Called and Gifted program discerns charisms and proves to be a powerful step in journey of faith

The Called and Gifted team from Our Lady of Lourdes Parish recently organized a parish workshop through the diocese of Saskatoon. Team member Brenda Tryhuba (second from the left) reflects on the impact of discerning charisms -- gifts of the Holy Spirit -- and God's call for using those gifts. (Photo by Lina Buendia)

The Called & Gifted™ Discernment Process from the Catherine of Siena Institute is designed to help Christians discern the presence of charisms in their lives. “Charisms, or spiritual gifts, are special abilities given to all Christians by the Holy Spirit to give them power both to represent Christ and to be a channel of God’s goodness for people.” – siena.org website.

By Brenda Tryhuba, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish

Charisms, now what the heck are those? Jim and I had never heard of charisms before last year, then we were hooked.

Jim and I participated in the diocesan Called and Gifted workshop in September 2022. It was one of the most fulfilling, interesting, and spiritually motivating workshops we have ever been to. Realizing we had charisms, what some of them could be, and then having the opportunity to practice them was an exciting adventure!

I am glad we both took the workshop. We could now put a name to some of the things we were doing to help bring others into God’s Kingdom!

I had an ‘aha’ moment when I found out one of Jim’s charisms; why he was doing what he was doing, and what motivated him to use that certain charism. I feel it has brought us closer as a couple; a better understanding of how we can work and support each other as we use our charisms for others.

In order for us to use our God-given charisms, we need to have a personal relationship with the Lord and the more that relationship grows, the more we are enabled to live our ‘obedience of faith’ through our charisms.

Journey continues with a parish workshop

Participants from Our Lady of Lourdes and several other parishes reflected on their charisms during a recent Called and Gifted parish workshop in the diocese of Saskatoon. (Photo by Lina Buendia)

Jim and I were part of an amazing team from Our Lady of Lourdes, able to bring together a number of God’s children for a Called and Gifted workshop Sept. 29-30, 2023.

The Holy Spirit was instrumental in bringing together another beautiful group of God’s children together to discover their charisms and what they are all about. Over the next weeks, each person will be interviewed in order to help them decide which charism they want to practice, then they will be invited to join a group for prayer, discussion, and support while discerning their Charism(s).

We trust in the Holy Spirit to guide us in and through our Charisms.

St. Catherine of Siena, pray for us! Amen

Called & Gifted™ is being offered to parishes in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon. Interested parishes can contact Sr. Malou Tibayan at mtibayan@rcdos.ca or (306) 659-5843.

The parish workshop will next be offered Oct. 20-21 for parishes in the Humboldt Deanery. For information and registration for the event, which will be held at St. Augustine Parish centre in Humboldt, contact Myrna Britz at St. Peter Parish in Muenster: mbritz@rcdos.ca

Facilitator Anne Williams speaks to participants at the recent parish Called and Gifted parish workshop. (Photo by Sr. Malou Tibayan)

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