Click here for the special invitation from Bishop Gilmore

Youth ages 20-39 invited to Called & Gifted Weekend Feb. 11-12 at Santa Fe Depot; includes dinner theater

The event will include simple, spiritual exercises to help participants recognize their charisms or gifts of the Holy Spirit. It will also include a night of dinner theater at the Depot Theatre.

"Charisms shape the way you see," said Father Michael Sweeney, who presented one of the first workshops in the diocese. "I used to cross a street to avoid having to [confront] beggars. I didn’t mind giving them a dollar or two, but I just felt uncomfortable. If you have a charism of ‘mercy’ and are with someone in need, you feel comfortable, like you’re in your place.

"A charism is a gift given to you [by the Holy Spirit] to benefit other people," he added. "If you’ve been given a gift, to you it appears natural. Some of your gifts may seem so normal that you don’t recognize them as [coming from the Holy Spirit]."

The event will begin at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, and conclude with a Mass at 4 p.m. on Sunday.

On Saturday evening, the Boot Hill Theater will treat participants to dinner and a performance of "Flaming Idiots." The price for the dinner theater alone is regularly $35 per person. The Diocese of Dodge City has made it possible for all workshop participants to attend both the workshop and the dinner theater for a total price of $20.

"Flaming Idiots" takes place in a restaurant kitchen, where "two young entrepreneurs are struggling to get their new restaurant off the ground. They wish they could have the built-in popularity of the place down the street, which was once the site of a mob hit — you can still see the bullet holes. Wait — what if we arranged a fake mob hit in our restaurant? Of course, we’d need a body ..."

Loretta Kinman of Hoisington is one of hundreds of people across the diocese who has attended a Called & Gifted workshop.

"We often get into ‘ruts’ and need a little boost now and then to motivate us, and that’s what it did," she said. "Finding my charisms through the material presented at the workshop made me realize that I am using some of them in the work that I do daily, and play a big part in who I am.

"I would strongly encourage anyone to participate in this workshop to help them understand themselves and others."

Long-term charisms (at least one is given to each baptized Christian) may include "pastoral charisms" such as mercy, apparent in those who find great personal fulfillment when nurturing individuals or a community through encouragement, hospitality, or simply lending a hand, Father Sweeney explained.

Among the different kinds of charisms are "giving," "healing," "mercy," "prophesy," "pastoring," and "service," among many more.

Sherry Weddel, co-presenter of an earlier workshop, explained the differences between charisms and talents.

"You don’t inherit charisms from parents," she explained. "Charisms are given to you by God for your unique mission. Charisms are for others. Natural talents don’t have to be used for other people. You cannot comfortably hold charisms to yourself. A charism almost seeks the person for whom it was intended."

For people coming from out of town, a block of rooms has been reserved at Comfort Inn for $69 per night plus tax. To reserve a room, call 1-800-424-6423, and tell them you are with the Diocese Young Adult Group.

The workshop is expected to fill up fast. For registration information, call Becky Hessman, (620) 227-1530.

Registration Form

Called & Gifted Weekend

Feb. 11-12, 2006

Name ________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________

City/Zip ______________________________________________

Phone (h)_____________________________________________

(w)____________________________________________

e-mail _______________________________________________

Reserve a dinner theater ticket? (circle one)

Yes No

Payment: (circle one)

$20 enclosed

will pay $20 in February

I need a scholarship

Questions? Call Becky Hessman, (620) 227-1530.

Return completed form by Jan. 23, 2006 to:

Becky Hessman, P.O. Box 137, Dodge City, Kansas, 67801-0137