said. Any parish member can sign-up -- families with grown children, older couples, singles, parish groups and classes all have taken part in these vocation prayer programs. The only requirement is daily prayer in a designated area where the chalice or cross is.

The emphasis is on vocations to the priesthood and religious, but participants are encouraged to pray to strengthen their own vocation and for whatever vocation children in their family may have.

"Some families have told us that it's the only time the family prays together. They find it a wonderful experience on many different levels," Battreal said.

The chalice, she said, is a strong reminder of the need for vocations to the priesthood.

"This has made people much more aware of vocations. Without priests, there will be no Eucharist for us. It strikes at the heart of the matter. Through this people see that to get priests, you have to pray for them."

Carol Lantz and her husband recently had the chalice from Holy Souls in their home for the week.

"It was important to us because of what the purpose is -- praying for vocations," she said. "If it's meant for someone in our family or for somebody else, then that's fine. It is about the prayers."

When starting this ministry, all three of the parishes were looking for a way to raise awareness of vocations and the need to pray for them.

"This has prompted all members of our parish to communicate casually about vocations. It impacts our identity as a parish," said Conrad Battreal, who leads the vocations committee at Christ the King.

The parish is also proud, he said, of their three current seminarians. They pray for them by name each week, and a recent homily by their pastor Msgr. Francis I. Malone reminded them to continue praying. Two more young men from Christ the King are expected to enter the seminary this fall.

"We're very thankful for our seminarians," he said. "The Vocations Chalice is fantastic, super for vocations and encouraging people to pray for it. It is a visual symbol to the parish."

Originally, St. Bernard Church was mostly made up of retired people, but now they have a larger number of families with children. They are participating in the program now, and Vocations Cross coordinator Hank Schlapkohl said maybe one day it will inspire one of those young people to seek a religious vocation.

Their "Vocation Cross" began as a fourth-degree Knights of Columbus project in the area, he said, and has positively impacted the parish as a whole.

"It is a way that involves a large group of people to pray for vocations. The more we get involved, the more pray for vocations," Schlapkohl said. "The prayers are paying off, because of the increase of vocations in the diocese."

Prayer for Vocations

Loving Father, you speak in the hearts of all your sons and daughters. Help us to know your voice and to respond generously. Make us faithful witnesses to your love in the world. Raise up for us young men and women willing to place their lives in the service of your Church.

Bless those who today are following that call. Give them a desire to serve you and your people.

Help families so that openness and generosity will first be learned in the home.

Through the intercession of Mary, whose "yes" brought your Son into the world, give us the courage to respond always according to your will.

Amen.

Written by Father Erik Pohlmeier, 2011

Click here to see the index of stories in Arkansas Catholic's Vocations 2011 special section.

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