She presented the “Called & Gifted”™ workshop at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Spartanburg on March 8. Her call to action resonates deeply within the Christian community, urging individuals to recognize and embrace their divine gifts.

“Lean into the things that you are good at,” she said, and then she started teaching the 38 guests about how to discern their charisms. 

Charisms are not just personal skills or talents, which can be used for selfish purposes. Charisms are always used to serve the glory of God; they are special gifts of the Holy Spirit bestowed on us for the good of others and the building up of the Church.

Carrie Manabat and Christina Krutza were Schomberger’s teammates at the workshop.

“In order to discern your gifts, you need to have an active prayer life,” Krutza said. Then she gave attendees a beautiful prayer before ramping up the discussion: “Lord, help me to be open in my heart.”

Krutz said that in learning about one’s charism, “you will discover your greatest happiness. This is deeply rooted in the Church’s teaching. You realize that Christ calls you to participate in His work. … Your charisms are given by the Holy Spirit for your mission in life.”

Krutza urged believers to focus their prayers and ask God for guidance: 

• “Lord, help me to be open to your purpose for me.”
• “God, if you are real, please let me know.”
• “Jesus, I want to follow you.”
• “Jesus, show me how I can be an instrument for you.” 

Sometimes, it is not easy hearing that quiet interior voice offering a gentle nudge.

“I’m sorry if you came here to buy a particular charism. That’s not how it works,” Schomberger said. “Be patient with it. I assure you the Holy Spirit knows what he is doing.” 

She said Sherry Weddell gave her that advice, and she has followed it through the years. Weddell founded Called & Gifted 26 years ago, and it has supercharged the lives of many people since.

The Called & Gifted team described the characteristics of about two dozen charisms and how to recognize them; these include gifts such as prophecy, evangelization, teaching, administration and leadership. They presented a saint who was thought to have lived each of these charisms.

St. Teresa of Kolkata is the perfect example of how to live the charism of mercy, Schomberger said. “To me, she will always be the epitome of mercy and action.” Krutza presented St. Jean Baptiste de la Salle as an example of the charism of teaching. He was a 17th century education reformer who founded the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools (De la Salle Brothers) and dedicated his life to teaching poor children in France.

Schomberger said St. Margaret Clitherow was the ideal saint for hospitality. St. Margaret was born in England in 1556; she was imprisoned for failing to attend the state church. Once freed, St. Margaret risked her life to harbor persecuted priests. She was arrested again and executed in 1586. Hospitality cost St. Margaret her life.

“The Church needs saints for our times,” Manabat said, and presented St. Vincent de Paul as the ideal for the charisms of organization and administration. “People with these charisms … can be community organizers.”

St. Vincent “started organizing missions to care for the poor,” Manabat said. “His vision inspired the founding of the St. Vincent de Paul missions,” and they are still doing incredible work today.

Fran Dangelico was inspired by the discussion of the saints. “I’ve been asked to do a speech on service, and I’ve been struggling with it. This is exactly where I need to be.”

Joan Patrick was prompted to be a spiritual director by attending a workshop years ago.

“We have had these gifts since God knit us in the womb,” she said. “But because of our free will, we don’t always respond. I think this is a beautiful program,” and said she hopes it comes to her parish, Corpus Christi in Lexington.

So don’t hide these special charisms under a bush. Lean into them, charge forward and let them flow.