At St. Frances of Rome parents attend classes while their youth are in session. Families are asked to take home a vocation cross each week and to spend the week praying for vocations as a family.
The formation sessions are held on Mondays and Wednesdays in English and Spanish. Having four groups of parents, the parish soon acquired two more crosses so that each parent group would be able to have their own cross to rotate.
Two years ago, the parish rejoiced over the acceptance of Noel Simental as a diocesan seminarian, the first seminarian to come from the parish in years. Sister Angelita Bacleon, M.S.M., likes to think the Vocations Cross program had a hand in the new seminarian.
“We continue to pray for more vocations and for those who are currently in formation,” she said.
Since the Vocations Cross began rotating among the families, the parish has also seen several women express interest in entering a religious community. They are currently continuing their discernment as they attend college.
The parish, along with the Missionary Sisters of Mary, has been working to promote vocations within the community for years. In 2008, the Missionary Sisters were granted permission to open an adoration chapel at the old church location in Lake Elsinore, which now serves as their convent.
The sisters invite ministry groups from the parish to come to the chapel in the evenings and pray for vocations. Several parish ministries consistently visit the chapel to pray.
“We are happy that families are willing to pray each week for vocations,” Sr. Bacleon said. “We all really have to pray for vocations.”