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- Ideal Participants
- A Three-Part Process
- Individuals: Start With A Live or Online Workshop
- Bring Called & Gifted to Your Parish or Diocese
- Testimonials & FAQs on Hosting a Workshop
- FAQs on Charisms
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The Called & Gifted™ Discernment Process can be beneficial for
- People wondering, “How can I follow Jesus’ plan for my life, in this time and place?
- Parents who want to help their children live their faith.
- People in transition who might be changing jobs, adjusting to an empty nest, returning to the workplace, or facing retirement.
- New or returning Catholics who want to explore what it means to live their faith fully as an adult.
- Catholics discerning a call to religious life or ordination.
- Parish and diocesan staff; Catholic school teachers, DREs and catechists.
- Diocesan priests and seminarians; Religious brothers & sisters.
- Young adults/campus ministry
Please note: The Catherine of Siena Institute does not authorize the use of the inventory for anyone under the age of 20.
Studies over the past 25 years, with over 200,000 individuals completing the inventory, have shown that teen results are most often indicative of natural talents and desires, not actual spiritual gifts.
There is also a cautionary note to be made: at this developmental stage, teens should be encouraged to experiment and explore vs hone in on a specific area. Vocational specialists affirm this approach: too narrow of a focus too early can actually thwart the discernment of one's personal vocation.
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All three parts of the process are necessary for discovering where you are gifted...
Part One is the Called and Gifted Introductory Workshop that lays the foundation for the beginning of discernment. Offered live or online, the workshop introduces Church teaching on charisms and includes taking the Catholic Spiritual Gifts Inventory.
You'll explore:- The unique role of each Catholic—and the local parish—in the Church’s mission to the world.
- Why charisms are essential in helping laypeople serve others and build vibrant Christian communities.
- The signs and characteristics of 24 common charisms.
- How discovering and using your charisms can transform your life, your parish, and the world around you.
Explore Live or Online Options
Part Two is a one-hour gifts interview, an invaluable part of the process. In this conversation, our interviewers can help you:- Reflect on your inventory results.
- listen to your experiences of how God may already be working through you.
- Recognize patterns in your life that may indicate the presence of a charism.
- Choose one charism to begin discerning.
- Identify concrete ways to "experiment" with that gift in your daily life.
- Answer your personal questions about specific charisms or discernment.
Schedule a Gifts Interview
Part Three helps you begin discernment in the real world.
On your own, or in a small group led by a trained team at your parish/diocese, you’ll choose one charism to “experiment with” in real life — ideally two hours a week for 6–8 weeks — and pay attention to what God does through it.
It will teach you how to:- develop charism experiments
- evaluate your results
- identify ways you learned to control life as a child that get in the way of using your charisms as an adult.
Everything you need is in the Discernment in Depth section of your Complete Resource Guide you receive for Part One of the Called & Gifted workshop.
We hope to offer Virtual Discernment in Depth groups in the future. Check back!Need help starting or finishing all three parts of the process?
Contact us.
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Called & Gifted Live Workshop
A live workshop is the traditional format for our introductory presentation. Presenters guide participants through a full-day workshop (in person or virtual) focused on understanding the charisms of the Holy Spirit and taking the Catholic Spiritual Gifts Inventory. Find Upcoming Workshops
Called & Gifted online for individuals
Individuals may utilize our Learning Platform for self-study. This is a great option for personal growth, or for use in a small group, outside of parish efforts.
Individuals receive:- One-time use of the inventory with lifetime access to the results.
- Print materials for all three parts of the process: the introductory workshop, interview and Discernment in Depth.
- Access to the online videos.
purchase Called & Gifted Online for Individuals
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Bring the Called & Gifted™ process to your parish, diocese, or apostolate by either hosting a workshop or training a team to lead the process in small groups with the online learning platform.option 1: Hosting a Workshop
Download brochure
Live Workshop - Our presenters lead a one-day, in-person workshop at your location.
- Capacity: Up to 300 participants.
Fee: $3,900 plus travel, meals, and lodging for two presenters.
Materials: $25 per participant, including:
Access to streaming videos for review.
One-time use of the Catholic Spiritual Gifts Inventory.
