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Church of St. Matthew

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Church of St. Matthew > Spiritual Gifts Recognition Tool (SGRT) > Descriptions of Spiritual Gifts

Descriptions of Spiritual Gifts 

Print version of this page: Descriptions of Spiritual Gifts for SGRT (PDF download)

The SGRT results are but a snapshot of the Gifts from the Holy Spirit given to you.  The Holy Spirit may provide additional gifts which you are aware of and who others are waiting to discover from their interaction with you.  “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit" (Jn 3:8).  The descriptions of the spiritual gifts that follow are brief and the examples of ministries that the gifts support are not extensive. The Spirit directs and we are invited to respond in whatever way we can.      

Administration

This Gift from the Holy Spirit enables a person to “pitch in,” motivate, direct, and inspire people to work together to plan, organize, oversee, and complete a ministry project successfully. This Gift is to identify closely with the needs and problems of others, not always providing solutions, but willing to work with them no matter the size of the job at hand. (Biblical Reference: 1Corinthians 12:28, Acts 14:23). 

Examples of Ministries:

  • Administrative: Finance Council, Parish Pastoral Council, Volunteer Coordinator, Data Entry, Phone Tree, Fall Festival Coordinator, Sunday Collection Counter.
  • Educational: Faith Formation Teacher, Teacher Aide, Youth Ministry Coordinator, Adult Enrichment Coordinator.
  • Liturgical: Ministry Scheduler, Liturgy of the Word for Children Coordinator.

Exhortation

This Gift from the Holy Spirit enables a person to reach out in Christian love and presence to people in conflict so they feel supported and helped. This Gift involves helping others live out their faith by inviting them to see God’s presence in the simplest events of life. (Biblical Reference: John 14:1, 2Timothy 1:16-18).

Examples of Ministries:

  • Administrative: Parish Pastoral Council.
  • Educational: Youth Ministry, Adult Enrichment.
  • Pastoral: Social Justice, Outreach to Homebound/Elderly, Funeral Receptions, Hospitality.   
  • Liturgical: Reader, Eucharistic Minister. 

Faith

This Gift from the Holy Spirit gives a person the eyes and heart to see the Spirit at work and the ability to trust and follow the Spirit’s leading wherever it might go. This Gift draws upon the creativity and ingenuity to share with others where the Spirit is leading. (Biblical Reference: Genesis 12:1-4a, Mark 5:25-34).

Examples of Ministries: 

  • Educational: Youth Ministry.
  • Pastoral: Social Justice.
  • Sacramental: Marriage Preparation, RCIA/RCOC Team.
  • Liturgical: Reader, Liturgy of the Word for Children. 

Giving

This Gift from the Holy Spirit helps a person to recognize God’s blessings and to respond to those blessings by generously and sacrificially giving of one’s resources of time, talent and treasure. This Gift comes from a spirit of selflessness, needing no recognition or reward for their giving. (Biblical References: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15, Luke 21:1-4).

Examples of Ministries:

  • Administrative: Finance Council, Parish Pastoral Council, Volunteer Coordinator.
  • Pastoral: Social Justice, Outreach to Homebound/Elderly.
  • Music: Choir, Cantor, Instrumentalist.

Knowledge

This Gift from the Holy Spirit encourages a person to research, analyze, and evaluate new insights from the scriptures and traditions of our church and imagining creative ways to share them with others. This Gift involves a keen sense of the dignity of all people, a sense of God’s call, of timing and knowledge of Scripture and church teachings. (Biblical Reference: 1 Corinthians 14:6, Romans 12:2).

Examples of Ministries:

  • Administrative: Parish Pastoral Council, Finance Committee.
  • Educational: Faith Formation Teacher, Teacher Aide, Youth Ministry.
  • Liturgical: Liturgy Committee, Environment, Prayers of the Faithful, Media.   

Leadership

This Gift from the Holy Spirit empowers a person to step forward with confidence to direct and provide motivation for volunteers to fulfill a parish vision or complete a practical task. It can also include representing the parish and providing a pastoral presence at various parish functions. (Biblical Reference: Romans 12:8, John 21: 15-17, 2Timothy 4:1-5).

Examples of Ministries:

  • Administrative: Parish Pastoral Council, Finance Committee.  
  • Educational: Youth Ministry.
  • Pastoral: Social Justice, Media Ministry, Festival Committee, Liturgy.
  • Liturgical: Reader, Eucharistic Minister, Mass Coordinator, Media.
  • Music: Choir, Cantor, Instrumentalist. 

Mercy

This Gift from the Holy Spirit provides a person with empathy and concern for people who are in physical, emotional, or spiritual distress so that they respond with their time, energy, and resourcefulness to ease these painful conditions. This Gift originates from a healthy prayer life, confidence in God’s power to provide patience with suffering, and a positive attitude regardless of the condition of the body or mind. (Biblical Reference: Luke 7:12-15, Matthew 25: 34-36).

Examples of Ministries:

  • Pastoral: Social Justice, Outreach to Homebound/Elderly, Funeral Receptions.

Serving/Ministering

This Gift from the Holy Spirit enables a person to work behind the scenes either alone or with others to complete God’s work of love no matter how big or how small the work maybe by whatever means are available. This Gift involves a willingness to relate to people with compassion and kindness even when the job maybe messy.
(Biblical Reference: Luke 23:50-54, Romans 16:1-16).

Examples of Ministries:

  • Pastoral: Social Justice, Outreach to Homebound/Elderly.
  • Liturgical: Environment. 
  • Facility: Church cleaning, Lawn Care, Painter, Carpenter, Sheet Rock Installer. 

Teaching

This Gift from the Holy Spirit empowers a person to communicate clearly through word and example so that others may learn more easily about our faith traditions and practices.  This Gift requires an awareness that teaching takes place both inside and outside the classroom and only with an openness to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
(Biblical Reference: 1 Corinthians 12:28, Matthew 5:1-12)

Examples of Ministries:

  • Educational: Faith Formation Teacher, Teacher Aide, Youth Ministry, Adult Enrichment,
  • Liturgical: Reader, Eucharistic Minister, Prayers of the Faithful, Liturgy of the Word for Children.
  • Sacramental: Marriage Preparation, RCIA/RCOC Team. 

Wisdom

This Gift from the Holy Spirit allows a person to sort through opinions, facts, and thoughts to determine what if any response is appropriate for a received blessing or inherited difficulty.  This Gift involves a knowledge of God, of Scripture, of church tradition shared gracefully with others.  (Biblical Reference: 1Corinthians 2:6-13, James 3:13-18).

Examples of Ministries:

  • Administrative: Parish Pastoral Council.
  • Educational: Faith Formation Teacher, Teacher Aide, Youth Ministry. Adult Enrichment Coordinator.
  • Sacramental: Marriage Preparation, RCIA/RCOC Team.

Definitions adapted from the List of Spiritual Gifts, provided by St. Edna Catholic Church, Arlington Heights, IL and   St. Austin Catholic Parish, Austin Texas.

Download and print out the SGRT:

Spiritual Gifts Recognition Tool - Adults (PDF download)

Spiritual Gifts Recognition Tool - Youth (PDF download)

Church of St. Matthew Ministries

See our list of ministries here.