Bishops release new evangelisation resource
A new document on charisms seeks to engage all the baptised in the evangelising mission of the Church.
‘Gifted for the Mission: An Introduction to Charisms’ was developed by the Bishops Commission for Evangelisation, Laity and Ministry (BCELM) and its advisory council over the past 12 months.
It builds upon the principles of the 2023 document, ‘Evangelisation: Encounter, Discipleship, Mission’.
It is hoped that dioceses and parishes will promote the new document on the feast of Pentecost (June 8), which recalls the outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit on the Church and all the baptised.
‘Gifted for the Mission’ introduces the concept of charisms through reference to the writings of St Paul.
It then traces the history of charisms in the life of the Church and provides examples of Christians who have used their charisms to bring God's mercy and salvation into the lives of others.
“Charisms are given to individuals to assist others to encounter Jesus Christ, to help them live as missionary disciples, and to transform society in the light of the Gospel. ‘My’ charisms are not for me; they are given to me for the sake of others,” the document states.
By discovering and using one’s charisms, each individual contributes to helping the Church fulfill her mission in the world, BCELM chair Archbishop Christopher Prowse said.
“Every Christian receives charisms from the Holy Spirit and every Christian has an evangelising mission in the Church,” he said. “Discerning your charisms is a clue to your mission.
“I encourage everyone to study this document so that the Holy Spirit, received at Pentecost, will continue to renew the Church and, through it, evangelise the world.”
Accompanying the document is a new video series on Evangelise Plus, called ‘The Gift of Charism’. The series features interviews with Catholics from around Australia who share their experiences of discerning and using their charisms in parish, personal and professional settings.
Download ‘Gifted for the Mission: An Introduction to Charisms’ at https://www.catholic.au/s/article/gifted-for-the-mission
View the Evangelise Plus video series, ‘The Gift of Charism’ at https://www.evangeliseplus.com.au/the-gift-of-charism