Tools for the New Evangelization Charisms of the Holy Spirit: Tools for the New Evangelization During this retreat, we will explore not only our charisms -- spiritual gifts but we’ll also explore how it came about that you and I should be called disciples and be called into discipleship using our spiritual gifts as the exact tools we would need to bring Christ to others and others to Christ.

Discernment of Spirits Encouragement/Exhortation Evangelization Faith Review the charisms on the top of your handout and circle the top 2-3 charisms you believe you received from the Lord? Share what you wrote with one or two other persons. Share WHY you believe these are your charisms! Administration Craftsmanship Discernment of Spirits Encouragement/Exhortation Evangelization Faith Giving Healing Helps/Service Hospitality Intercession / Prayer Knowledge / Wisdom Leadership Mercy Giving / Compassion Music Pastoring Prophecy / Word of Knowledge Teaching Voluntary Poverty/Simple Living Writing When you first arrived you were given a handout that asked you to circle the top 2 to 3 charisms you believe you have received from the Lord. If you have not yet done this, now would be a good time. We’ll take a few minutes before we proceed. The leader waits and then asks if everyone is done.

#688 The Church… is the place where we know the Holy Spirit: in Scriptures; Tradition, Church Magisterium; sacramental liturgy, prayer; in the charisms and ministries by which the Church is built up…. How do we learn about the Holy Spirit? It is through the Church -- we encounter the Holy Spirit in Scripture; In Church Tradition, the Church Magisterium; the sacramental liturgies, prayer; and finally – we encounter the Holy Spirit in the charisms and ministries by which the Church is built up. For sure we have encountered the Holy Spirit in ministries and all of these other graces of the Church but are we cheating ourselves by not encountering the Holy Spirit in the charisms of the HS at work in God’s people building up the Church. Can we see this? If not, why not? (take time for sharing)

#2003 There are … special graces,…called charisms after the Greek term used by St. Paul and meaning "favor," "gratuitous gift," "benefit." What exactly are “Charisms” In the early Church, St. Paul observed workings, actions, behaviors and phenomena in the early Christians such as teaching, preaching, encouragement, hospitality, serving, prophesying, healing, miracles, praising in song, leadership, pastoring small communities, scripture sharing, etc. And he did now have a single word for God’s movement in the people so he called them “Grace Things” charismata. In Catechism #2003 we learn …. There are … special graces,…called charisms after the Greek term used by St. Paul and meaning "favor," "gratuitous gift," "benefit."

This means we are in need of one another. …we must think: “What a beautiful thing! So many different gifts, because we are all God’s children, and all loved in a unique way.” Woe, then, if these gifts become a reason for envy and division! As the Apostle Paul reminds us in his First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter 12, all charisms are important in God’s eyes and, at the same time, no one is irreplaceable. This means we are in need of one another. …we must think: “What a beautiful thing! So many different gifts, because we are all God’s children, and all loved in a unique way.” And then the warning comes! Woe, then, if these gifts become a reason for envy and division! As the Apostle Paul reminds us in his First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter 12, all charisms are important in God’s eyes and, at the same time, no one is irreplaceable.

Dear friends, see what the Lord asks of us today: to recognize with joy and gratitude the different charisms that He distributes in the community, to put ourselves on the line for one another [using our charisms], according to the ministries and services to which we are called. Dear friends, see what the Lord asks of us today: to recognize with joy and gratitude the different charisms that He distributes in the community, to put ourselves on the line for one another [using our charisms] , according to the ministries and services to which we are called.