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.

In this episode of Charisms for Catholics, host Jill Simons tackles a common FAQ: "Does someone have to be baptized to have charisms?"

Drawing from scripture, tradition, and personal insights, they delve into the theological nuances of how charisms—or spiritual gifts—are usually received through the sacraments, especially baptism, but also explore the rare instances when God chooses to act outside these ordinary means. The discussion covers the centrality of sacramental grace, what it means when someone claims to have charisms without baptism, and how true charisms always draw us toward unity with the Church.

If you’ve ever wondered about the relationship between baptism and spiritual gifts, or how to guide someone discerning charisms without being baptized, this episode offers practical wisdom and pastoral guidance.

00:42 — The episode’s central question is introduced: “Do you have to be baptized in order to have charisms?”

01:28— The Wisdom Guide references the biblical precedent in Acts where the Holy Spirit falls on someone before baptism.

02:05— Discussion on how grace is normally received through the sacraments, beginning with baptism.

03:50— Analogy of sacraments as the “levers” we know will always work to receive grace and the distinction that God is not limited to these methods.

05:29— Exploration of why, if someone feels they have a charism but aren’t baptized, they haven’t sought out baptism.

09:00— Noting that authentic experiences of grace should draw someone toward communion with the Church; any experience that doesn’t is viewed skeptically.

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