Sign up cards are now available by the doors of the church for the Elijah Cup. The Elijah Cup
 A Focal Point of Prayer for Vocations 
 Praying for vocations is the most powerful way to support vocations. A vocation is a call from the Holy Spirit, a gift from God that is nurtured in prayer. When we pray for vocations, we lift up to our Father those men and women who he is calling in a very special way. We hope that those who bring the cup home will continue to pray for vocations daily. What is the Elijah Cup?
 The purpose of the Elijah Cup, a consecrated chalice, is to provide a focal point of prayer. We are all aware of the need for vocations to the priesthood, the diaconate and to the religious life. But sometimes we forget just how powerful praying for an increase in vocations can be. If we pray with the faith of the widow of Zarapeth, our cup will never run dry! We will always have priests to bring us Jesus in the Eucharist.
 
 Background
 In 1 Kings 17, during a drought, Elijah tells the poor widow of Zarapeth that if she makes him a small loaf of bread with the last of her flour and oil, her "jar of flour will not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, until the Lord sends rain upon the earth." In faith, the widow baked the bread and fed Elijah. For the next year, the widow, her son, and Elijah ate bread made from the bowl of flour and jug of oil. How does it work?
 The Elijah Cup will be passed from family to family, each week at one of the Masses. The family, couple or individual will take the Chalice home, putting it in a place of honor. Each day for a week, during prayer time (morning, bedtime or at meals), they pray for an increase and perseverance of vocations. The following week they return the Elijah Cup. A prayer journal also travels with the Elijah Cup. Each week the family, individual, or couple that has the cup enters a thought, prayer, or scripture verse. Over time, this diary will become a spiritual journal for the parish. The Elijah Cup program is part of St. Paul’s Sesquicentennial Celebration.