Whether you’re freelancing or temporarily removed from the office, here are seven ways to pray while working from home! And the best part is, you can use all of these when you go back to the office in person! 

#1: Start a Prayer Group 

When COVID-19 lockdowns first began, people were stressed and scared more than usual. My husband, the only Catholic at his company, was asked to begin a prayer group with his co-workers every morning. They started fifteen minutes earlier than the regular work day. This grounded their work and lives in the Lord and each other’s prayers. 

It can be uncomfortable to suggest praying with your coworkers, especially virtually. If prayer per se is too bold to pull off, you may consider starting a moment of group support or reflection, open to all faiths. Who knows, you may end up surprised how many Christians or even Catholics you already work with that you didn’t know about!

#2: The Angelus

Though the history of the Angelus is a bit more sparse than many other Catholic prayers, it remains a popular devotion for working Catholics. The Angelus is a brief meditation on the Annunciation traditionally said three times a day: at 6 a.m., 12 noon and 6 p.m. In past times, church bells would toll at those hours to summon the surrounding Catholics to stop work and pray. 

If you aren’t already waking up at 6 a.m., it might be tough to begin doing so just for the Angelus. Try setting an alarm for noon to remind you to take a quick break and pray right where you are! If you’re already stopping for lunch, it might be just as easy to pray this beautiful prayer before your midday meal.

#3: Say Grace

While most Catholics say grace before the three main meals of the day, feel free to incorporate it into your snacking routine, too! Saying grace is a great reminder to be grateful for all the food that we are given, and to ask God’s blessing upon it. Whether it’s a mid-morning PopTart or some afternoon veggies, saying grace is a great way to pray while working from home. 

Many families like to add their own little personal prayers to grace. Scripture quotes, intercession for those who are less fortunate, and prayers for the poor souls in Purgatory are all popular ones. In this year of St. Joseph (a saint with great advice for working Catholics), my husband and I like to add “St. Joseph, please intercede for all the men of the Church” to the end of our grace. 

#4: Literally Pray While Working

Not all prayer needs to be vocal or standardized. Internally practicing gratitude or asking for patience with a frustrating problem are ways to cultivate a relationship with Him without stopping everything. 

Talking to God throughout your work day is helpful in building a reliance on His grace and support. It also alleviates some of the stress of your job. Keeping an Image of Our Lord taped to one of the three flat screen monitors in your workspace can make it easy to pray while working – all you have to do is glance over and say “Hi” or if you’re a simple soul, maybe you can give Jesus a quick fist bump.

#5: Find a Patron Saint

Sometimes it can seem like ancient saints are out of touch with our contemporary work world. Remember, saints are alive in Heaven and want to pray for us as much as we want to be prayed for! 

There are numerous patron saints for modern problems and careers. Saints are given patronage for a reason! Learning about the saint of your work can aid in your decisions to pray while working. You can also offer any highs and lows up to the Lord through the hands of the patron.

#6: Use Your Commute Time

If you are back in the office, use the time where you’re driving to work to pray or meditate on the upcoming day. And if you’re still working from home, use the time you normally drive to sit quietly in the presence of God to calm your soul and ask for strength for the coming day.

One of the coolest things about Catholic prayers is that there are prayers for just about any length of time. Is your commute normally five minutes long? A chaplet of Divine Mercy or morning offering will work well. Fifteen minutes? Listen to the liturgy of the hours. Twenty? Get that daily Rosary in! Even longer? Mix and match, turn on some worship music, or just talk to God out loud! 

#7: Make the Sign of the Cross

The sign of the cross is one of the simplest ways to pray while working, and yet it is deeply profound when made with intentionality. The sign of the cross is a reminder to ourselves that we are marked as Christians. We are protected by the Lord, and are asked to carry our own crosses each and every day. Demons flee from the sign of the cross, and it will strengthen and refocus you on what is most important. 

You can make the sign of the cross at any pivotal moment of your workday. Before work begins, before a big meeting, before and after any other prayers, and right after you sign off. Making your work a prayer and bookending it with such a powerful sign is a way to integrate your faith into your professional life. If you haven’t yet, get yourself a bottle of Holy Water and keep it handy in your home. Using it with reverence and humble petition allows God to touch us in ways we may not even see.

Concluding Remarks:

One of the most important elements of a holy lifestyle is the ability to orient all aspects to the Lord. Christ should be the vibrant, burning center of a life that revolves around him – work, chores, play, charity, eating, etc. 

Hopefully these ways to pray while working, even from home, will help you in giving your entire day to Jesus and keeping the faith alive even while doing your job. 

About the Author

Ella Matthews is an actress and writer who graduated with a Communications Media degree from a film school in California. She lives with her husband in Indiana, loves tea and interior design, and wants to be a mom.

