#18. School Traveling Crucifix Program

Summary

The School Traveling Crucifix Program provides students with a significant focal point for daily prayer in the classroom—and for conversation about the importance of vocations.

A beautiful crucifix is selected to “travel” to different classrooms in a school, with each class committing to host the crucifix for one week and to pray daily for vocations.

This is a wonderful—and easy-to-organize—way to involve students in praying for vocations, and to unite the school in perpetual prayer for priests and consecrated life.  This program and a similar one for parishes and dioceses have enjoyed growing popularity around the country.  Many Serra Clubs and Knights of Columbus have been willing to cover the cost of the Traveling Crucifix Kit.

Program Outline

• Traveling crucifix program
  • Provides students with focal point for daily prayer
  • Provides students with focal point for conversation about vocations
• Crucifix is selected to be taken from classroom to classroom within a school
  • Each class commits to…
    • host for one week
    • pray daily for vocations
• Easy-to-organize way to…
  • involve students in praying for vocations
  • unite the school in perpetual prayer for priests and consecrated life
• Program has enjoyed growing popularity around America

Implementation

Using Serrans / Volunteers

• Acquiring crucifix
• Organizing / keeping track of schedule as to which classroom hosts the crucifix which week of the school year

Program History, Development, and Additional Resources

There are many different suppliers and options to obtain your Traveling Crucifix. The Serra Store at Vianney Vocations has a complete kit available with a carrying case, Crucifix, holy cards and an explanation of the program at the following link:

https://www.vianneyvocations.com/product/traveling-vocation-crucifix/

Other options could include securing a crucifix, having a parishioner make a carrying case, ordering prayer cards and printing out the teachers notebook from the website.  It is great to put the kit in a “Catholic” bag to transport it. Often parishioners have a neat bag left over from a Catholic Conference.

Among best practices is the following programmatic outline that’s ready to use in your diocese or parish or school:

1. This program can be implemented in a variety of settings. Obtain the support of the person who has oversight for the chosen setting:

a. The principal for a school setting

b. The Superintendent of Catholic Schools for a diocesan-wide initiative

2. Whether the program is initiated in a single school or across a diocese, select one key individual to serve as program director, one director per Traveling Crucifix.

3. Obtain supplies

a. Crucifix

b. Carrying case or bag

c. Daily Vocation Prayers to be handed out to each student during the crucifix’s visit.

d. Teacher Guide: a short description for the teacher to use in explaining the program and beginning the week-long visit of the Traveling Crucifix.

4. Schedule the following

a. A time when a particular class will receive the crucifix, for example, from the priest at the end of a school Mass, from a procession of students from the former class or in the school office on a certain day.

b. A time and location for returning the crucifix or passing it on.

5. Advertise

a. Start with an invitation by teachers, principals, school chaplains, and/or the Superintendent of Catholic Schools.

b. Arrange for program announcements in classes and school communications.

c. Organize the schedule of classroom visits for the Traveling Crucifix.

d. Arrange for weekly reminders about a return time and location, another to the next host classroom about a time and location to receive the crucifix.

6. Launch the Program

a. Arrange crucifix in its carrying case/bag with Daily Vocation Prayers and Teacher Guide.

b. The first classroom receives the crucifix in the arranged manner. The teacher places the crucifix in a safe and prominent location, explains the significance of the crucifix, distributes or projects Daily Vocation Prayers, and prays with the students each day during the week of the visit.  An electronic copy of daily prayers for projection are located at the bottom of the page of this link: https://serraus.org/programs/

The following is reflective of best practices for announcing the program; these should be adapted to your group’s/location’s circumstances:

1. Announcing the Program:
To promote prayer for and awareness of vocations, our school is introducing the Traveling Crucifix Program to begin on [date]. Each week, a class hosts the Traveling Crucifix, puts it in a prominent place, and prays daily for vocations. This is a wonderful way to unite our school community in perpetual prayer for priests and consecrated life. A schedule will be constructed and shared at a faculty meeting.
The following suggested teacher guide text can be printed, laminated or put in a plastic sleeve, and included with the Traveling Crucifix:

Your group can purchase Vocation Prayer Cards from Vianney Vocations to include with the crucifix:

Prayer to Know My Vocation – go to Vianneyvocations.com

Daily Prayer for Priests Card – https://www.vianneyvocations.com/product/traveling-vocation-crucifix/

Find other prayer card resources at http://www.invisiblemonastery.com — or make copies of any of the following prayers, one for each student, and include with the Traveling Crucifix:

Monday: Prayer to Know One’s Vocation

Intention: We pray for all of those who might not know their vocation in life. Through prayer and with God’s help, may they come to know His will for their lives.

Tuesday: Prayer to Mother of the Church

Intention: We pray that we might grow in our love and devotion to Mary.

Wednesday: Litany for Vocations

Intention: We pray for an increase in religious vocations.

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Thursday: Prayer for Students at Our School

Intention: We pray that, if it be God’s will, there might be vocations to the priesthood and religious life from our own school and that they be supported through our encouragement.

Friday: Prayer for all priests and religious that have served your school

Intention: We pray for our school, that it may grow in holiness and that from among its members there may be priests and religious to serve the Church.

Consider:

Projecting the Daily Vocation Prayer, rather than distributing cards or copies of prayers.

Inviting a priest or religious brother/sister to visit your classroom and talk about vocations during the week your class hosts the Traveling Crucifix.

Include a small notebook with the Traveling Crucifix to log thoughts and ideas that arise during the week.

Find teacher resources and talking points for discussing vocations at www.vocationlessons.com

Other Resources