Programs help people discover their personal uniqueness

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

“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” —  Frederick Buechner

These quotes tell us a story of the powerful impact every one of us can have when we recognize our personal gifts and use them for the greater good. Each one of us has been given unique gifts and talents from God to share.

For many of us it is difficult to name our own talents and strengths. Not recognizing the things we are good at hinders our ability to claim what God asks each of us to do. Gift discernment tools can be a wonderful way to help individuals, teams and staff to see how each person can make a positive impact in the world around them for the glory of God.

Recently, several people in our diocese had the opportunity, thanks to funding from the “Bridge Builders for a Thriving Mission” initiative, to dive more deeply into gift discernment and receive training to use different assessment tools. David Fremo, director of the diocese’s Catholic Education Ministries office, and I have been trained as Gallup-Certified CliftonStrengths coaches.

In addition, lay leaders have taken training in the “Called and Gifted” program through the Catherine of Siena Institute. These leaders include Rose Suchy, religious education coordinator for St. Ann in Brandon and Our Lady of Seven Dolors in Millerville; Karen Pundsack, religious education coordinator for St. Martin in St. Martin; and Lily Kreitinger, Hispanic liaison for St. Andrew in Elk River.

Both tools help people to discover what and how their personal uniqueness can be shared for the benefit of the community and transformation of the world. Both tools bring life to a person’s gifts. They help to engage people in their unique passions, which in turn helps us to thrive in our communities. We hope to share these throughout our diocese’s Area Catholic Communities. If you would like to learn more about how these might be used in your ACC, contact Brenda Kresky at bkresky@gw.stcdio.org or 320-251-2340.

CliftonStrengths

CliftonStrengths is a web-based assessment from the perspective of positive psychology based on performance and potential. This instrument asks 177 questions on behaviors, thoughts and feelings to determine a person’s order of 34 talent themes. Individuals are then sent their top five talent themes (unless you pay for the entire report) which give them definitions, language and actions to pursue for developing these natural talents into strengths.

The CliftonStrengths tool helps people to discover and articulate their innate abilities and empowers people to do what they are naturally and authentically good at. The approach of tapping into natural behaviors and patterns of thinking helps us to become stronger leaders, more engaged and more productive.

When teams or staff do this together, they can learn how individual and combined talents can be best used for the parish or ACC.

Here’s what we have heard from area participants:

• “The strengths I used to see as a weakness can be big assets.”


• “Hearing my co-workers speak of their gifts broadened our appreciation of one another.”


• “I gained insight into my fellow staff members. It will help us to communicate and plan better.”


• “We all bring something unique and valuable to the dinner table.”

Called and Gifted program – Catherine of Siena Institute

We asked Karen, Lily and Rose what they learned from taking the “Called and Gifted” course. Here’s what they said:

KAREN PUNDSACK • St. Martin, St. Martin

“Participating in the ‘Called and Gifted’ workshop helped me to better understand the gifts of the Holy Spirit and how they are at work within each of us every day. I grew a deeper appreciation for the unique gifts given to every baptized Catholic and how we can bring these gifts to help others feel God’s presence in our lives.

“By going through ‘Called and Gifted’ discernment, I can see more clearly how the Holy Spirit works through me to help others. I am better able to tune into what God is asking of me. It is easier to see others’ gifts as well and appreciate them as God-given. It helps me to notice when the Holy Spirit is at work in day-to-day life.”

LILY KREITINGER • St. Andrew, Elk River

“I learned that charisms are gifts that the Holy Spirit gives to all baptized Christians to accomplish a mission that goes above and beyond our natural abilities. We receive them through baptism and confirmation, and they are given to serve others. They are not manifest until the person begins a personal relationship with God as an intentional disciple.

“Personally, I’m discerning charisms of knowledge, teaching, wisdom and encouragement. Even if I’m working on activities like volunteer coordination, I notice that I bring those charisms to the task and find myself providing resources to read, explaining a complex concept and providing words of encouragement to someone going through a difficult time.

“Charisms are manifest not only within the context of the Church, but most importantly in the secular world because we use them in the workplace, the community, our family and in other spaces in which we connect with others.

“They direct our path and help us discern the mission God has for us. They help us make the right decisions about our vocation, ministry and professional path. We can be more active and effective because we’re responding to God’s call and we can make a unique contribution.”

ROSE SUCHY • St. Ann, Brandon, and Our Lady of Seven Dolors, Millerville

“Charisms are always used for the good of others, given by the Holy Spirit in baptism and confirmation. When we use our charisms, we feel energized. We may be tired before and after, but while we are using our charisms, it feels like prayer. ‘Called and Gifted’ helps to discover more about yourself and boosts confidence so that you can feel better that what you have done has helped someone. The Emmaus Institute has helped me immensely in the confidence area as well.

“It is difficult to discern a charism. Some may act like others. Sometimes they may work together. Much of the discernment process depends on feedback from others — ‘Others have told me … .’ Part of the process is learning to keep your eyes open and notice opportunities and reflect on the experiences afterward. The discernment process tells us to devote two hours per week discerning a certain charism that scored high on your inventory. I think it works better to reflect on your day and recall various experiences and discern from that.”

Brenda Kresky is the director of the Planning Office of the Diocese of St. Cloud.

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