Charisms for Catholics

In the wake of horrific school violence, the assasination of Charlie Kirk, and widespread political and social unrest, we are often left to wonder, what do I do about this? This episode is a reminder to look to God's grace and our charisms for the answer.

In this episode of Charisms for Catholics, host Jill Simons explores the dynamic nature of charisms—our spiritual gifts—and how they shift and grow through the seasons of our lives.

Drawing from relatable examples and personal experience, Jill unpacks what it means to discern both the "season" (the unique period of life you're in) and "scope" (how widely and in what context your charisms are meant to be used right now) of your individual gifts. From teenagers navigating school schedules, to stay-at-home parents wondering how their gifts fit into daily life, Jill offers practical guidance for listening to the Holy Spirit and confidently stewarding your charisms—whether on a big stage or in the quiet moments of family life.

She also shares news about the Charism Coaching Certification program for coaches and spiritual directors. If you're ready to better understand how God is working in and through you in this moment, this episode is for you.

1:05 – Jill introduces the Charism Coaching Certification program, explaining its purpose for professional coaches and spiritual directors and what it includes.

2:21 – What is meant by "season" and "scope" when discerning charisms, laying the foundation for the episode.

5:16 – How teens can discern the scope of their charisms, using examples involving limited resources, school, and extracurricular schedules.

9:45 – The challenges faced by stay-at-home parents (especially moms) when living out their charisms in the midst of parenting young children, particularly the charism of music.

13:02 – Jill emphasizes that charisms are meant to be lived out at every level of the Church, not just in formal or highly visible settings.

17:02 – Jill shares personal examples of different scopes for her charisms (leadership, prophecy, knowledge) and how those differ by context and season.

Learn more about charisms and charism discernment at https://manypartsministries.com.

In this episode of Charisms for Catholics, host Jill Simons shares her personal journey with charisms and the origin story of Many Parts Ministries!

Jill talks about her early encounter with saints' stories, her hunger to understand how God wanted to use her unique gifts, and the struggle to find accessible resources for discerning charisms as a Catholic. She recounts her research through Church documents, personal conversations, and the eventual creation of her own tools to help others recognize the Holy Spirit's work in their lives. The episode highlights how Many Parts Ministries grew from Jill's passion into a thriving apostolate dedicated to making charism discernment a normal part of Catholic life.

Jill also gives a behind-the-scenes look at upcoming projects, the ministry's vision for the Church, and ways listeners can support their mission to equip Catholics worldwide to build up the body of Christ.

02:35 - Jill recounts reading about Saint Rose of Lima as a child, how it affected her own desire for sainthood, and the tension it created about her own calling.

04:07 - As a teenager, Jill describes her deep dive into the Church's teaching on charisms, her frustration at the lack of practical guidance, and her drive to learn more.

09:38 - During college, Jill shares her experience with early charism assessments, her desire for clearer tools, and how informal conversations led to deeper understanding.

14:54 - The pivotal moment when speaking engagements and connections (notably with Heather Kim and Abiding Together podcast) catalyzed the creation and broader sharing of Many Parts' charism resources.

17:31 - Jill outlines the mission of Many Parts Ministries: making charism discernment a normal part of Catholic life. She discusses current projects, including youth programs, translations, upcoming resources, and ways listeners can support the mission.

Learn more about charisms and charism discernment at https://manypartsministries.com.

In this episode of Charisms for Catholics, host Jill Simons dives into the importance of letting go of preconceived expectations about how our charisms—or spiritual gifts—should manifest in our lives.

Using real-life examples, Jill explains that charisms like writing, leadership, or teaching don't have to follow a specific path or look the same for everyone. Whether you're writing a book or encouraging friends through heartfelt notes, what matters most is staying open to how the Holy Spirit leads you to use your gifts in your unique circumstances.

Tune in to discover how embracing the freedom and individuality of your charisms can deepen your impact in the body of Christ!

00:28 – Announcement: Enrollment is open for the Charism Coaching Certification Program, designed for professional coaches and trained spiritual directors.

02:08 – Jill dives into the episode's main topic: letting go of rigid expectations about how our charisms "should" show up in our lives.

03:54 – She emphasizes that everyone's expression of their charisms is unique due to life circumstances, personality, and vocation.

04:42 – Jill offers a thought experiment contrasting two people with the same charisms (leadership, knowledge, and teaching) but very different life situations, illustrating how charisms manifest differently.

07:54 – Encouragement to reflect on outside expectations and embrace greater freedom in how the Holy Spirit invites us to use our charisms, followed by an invitation to discover or discern your own on the Many Parts Ministries website.