A copy of the Complete Resource Guide.
Note: Interviews and discernment group support are extra.
Hybrid Workshop - Zoom sessions with a CSI presenter and self-study components.
- Capacity: Up to 30 participants.
Fee: $1,600.
Materials:
Workshop Only: $44 per participant, including:
- Access to streaming videos for review
- One-time use of the Catholic Spiritual Gifts Inventory
- A copy of the Complete Resource guide.
Workshop + Gifts Interview: $90 per participant.
Workshop + Gifts Interview + Discernment Group Support: $135 per participant.
option 2: team training for the small group process
To implement Called & Gifted effectively as a small group process in a parish, diocese, or apostolate, a trained leader—or ideally, a team of four who’ve completed Team Training—is essential. With this team, you can become a subscribing Called & Gifted community and offer the process locally through small groups using our online Learning Platform.
Team Training Format: 16-hour program offered virtually or in a hybrid format over two weekends.Purpose: Equips individuals to:
- Conduct face-to-face gifts interviews.
Lead small groups for both the Introductory Workshop and Discernment in Depth utilizing the online video instruction, leaders guide and participant materials.
Requirements:
Participants must personally complete all three parts of the Called & Gifted Discernment Process prior to team training.
Meet your diocesan Safe Environment requirements
Submit a letter of recommendation from your pastor
Complete a short interview (30 minutes, virtual) with a Catherine of Siena Institute staff member after submitting your application.
Cost for CSI-Hosted Virtual Team Training (on Zoom):
Space is limited–first come, first served. We close a training event when we hit 30 paid registrations.
Fee: $265 per participant
Additional: $25 per participant if they do not already have the Complete Resource Guide and access to the learning platform.
- Fee: $3,900
Materials: $50 per participant (40 participants max)
Additional Expenses: Travel, meals, and lodging for two presenters when the presentation is in person.
In some cases, locally hosted Team Trainings may have additional seats available for outside participants. Registration fees for these seats typically range from $250 (excluding lodging and meals) to $700 (including lodging and meals), depending on the location.
Cost to become a subscribing Called & Gifted parish, diocese or apostolate once a trained team is in place:
Annual Subscription to the Learning Platform:
$500/year for one parish
Discounted rates available for small or mission parishes — contact us for details
Diocesan subscriptions: $1,000–$2,500/year based on size and anticipated users
Apostolate/ministry subscriptions: $100–$1,500/year based on scope
All trained team members receive ongoing access to the platform and full program and tech support as group leaders and Gifts Interviewers.
Participant Fee: $44/person, includes:
- Access to workshop streaming videos
One-time use of the Catholic Spiritual Gifts Inventory
Complete Resource Guide (print copy)
Any fees your parish or ministry charges participants for interviews or small groups led by trained team members stay with your organization. No additional fees are owed to the Institute.
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TESTIMONIALS & FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON HOSTING A WORKSHOP
the testimony of a parish priest in the united kingdom BELOW ARE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT HOSTING A CALLED & GIFTED WORKSHOP
We hope this information will help you reach a decision about hosting a workshop. Please contact the Called & Gifted Coordinator with any questions you may have.CLICK EACH QUESTION BELOW TO SEE THE ANSWER.What is the format of a Called and Gifted workshop?
The Called & Gifted™ workshop normally takes place on a Saturday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Two presenters cover about six hours of content, with several breaks and time for lunch.
How many people can attend?
You may have as many as your space can hold! The workshop can accommodate up to 300 participants, depending on the size of your venue. Our planning packet includes:
- Posters
- Brochures
- Pulpit announcements
- Pastoral letters
- Suggested timelines
You can collaborate with neighboring parishes or take advantage of other workshops in your region. Strong support from pastors has proven to be the most important factor in ensuring good attendance.
How much will it cost?
You will need to cover:
- Workshop fee
- Teacher expenses
- Participant materials
We will ask for a non-refundable deposit when you reserve a date.
Travel expenses include airfare, meals, and lodging for two presenters. We gladly accept accommodations in parishioners' homes.
What type of facility do we need?
