By Brenda Tryhuba, Called and Gifted Team

Parishioners from across the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon gathered at St. Patrick Parish in Saskatoon Oct. 4 for a Called and Gifted introductory workshop.

Together, participants explored the many ways God blesses His people through baptism, discovering the unique spiritual gifts, known as charisms, that each person is given to build up the church and serve others.  It was a day filled with prayer, and learning, fostering new connections, providing encouragement and a renewed sense of purpose in living out God’s call.

Twenty-three participants from the Saskatoon diocese completed the Called and Gifted discernment process, which has been developed by the Catherine of Siena Institute.  There were some participants who participated by auditing the workshop to increase their understanding of charisms and the role they play in their lives.

The initial stage of the discernment process is a one-day workshop, followed by a one-on-one interview with trained interviewers.

Once the individual interviews are completed, trained facilitators then lead four Discernment-in-Depth sessions. These small group gatherings offer a guided and prayerful experience to help participants continue discerning their charisms and how God is calling them to use their gifts in daily life.

Everyone is called and/or invited to begin the discernment process of their charisms. God has a plan for each person and uses our gifts to bring out His plan and His glory.  Regardless of age, everyone is called to use their gifts to build up His Kingdom. When we live through our charisms, we allow God to move through us to draw others closer to Christ.

Our prayer for all the participants, past, present and future, that your charisms will remind you that you were never meant to walk alone, that the Spirit moves through you for the healing and hope of others.  May gratitude rise in you each day as you live the life God saw in you when He called your name.  – Brenda Tryhuba, Called and Gifted Team

Several participants described the impact of the latest workshop:

“I am so grateful that I have learned about the charisms through the “Called and Gifted” program; to learn more about what charism I have been gifted with.  How would God want me to use these charisms? How to use them properly in God’s will in my family, my workplace and my parish. How to spread the Good News to my family, the people I work with, the people I serve and care for, neighbours, and strangers on the streets using the charism God has gifted to me. And I desire to have change in my faith life, and to stop being a lukewarm baby Christian, to learn to be rooted in Christ and grow in the faith and be an accountable warrior of Christ’s army. I want to be one of the little trees beside the river, fruitful, shown in the picture at the end of the program yesterday—God willing.” – Teresa Lin, St. Francis Xavier Parish, Vanscoy.

“We had a wonderful day at the Called and Gifted workshop. Some of the highlights for us were doing the inventory to see our possible charisms, meeting others on the journey alongside us, hearing testimonies of how finding out your charisms can change your life, and overall the content and pace of the program was great.  Thanks to the whole team.” –  Todd and Nicole Gursky, Holy Spirit Parish, Saskatoon.

“I highly recommend the Called and Gifted workshop for all Catholic Christians to help grow and live out their faith with the charisms that were gifted to them at Baptism!” –  Melissa Acton, St Peter Parish, Unity.

“I found it very informative, inspiring and fascinating to know that God has bestowed upon me charisms that I never knew all my life. Thanks to Called and Gifted that I can get in tune with these special spiritual gifts all for Jesus Christ!” – Josh Caparas, St. Patrick Parish, Saskatoon.

“I think for me, what stood out is an awareness that everyone is gifted in some way.  Now is the time to discern what that gift may be.” – Chandra Behrenz, Saint Anne Parish, Saskatoon.

“I found the Called and Gifted sessions meaningful and life giving. When I kind of confirmed the two major charisms I had of crafting (working with my hands) and hospitality, it dawned on me that I could be interceding more for the family and friends whom  I cook and bake for and for those I provide hospitality for in my home, at church, as a welcomer and those I encounter each day.” – Cherryl Zimmer, Cathedral of the Holy Family, Saskatoon.

“To gather with others and to earnestly seek to discover God’s gifts is a blessing.  To recognize that we are chosen and sent with these gifts is a deeper blessing still.  He knows our thread in the tapestry and He is weaving; our calling is real.  There are no bench warmers on Jesus’s team!” – Cara Loewen, St. Patrick Parish, Saskatoon.

“The Called and Gifted workshop was very good – well organized, insightful and great food. The videos and book organize and explain the charisms very well.  I’m glad that we have a mentor to help us and that we have people who we can walk with as we learn to grow in our charisms. It’s a longer process but I can see how beneficial this is.” – Lynnette Wall , Saint Anne Parish, Saskatoon.

(Photo by Astrid Alas)

Team Members

Team members present at the workshop include Anne Williams, Sr. Malou Tibayan, Donna and Rick Dupuis, Brenda and Jim Tryhuba, Joan Hoerdt-Lukan, Astrid Alas, and volunteers from Feast Light Saskatoon, Jayson and Riah Sta Maria.

The team expressed special thanks to Fr David Tumback, Pastor of St Patrick Parish, and to St. Patrick Parish Called and Gifted coordinators Jane Korvemaker and Flaviana Rodulfa for hosting the workshop.

The next introductory workshops to be offered in the diocese will be held Nov. 1 at St. Mary Parish in Macklin, and then in the new year Jan. 30-31 at St. Augustine Parish in Humboldt.

Photos

(Photos by Sr. Malou Tibayan and Astrid Alas)

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Adult faith, Called and Gifted, communications and Catholic Saskatoon News are among the ministries supported by the Bishop’s Annual Appeal: dscf.ca.