Search here for Catholic job postings, or Catholic Professionals you can hire.

The post 7 Ways to Pray While Working From Home appeared first on Catholic Professionals.

Work has always been a fundamental human right, but it was never meant to take over. As good as it is for the body and soul, there’s always the danger of turning our lives into an endless laundry list of tasks that inspire drudgery, instead of health and virtue … enter some wise advice from Saint Joseph.

This liturgical year dedicated to Saint Joseph gives us a special opportunity to get to know the foster father of Jesus on a deeper level. He can teach us how to find deep spiritual and human fulfillment in the work we do. 

Here is some advice from Saint Joseph for your daily life: 

Tip 1: Take Pride In Your Work

Carpentry isn’t a glamorous career. We know that Saint Joseph was a carpenter because Jesus is called the “carpenter’s son”.

Did Saint Joseph enjoy his trade? We don’t know. But he provided for his family by doing a craft well and teaching it to his son. He took pride in his work because he was able to support his family and take care of the practical needs of others. The Church even named him the patron of workmen!

We have a saying in my house: we don’t live for the weekend. As tempting as it can be, God doesn’t ask us to slog away at our place of employment so that when Friday night hits, all bets and decorum are off. We can look forward to it, sure, but live for it? We are meant, rather, to live every day to the full, and that includes taking pride in what we do.

There’s a phrase from Martin Luther King that exemplifies this attitude well:

“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.”

To take pride in your own work it helps to stop at times in prayer and think of all the people whose live are affected by what you do. The employees and clients and their families, and all the lives they in turn touch. Your job well done has much more impact than maybe you ever imagined.

Tip 2: Serve Others

My husband works a customer service job that would probably drive me legitimately insane. He doesn’t like it any more than I would, but I’m inspired by how he treats his clients and coworkers with the same cheerful love and respect that he treats his family and friends. His secret? Consciously serving God’s sons and daughters.

Did Saint Joseph want to be a carpenter? Again, we don’t know. But surely he made every table and chair with the same gentle love that he showered on Mary and Jesus. That’s precisely the secret to being a Christian: our love for God is shown in the way we treat our neighbor.

Maybe you chose your own career, or perhaps you are still discerning a difficult career choice. Whatever your job is, as a Christian, you have the opportunity to put your work at the service of your love for God. As Mother Teresa used to say:

“Do small things with great love.”

Try smiling at your most annoying coworker. Clean up a mess that isn’t yours. Give a compliment. In short, put people first while doing your work, and you’ll find that this advice from Saint Joseph will make all the difference.

Tip 3: Frequent Adoration

Saint Joseph literally lived with God incarnate, and since his conception spent his entire life adoring him. He was grounded in that relationship no matter what happened in carpentry. We see from the lives of other saints how much strength they drew from time spent with the Blessed Sacrament! How much more Saint Joseph must have thrived as he lived and worked with God incarnate!

This advice from Saint Joseph invites you into a more personal relationship with the Lord and it will affect all areas of your life, including your work and maybe even help you evangelize your coworkers. Spending free time with Him in adoration fills your cup to pour out to your boss, your cubicle buddy and your family. As you seek to follow His will through your work, He will bless you however He sees fit!

Tip 4: Learn to Rest

Saint Joseph the Worker knew the importance of priorities – was it likely that he worked in the shop at the expense of Jesus and Mary? Or do you suppose he left work at the proverbial five o’clock to be present to his wife and child?

This advice from Saint Joseph reminds us of the need to be present to those around us. Time well wasted, is time well spent. Sometimes we have to push back against a consumer minded worldview in order to dedicate time to doing what matters most – spending time with God and others.

Tip 5: Consecrate Yourself to St. Joseph the Worker

In this year of Saint Joseph, there is an increasing devotion to St. Joseph and the virtues that we can imitate in him.

Maybe consecration has always sounded a little scary for you? That’s okay. I would invite you to prayerfully consider it in this year dedicated to St. Joseph. Maybe now is the right moment.

Fr. Donald Calloway wrote a book on consecration to Saint Joseph. Drawing closer to Jesus’ foster father can only benefit your life. The man who spent his life quietly working and serving but ended up with titles such as “Terror of Demons” and “Patron of the Universal Church” is a man worth getting to know better.

Saint Joseph’s mark on the Church is one that has grown steadily and will only continue to grow. Celebrate this Year of Saint Joseph by practicing advice from Saint Joseph and the virtues of good work! His guidance and paternal love will benefit you in every way as you navigate the challenges of a world.

About the Author

Ella Matthews is an actress and writer who graduated with a Communications Media degree from a film school in California. She lives with her husband in Indiana, loves tea and interior design, and wants to be a mom.

Search here for Catholic job postings, or Catholic Professionals you can hire.