Learn more about charisms and charism discernment at https://manypartsministries.com.

In this episode of Charisms for Catholics, host Jill Simons explores the intriguing question: Are the charisms that individual Catholics receive from the Holy Spirit the same as those attributed to religious orders?

Jill shares her personal experiences and observations from working extensively with individual discernment of charisms, while acknowledging that her expertise with religious orders is more limited. She discusses how different religious communities describe their foundational charisms—such as prayer, hospitality, preaching, and contemplative practice—and reflects on how these might or might not align with the traditional list of spiritual gifts familiar to lay Catholics.

Listeners are encouraged to consider the connections between their own spiritual gifts and the charisms of communities or orders they are drawn to!

00:01:18 - Registration announcement for the Charism Coaching Certification Program, including details about prerequisites and what's included in the course.

01:40 - Jill introduces today's big question: Are individual charisms the same as those of religious orders? She outlines her experience and knowledge limitations related to religious orders' charisms.

03:53 - Exploration of specific religious orders, including Benedictines, Cistercians, Trappists, and Franciscans, and attempts to map their order-level charisms to individual charisms like prayer, service, and preaching.

07:31 - Jill discusses unique charisms of less well-known orders (e.g., Children of Mary) and emphasizes that there isn't an official, exhaustive list of charisms recognized by the Church.

10:59 - Conclusion and invitation for listener feedback, clarifying that joining an order may sometimes be the path through which the Holy Spirit grants a new charism to an individual.

Learn more about charisms and charism discernment at https://manypartsministries.com.

In this episode of Charisms for Catholics, host Jill Simons dives into the intriguing question: Do families have charisms?

Drawing from both experience and observation, Jill explores whether spiritual gifts, or charisms, can be shared among family members and even passed down through generations. She discusses how certain gifts like prophecy, intercession, and knowledge sometimes appear as a "common thread" within families, though this evidence is mainly anecdotal. Jill also unpacks the parallels between family dynamics and the charisms found in religious orders, and offers practical wisdom on how families can discern and nurture individual and collective spiritual gifts.

Whether you're curious about your family's unique spiritual mission or eager to cultivate a more charism-aware household, this episode offers thoughtful insights and invites listeners to join an ongoing conversation about God's work within the family unit!

1:32 - Wisdom Guide offers details about the Charism Coaching Certification Program, mentioning its requirements and benefits for professional coaches and spiritual directors.

02:36 - Jill explores whether families can share a charism, noting there are often consistencies in charisms through family lines—sometimes among parents and children, or across generations.

04:05 - She gives examples of charisms like prophecy, intercession, and knowledge frequently running in families, suggesting a mix of biological and spiritual influence.

05:19 - Jill discusses whether families carry unique charisms only when together (similar to religious orders) and highlights curiosity about how family dynamics may foster shared grace and mission.

07:34 - She concludes with the idea that while collective discernment of a family charism can be helpful, the core is for each family member to discern their own charisms, and invites listeners to share their experiences or insights.

Learn more about charisms and charism discernment at https://manypartsministries.com.

In this episode of Charisms for Catholics, host Jill Simons explores the unique ways charisms—spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit—can empower teachers as they head into a new school year.

Jill breaks down how teaching as a charism is distinct from the teaching profession, explaining why many exceptional elementary educators may actually lead with charisms like encouragement, pastoring, or prophecy rather than teaching itself. She shares practical insights for both teachers and administrators on how understanding individual charisms can help create a more intentional, supportive classroom environment and facilitate better classroom placements. Jill also introduces resources like the "Start the Adventure: Charisms for Kids" book, offering actionable ways to help teachers identify and foster the gifts in their students.

Whether you're an educator, administrator, or just passionate about faith formation, this episode offers encouragement, real-life examples, and useful tools to help every member of your school community flourish!

01:42 — Jill introduces the topic of charisms for teachers, especially as it relates to back-to-school season and her work with Catholic educators.

03:55 — Discussion about how many excellent elementary teachers do *not* necessarily have the charism of teaching, and explanation of how teaching as a charism differs from the teaching profession.

06:18 — Exploration of common charisms among teachers of younger students (encouragement, pastoring), versus the prevalence of teaching and knowledge charisms at the high school and college levels.

08:34 — Practical example of how knowledge of teachers' charisms can help administrators thoughtfully match students with teachers to best meet individual needs.

