By Erika Anderson

Staff Writer

CUMMING-Lucy Daniels has always prayed that her children would be open to a Religious vocation.

At Pinecrest Academy, many families have been praying for an increase in and an openness to vocations in a unique and powerful way since December.

A Mass celebrated at Pinecrest by Archbishop John F. Donoghue began a tradition at Pinecrest that families have responded to in an overwhelming way.

The chalice, in which the archbishop consecrated the wine, was then passed onto the Daniels family, who kept the chalice for a week, committing to pray for vocations as a family.

"Every night we knelt around the place where we had the chalice," Mrs. Daniels said. "We prayed for our own children and their vocation that whatever that might be we'd be open to it."

Arlene Gannon, dean of students, said that the response from the families was so overwhelming that a second chalice was started.

"What happened was that families saw this as an opportunity to pray for vocations on special occasions," she said. "They signed up for the chalice on birthdays and anniversaries and things like that. We needed to start a second chalice, but we wanted to hold to the tradition that the archbishop would always use the chalice first."

The archbishop celebrated a second Mass in his residence and the second chalice was started.

The families receive the chalice at a special eucharistic holy hour held each Thursday night at the school, during which time the entire Pinecrest community joins together to pray for vocations.

"We have many families who are open to the idea of God possibly calling their children to a vocation," Gannon said. "We have to pray that our children will give our Lord the first shot in their lives."

Gannon said that the prayer for a vocation is just one way that the Legionaries of Christ, the order of priests that guides the school, works for families. They also hold retreats for mothers and fathers.

"We're not just working with the kids," Gannon said. "We have to have holy moms and holy dads. It is for the entire family because that's where vocations come from-the family."

Father John Curran, LC, chaplain of Pinecrest, said that several of the children have expressed desires to pursue a vocation. Other children are interested in helping as lay people. He is pleased that the families of the school are willing to pray for vocations.

"It's very beautiful," he said. "I've been able to pray with several of the families and it's beautiful to see."

Father Curran said that he was not surprised by the response to the chalices.

"There is a real love for the faith there and a love for the church," he said.

Daniels said that besides responding to the call for vocations, there were other advantages to having the chalice in her family's home.

"It's so important to have new vocations in our church and prayer is the best way to obtain them," she said. "To have the chalice in our home, especially one (in which wine has) been consecrated in, is a reminder that that's where we get our strength, from the Body and Blood of Christ."

Daniels also feels united to other Pinecrest families.

"We're praying for each other," she said. "Our family prays for the family that has the cup. It joins us and it helps with that family atmosphere."

Gannon said that her prayer is that the families know the beauty of vocations.

"I hope we develop an understanding and a real love for what God is calling us to, because God is calling each one of us by name."