Charism of Helps

Description: Offering my talents and charisms to enable another person to serve God and people more effectively.

The Charism of Helps can be one of the most challenging charisms to really understand. The name of this charism can be unhelpful as it invites discerners to believe that the normal Christian duty of ‘being helpful’ is this charism. It is not! The one with this charism is drawn to, or by, one with a key mission that requires rocket boosting support (through the sharing of the others gifts) in order for the mission to be successful. 

Often those in Leadership roles attract one with the Charism of Helps, who really enjoy the background work. It is a charism reflecting true humility, as the limelight rarely falls on the one manifesting this gift, yet truly great things are achieved in another through this charism . 

Parish Priests can be greatly supported in their calling by someone who has this mission-boosting charism. 

Testimony of the Charism of Helps

I found the Called and Gifted literature amazing! I could have written the ‘signs of a charism’ myself – I feel all those things and more when I am using the Helps charism. I initially started by helping with the C and G weekend in our pastoral area. That is when I can identify the first feelings about finding my place and having an inner peace and joy. I have no doubt that I was led by God to the Called and Gifted process. On my first reading of the C and G literature the description of the Helps charism more than jumped out at me. It was so strong I was pretty convinced even before I’d heard the teaching sessions.

Shortly after the weekend I offered to help officially as a voluntary PA in the parish. This was an unusual step for me, never having been involved in the many parishes I have visited in the past.

I can truly say that I experience all of the signs of a charism when carrying out these Helps tasks. One key element of Helps is working in the background. Oh how I love that! What could be more satisfying to me than quietly making a difference! Whether it is helping with writing something, helping someone to communicate their message effectively, or lightening someone’s load so that they can concentrate on their real and important tasks. Another element of Helps is needing direct contact with the person that is being helped, and getting discouraged if I am unable to see that I am making a difference in the life of the person I am helping. So true!

“I do genuinely feel an inner peace, energy, and happiness while doing this work.”

Despite whatever else might be happening in my already very busy life, helping in this way is never a problem or a chore, it is miraculous how I find the time and energy to do it between my other jobs and tasks at home. Somehow, I am able to find the time for them too. I do genuinely
feel an inner peace, energy, and happiness while doing this work. I am able to do things I wouldn’t normally find easy, and feel unusually effective. I do get feedback from those I have helped and I know it is appreciated.

I found the Called and Gifted literature amazing! I could have written the ‘signs of a charism’ myself – I feel all those things and more when I am using the Helps charism.

I initially started by helping with the Called & Gifted weekend in our pastoral area. That is when I can identify the first feelings about finding my place and having an inner peace and joy. I have no doubt that I was led by God to the Called and Gifted process.