copyright Favoring Brave LLC 2023
What if your regular catechist formation not only helped catechists learn about the faith, but also helped them learn about themselves and why they approach things differently from the person next to them?
Parish catechetical leaders, catechists, OCIA teams, ministry coordinators, sacramental prep leaders, and the volunteers who make things happen. This works wonderfully as a diocese-wide event, but might be a fit for a single large parish as well.
Certification renewal hours. Catechist recertification is hour-denominated in nearly every diocese — commonly 20–30 hours across one to three years — and approved-activity lists routinely include diocesan events, retreats, and conference sessions. Every diocese approves its own providers, so we'll give you an hours letter and a session outline to submit; the final approval is yours to secure at the diocesan level.
Four sessions, with questions and a break after each. This is the spine of every day we run — the examples change with the room, the teaching doesn't.
We start with what we believe about ourselves, God, and the relationship between us. This then leads into a deeper conversation about how this identity impacts how we live service and mission in our lives, and why clarity in this area has to come first.
Then we'll get into the theology of grace, charisms, and how these gifts differ from talents and from the Gifts of the Spirit discussed in sacramental prep. Everything is grounded in Scripture, Vatican II, and the Catechism, with easy-to-understand framing.
A walk through each charism on our list — both hallmarks of the gift and what it looks like in daily life.
We end by breaking open how discernment works, starting with a most-likely list, not a definitive answer. We'll explain how to create test scenarios, the steps of the process, how long to take, and what commitment means.
The full day isn't the half day stretched out. It's the same four sessions with room to breathe, plus the pieces there is never time for in a half day.
A guided worksheet and time to pray before charisms are introduced, so people have processed where they are at personally in this aspect of their spiritual development.
Three discernment questions per charism — the things we always ask when we have someone in front of us discerning a certain charism. These questions are often very clarifying and have people smiling knowingly across the table at each other.
Everyone takes the assessment in the room on a personal device, with the presenter there to answer questions while they do.
Thirty to forty-five minutes of feedback from peers about what gifts they see in each other. At many events, this is what really changes things for people.
The full walkthrough — the work, the struggles, the virtues, and what discernment looks like at each stage. This foundational information is key to approaching discernment well, but it's too in-depth to make time for in the half-day workshop.
Discernment worksheet time built in, so everyone leaves with a plan to move into commitment.
Recommended for this room: full day. The full day is very helpful for this group of attendees. Going deeper with these key community members can create a real ripple effect in your diocese or parish and refuel the people who need support the most.
| What | Cost |
|---|---|
| Half day — roughly three hours | $1,500 |
| Full dayRecommended | $1,800 |
| Travel | at cost |
| Charism assessment, per person | $6.99 |
Assessments are billed after the day for the people who actually took one — never a guess at attendance, and never a block you have to buy up front. If your group has already taken the assessment, that line is simply zero.
Their own results, a most-likely list of three or four charisms to test, and a plan for finishing discernment — so nobody walks out with a good feeling and nowhere to put it.
A charism assessment is a starting point, not a verdict. It tells someone what they most likely carry; using it is how they find out.
We have many other resources that can support your ongoing use of the Charism assessment data from your event, as well as follow-up tools like small group studies, books, and more. Just let us know your goals when we talk. We'd be happy to create a custom solution.