A beloved chalice from the faith community of St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Cinnaminson, is continuing its faith-based travels throughout New Jersey.  Thanks to the efforts of parishioners Donald and Pamela Grimmé, the ornate vessel has now been blessed by three Bishops of New Jersey.

The chalice had been given to St. Charles Borromeo Parish many years ago in memory of Mary A. Salerno and reserved for special occasions due to its size and weight. When the Serra Society asked the parish to participate in its vocations chalice program, St. Charles pastor, Father Peter James R. Alindogan, chose it for that purpose.

The Grimmés took an active part in the program, suggesting families sign up to take the chalice home for a week and pray the Serra Prayer for vocations. “More than 175 families, to date, have taken it into their homes,” Pamela Grimmé reported on the program, now in its seventh year. “We are hopeful that more vocations will come from this effort.”

Last Aug. 14, the Grimmés attended the Vigil Mass for the Assumption in St. Ann Church, Wildwood, a worship site of Notre Dame de la Mer Parish in the Diocese of Camden. Bishop Dennis J. Sullivan blessed the chalice on the feast dedicated to Our Lady as the parish celebrated the Italian tradition of casting a flower wreath into the ocean waves in honor of lost fishermen.

On Dec. 1, the chalice was blessed in St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Center, Lawrenceville, by Bishop Emeritus John M. Smith. He recalled when members of the Serra Club first visited him during the summer of 2009 and he had blessed the chalice, recalled Pamela Grimmé, and was happy to bless it once again.

Twelve days later, back at its home in St. Charles Borromeo, the vocations chalice once again was blessed, this time by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., at the occasion of the final Mass of the diocesan Simbang Gabi observance.