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 Myrna Britz, St. Peter Cathedral Parish, Muenster, SK

St Augustine Parish, Humboldt held a Called and Gifted workshop Oct. 20-21, 2023 – I am so glad Fr Colin Roy made the decision to bring this workshop to the Humboldt and surrounding parishes.

Fr. Colin Roy explains his motive behind making that decision: “When I heard about “Called and Gifted” being offered in our diocese, I was reminded of an opportunity that we had to do a gifts inventory at the 2014 Congress Days, when Catherine Coolidge from the Catherine of Sienna was our main presenter. I was intrigued at the time and thought that it was something worth pursuing in our parish community. I mean, who doesn’t want to know what charisms God has given them? This awareness will help many to utilize their God-given gifts in building up the body of Christ.  As such, it is a blessing for both the Church and the individual, since operating out of one’s charisms is also life-giving for the person exercising them.”

It was a great move on Fr Colin’s part, and it was so very good to have such a workshop from the diocese offered outside the city of Saskatoon, which enabled rural parishes to attend more easily.

The workshop at St. Augustine Parish Centre in Humboldt had 40 participants, which included 19 students from St Therese Institute of Faith and Mission, Bruno, SK. All participants signed up for step 2 (interview) and step 3 (small groups).

Comments, questions, and fellowship during this workshop were positive and very fruitful. So many were feeling blessed to have this opportunity to start the journey of growing and understanding their charism(s).

I took the Called and Gifted workshop in October 2022, and have since been focusing on the pastoring charism in conjunction with the charism of encouragement and service.

I took the Called and Gifted Team Training in March 2023, and am now excited to help with the gift interviews and small groups for the participants of this workshop. In completing this training, I have come to believe there is huge freedom in knowing and understanding your charism(s), and that this process brings one closer to God.

For me, being able to help bring this workshop to life in Humboldt was an opportunity to work in my charism of pastoring. It is very rewarding to see people coming to the realization that they have uniquely been given charism(s) and that it is part of God’s plan and purpose for them.

Knowing my charism(s) has provided me with a sense of freedom. It has made me more aware of my ability to help others with little effort as it is all completed through the Holy Spirit. It has allowed me to know myself better and has grown my relationship and trust with God, because I am becoming freer to be whom He has created me to be. Feeling the energy and indescribable peace and joy I feel when I am using my charism is definitely supernatural.

“Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.” – St Catherine of Siena

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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