We have found that it works best for participants to sit at tables. There should be room for comfortable seating, and additional tables for registration, refreshments if you choose to offer them, and a book table for sale of Institute resources.
What equipment will we need?
- A digital projector
- A suitably large projection screen
- A table for the projector and the laptop the presenters bring with them
- An extension cord and power strip
- Microphone(s)
We’re ready; what’s the sign-up process?
Contact us to review the financial arrangements and schedule a date. We typically ask for two possible dates to provide flexibility in securing two teachers. Be sure to check your local parish and community calendars for any events that might conflict with dates you are considering.
When a date and the financial terms have been confirmed, we email a confirmation letter to sign and return with a deposit (refundable until 30 days prior to the event date.) This will secure the date you have chosen and represents your commitment to holding a workshop.
What kind of support can the Institute provide?
We can provide helpful suggestions for all aspects of putting on a Called & Gifted™ workshop, as well as ways of avoiding common problems. You will have direct access to our Called & Gifted™ team who will keep in touch to help ensure that the process unfolds smoothly. We always welcome your questions. Please call us any time.
What’s next after the Called and Gifted workshop?
The Called & Gifted™ workshop is a foundational step in building a house of formation for lay apostles. It was never meant to stand on its own. It is designed to help individuals begin a discernment of personal vocation. We are committed to helping your parish or community foster this discernment process over time. We have developed the structures and training necessary for leaders to implement a complete process for discernment.
Participants in the initial workshop will have the chance to receive an hour-long personal interview based on their Inventory results by trained interviewers, for a small fee, to help them continue the process of discernment. The interview aids in identifying potential areas of giftedness and encouraging actual experimentation.
In our experience, most participants in the Called & Gifted™ workshop want to take this next step. Contact us for more details.
Discernment in Depth is the next step after either the live workshop or the first part of the small group version. This process contains experimentation and small group discussion over a period of 6 to 8 weeks.
Need more information?
Want to get started at your parish or diocese?
Want to talk with a member of the team?
CONTACT US:Or call: 719-356-1515
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Frequently asked questions about charisms and
discerning your spiritual giftsCLICK EACH QUESTION BELOW TO SEE THE ANSWER.What is a charism (spiritual gift)?
"Charism" is the Greek word used in the New Testament for "favor" or "gratuitous gift." 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. Whether extraordinary or ordinary, all charisms ought to be exercised in the service of God (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2003).
Are all baptized Christians given charisms?
Yes. According to Catholic teaching, it is the faith of the Church that you possess one or more of the charisms (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 951).
What is the difference between the traditional seven "gifts of the Holy Spirit," "fruits of the Holy Spirit," and charisms?
There are gifts of the Holy Spirit that we are given to keep and gifts we are given to give away. The traditional "seven gifts of the Holy Spirit" and the "fruits" of the Spirit are gifts given to us to keep. They are part of our inner transformation as Christians and provide the inner "Christlikeness" necessary for the effective use of our charisms (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1830–1832). Charisms, on the other hand, are given to us to give away, and are one of the ways God continues to enter the world through our assent and cooperation. They always benefit other people.
How many charisms exist?
There are three primary lists of gifts in the New Testament (Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4), and St. Thomas Aquinas lists about 14 charisms in his Summa. We have no reason to believe that these lists are meant to be exhaustive. The Catholic Spiritual Gifts Inventory covers 24 of the most common charisms, including most of those in St. Paul's letters and St. Thomas's writings.
How do charisms differ from natural talents?
Charisms differ from natural talents in several important ways. Charisms are not "in-born" but are given by the Holy Spirit through Baptism and Confirmation. They supernaturally empower us, enabling effectiveness beyond human ability. Unlike talents, which can be used for good or evil, charisms are always for the good of others. Charisms, whether seemingly extraordinary (like healing) or ordinary (like administration), are used alongside our talents to serve God and neighbor.
Why should I discern my charisms?
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.
How does individual discernment of charisms affect the parish or the larger Christian community?
Discerning charisms communally enables parishes to thrive by building ministries around people's real spiritual gifts rather than simply filling needs. It helps prevent burnout and allows the Church to flourish by following the Holy Spirit's guidance in mission and service.