Elijah Cup Program

The Elijah Cup Program

It's History:

The Elijah Cup originates from the Old Testament, specifically from the story in 1 Kings 17, where Elijah instructs a widow to make bread with the last of her flour and oil during a drought. He promises that if she follows his advice, her supplies will not run out. Sure enough, they ate bread made from those same small ingredients for the next year, having more than enough. In a world that desperately needs vocations, this connection and promise beautifully illustrates that in partnership with our faithfulness, there will be more than enough vocations to serve the Church on earth.

It's Purpose:

The Elijah Cup program helps meet the church's need for vocations by creating a process where a family, couple, or individual receives a chalice at Mass and prays for vocations throughout the week. At the week's end, the chalice is returned to the parish.

The Cup Process:

1. A family, couple, or individual signs up to participate in the Elijah Cup program by emailing the Vocations Ministry: [email protected].
2. The Vocations Ministry notifies a selected family, couple, or individual of the Mass that they will receive the Cup.
3. At the end of Mass but before the final blessing, the Priest calls the participant forward to receive the Elijah Cup.
4. The participant receives a blessing and takes the cup home for one week. (Sunday through Saturday).
5. The participant is asked to place the cup in a prominent location in their home.
6. The participant prays for vocations using the prayers provided by the Vocations Ministry or similar prayers each day of the week they have the Cup.
7. The participant returns the Cup to the Deacon or Vocations Ministry the following Sunday.

The Elijah Cup is another way to pray for increased vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and religious life from men and women who hear God's call and courageously answer it.