12:03 — Encouragement for both administrators and teachers (including those in public schools) to understand and articulate their own charisms for better professional communication and classroom effectiveness.

14:32 — Guidance on identifying and encouraging charisms in students, highlighting the "Start the Adventure: Charisms for Kids" book as a resource for teachers.

Learn more about charisms and charism discernment at https://manypartsministries.com.

In this episode of Charisms for Catholics, host Jill Simons explores how parents can approach their unique spiritual gifts—known as charisms—in the context of raising children.

Jill emphasizes the importance of parents both nurturing their own spiritual health and serving as examples of charism-driven living to their children. She discusses practical strategies, such as explaining decisions based on charisms, creating opportunities for kids to learn about their own gifts, and exposing them to others with different charisms, including the lives of saints. The episode also covers resources for parents and families, highlights the importance of fostering a sense of belonging and purpose in kids through charisms, and introduces tools from Many Parts Ministries that can help families and youth programs on this journey.

Ultimately, the focus is on building a foundation for children to discover their own place and purpose within the Church by witnessing their parents actively and intentionally living out their charisms!

01:15 – Jill discusses the importance of helping children expect that charisms are for them too, and when they're ready to discern their own.

03:24 – The reminder that parents can't give what they do not have—why nurturing your own spiritual life is essential before you can foster it in your children.

05:22 – How personal and spiritual health as a parent impacts your ability to fully engage in your vocation, especially regarding charisms.

06:52 – The importance of being accurate about your own gifts (charisms) for yourself and to model a rightly ordered vocation to your children.

10:47 – Explanation of how having or not having a specific charism affects your role and responsibilities in the faith community, using the charism of faith as an example.

14:45 – How understanding and using their charisms can help children feel a sense of belonging and engage more deeply in the Church as they mature.

Learn more about charisms and charism discernment at https://manypartsministries.com.

In this episode of Charisms for Catholics, host Jill Simons kicks off a four-week series exploring how charisms—or spiritual gifts—manifest in different vocations within the Church.

This week, Jill focuses on the priesthood, discussing how priests, like all baptized Catholics, are uniquely gifted by the Holy Spirit. She challenges the common expectation that priests must be "all things to all people," advocating instead for a parish culture that empowers priests to serve from their particular charisms while being supported by their communities.

Jill walks listeners through what could change in parish life if priests and their leadership teams discerned and communicated their charisms openly, and how this clarity can prevent burnout and cultivate a healthier, more vibrant parish.

00:28 – Priests and Charisms

02:32 – Impact of Charism-Based Leadership Transitions

05:12 – Embracing Authenticity and Limitations

06:46 – Charism Formation in Seminaries and Dioceses

09:55 – Invitation for Priests and Support for Discernment

12:28 – Lay Support and Parish Leadership Development

Learn more about charisms and charism discernment at https://manypartsministries.com.

On this episode of Charisms for Catholics, host Jill Simons takes a deep dive into one of the most misunderstood topics within the Catholic charismatic movement: the gift of tongues.

Jill demystifies the confusion around the term "tongues" by breaking it down into clear categories—praying in tongues, speaking in tongues, and the charism of interpreting tongues. She explains the differences between personal gifts for prayer and edification versus charisms given for the good of the wider community.

You'll learn: - How praying in tongues and speaking in tongues differ—and why that matters. - Where these gifts show up (or don't!) in church life, scripture, and the Charismatic Renewal movement. - Why some gifts, like administration and hospitality, are just as charismatic as the more "showy" ones. - Common myths and misunderstandings about charismatic spirituality in the Catholic Church.

Whether you're curious, skeptical, or already involved in charismatic prayer, this episode offers both clarity and encouragement for discovering the many ways the Holy Spirit is moving in the Church today.

00:28- Jill is excited to finally devote a whole episode to the topic of tongues, clarifying the confusion and terminology around it.

01:57- She explains "praying in tongues" as a personal spiritual gift for edification, not a charism, and distinguishes it from prophecy.

03:12- The difference between praying and speaking in tongues is outlined—speaking in tongues is a charism intended for others, while praying is for personal use.

04:19- Examples from Pentecost are discussed, where the apostles' speaking in different tongues is considered a supernatural means of communication.

05:02- She covers speaking in unknown languages (glossolalia) and the separate charism of interpreting tongues within the community.

08:47- Jill addresses misconceptions about the Charismatic Renewal, noting it tends to focus on a few charisms, but stresses the need to recognize and broaden the understanding of all charisms within the Church.

Learn more about charisms and charism discernment at https://manypartsministries.com.