Discerning charisms: the Called and Gifted process continues to help Catholics identify God’s gifts

By Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News

Another 22 participants recently joined hundreds of others in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon who have participated in a program that helps each one to discern how the Holy Spirit has gifted them to serve God.

Offered in a number of parishes since it was introduced in the diocese in 2021, Called and Gifted™ is an intensive discernment process designed to help Christians discern the presence of the particular charisms — gifts from God — in their lives.

The multi-stage process developed by the Catherine of Siena Institute begins with an introductory workshop that describes various spiritual charisms in detail, and helps each participant begin to discern their own gifts through a “Catholic Spiritual Gifts Inventory” that covers 24 of the most common charisms described in scripture and in the Summa of St. Thomas Aquinas.

“Discerning your charisms helps you find your purpose, clarify decisions, avoid burnout, and excel in work and family life. It frees you from comparison with others and reveals experiences of God working in your life. Charisms empower you to play your essential role in the Church’s mission of evangelization.” – Catherine of Siena website

The Adult Faith Formation Office in the diocese of Saskatoon hosted the latest Called and Gifted introductory workshop Oct. 17 at the Catholic Pastoral Centre in Saskatoon, in partnership with Youth and Young Adult Ministry.

Participants included three young adults from the diocesan Project Timothy formation program and parishioners from St. Peter Cathedral Parish in Muenster and St. Thomas More College Chapel in Saskatoon, as well as from Our Lady of Lourdes, St. John Bosco, St. Michael, Holy Spirit, Holy Family Cathedral, and St. Patrick parishes in Saskatoon,

Adult Faith Coordinator Astrid Alas (left) with Project Timothy participants and Young Adult Ministry Coordinator Sr. Marta Piano, VDMF, at the Oct. 17 Called and Gifted workshop in the diocese of Saskatoon. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)

Since then, participants have also completed the second step of the process — interviews — and are currently continuing with Step 3, Group Discernment, reports Adult Faith Coordinator Astrid Alas.

“We are grateful to the Adult Faith Formation Called and Gifted Volunteer Team for sharing their gifts with our diocese and for their continued dedication. Members of this team represent different parishes in our diocese, including Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Holy Family Cathedral, Holy Spirit Parish, St. John Bosco Parish, and St. Alphonse Parish in Viscount,” she said.

Facilitator Anne Williams – Called and Gifted workshop Oct. 17, Saskatoon. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)

Called and Gifted workshop Oct. 17, Saskatoon. (Photo by Astrid Alas)

Feedback from participants described the workshop as fruitful, helping them to deepen their understanding of charisms — and of their baptismal call. One participant wrote: “This was a pretty new experience for me. I learned quite a lot about talents vs charisms and how to discern them. It was was very insightful.”

For more information about the Called and Gifted™ program in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon, contact Adult Faith Coordinator Astrid Alas at amalas@rcdos.ca or call 306-659-5858 or see the pamphlet (PDF).

Photos

Called and Gifted workshop Oct. 17, Saskatoon. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)

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Kiply Lukan Yaworski is the communications coordinator for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon: rcdos.ca.

Adult Faith Formation, Youth and Young Adult Ministry, Communications and Catholic Saskatoon News are all supported by gifts to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal: dscf.ca/baa.