The post Practical Advice from Saint Joseph for Working Catholics appeared first on Catholic Professionals.

Well I’m guessing you’ve already started your freelance career. You might even have a couple of Catholic freelancing clients who are keeping your business afloat. Freelancing is a fascinating job, but its alluring flexibility and freedom only exists if you manage to grow and maintain your freelancing business.

It’ll be necessary to maintain high quality if you want to build self-brand credibility and attract many Catholic freelancing clients to work with on a regular basis.

Here are some sure-fire methods that you can use to find and keep new Catholic freelancing clients.

Professional Development

If you want to grow your network, often you’ll need to start with yourself. Professional development is crucial as a freelancer, because your clients have many contractors to choose from. If you want to attract new Catholic freelancing clients and keep the ones you already have on board, you should constantly work on your skills. You want to stand out from the crowd. There are two key perspectives to keep in mind:

Self Analysis

Whether you just started out as a freelancer or you’ve been doing this for a while, there should always be time for you to take a step back, analyze what you’ve done so far, and find your strengths and weaknesses.

While reviewing your work, ask yourself: What am I best at? But also, what are the things I need to change to improve my services? Use this information to evaluate your lows and your highs, and make a list of things to improve in the future. You obviously want to provide the very best service you can.

The longer you are in this business, the more hands-on experience you’ll get, however regular self analysis will speed up your progress.

Client Feedback

As you evaluate your own work, it’ll be crucial to ask clients for feedback about what it is that they like about your work and where they think you could improve. Use their positive and negative feedback to focus your services on what you do best, and then pay close attention to mend the areas where they suggest improvement.

In the Catholic world, humility is an attractive thing. When you recognize your own weaknesses, and ask for feedback, your Catholic freelancing clients will appreciate it and surely be willing to offer kind advice.

Service Optimization

When you start doing freelance work, you usually focus on what you already know. After a while there may come a point where you’ll need to discern how to grow in order to optimize your services. There are two directions you could take.

Specialize

Specialists are those who know more and more about less and less. That is, your scope is more focused, and that allows you to be better at what you do, and usually you can also charge more for your services. Expertise comes naturally as you gain experience, however dedicating regular time to update your knowledge with the latest best practices will set you apart. Today there are many resources at your fingertips that can help you to improve regularly. Make sure your bedside stand has a good book or two on your areas of expertise, or find online courses that can keep you up to late on the latest developments in your field.

Grow Your Services

Sometimes the very fact that you are working forces you to learn about related fields. As this happens, you can increase the number of services you offer based on what you’ve learned since you started the career. If you’re a content writer, you can collaborate with book editors or graphic designers to offer a full package to clients. If you’re an e-book writer or editor, you can also work on your SEO skills and establish yourself as an SEO expert. 

Marketing

Word-of-Mouth Referrals

Referrals are a freelancer’s most powerful tool in attracting new Catholic freelancing clients. It doesn’t hurt to ask clients to talk about you, but the most powerful tool for referrals is to actually care about your clients, and to do everything possible to make sure they know that, I would almost say, that they feel it. If they are impressed, it will not be because you did what you promised, but only if you go beyond what you promise. You have to break their expectations if you want them to be surprised and to talk about you to their friends.

Testimonials

Most people don’t have the natural habit of leaving comments or providing feedback, even if they worked with an amazing freelancer. Get in the habit of asking your Catholic freelancing clients to give you a quick testimonial or review and make sure that your new clients can find these easily on your portfolio or website.

Work on Your Marketing Strategy

Once you’ve built a portfolio, you can show people what you can deliver by providing them with actual proof of your capabilities. Figure out where your target clients hang out and get your work out there. Create a LinkedIn profile, pay for ads on Facebook and Instagram, and join websites like Upwork and Freelancer to find work. 

Technology, online marketing, and social media give freelancers many opportunities to widen their reach. As a Catholic freelancer, you can look for clients on many different websites, place ads on social media, and even ask for assistance from marketing professionals.

Make Connections

Connections open doors you didn’t even know existed. Networking should be one of your top priorities if you work as a freelancer.

Set up a profile on Catholic Professionals to let people know what you can offer them. Scour platforms like LinkedIn to find people with similar interests, as well as potential clients that might want to hire you.

Don’t just reach out to people that can become your Catholic freelancing clients. Work on your connections with other freelance writers and professionals. Join groups for freelance writers and Catholic professionals, write on forums, and share your expertise and portfolio with other experts in the field. You never know where an opportunity can come from.

If you leave an impact on people simply in your interactions with them, they are much more likely to remember you and possibly reach back out in the future, or even share your work with a friend.

Final Thoughts

Building your clientele takes time, effort and a long term strategy.

If your heart is in the right place, then you will begin with yourself and strive to become better and better at what you do. You will also genuinely care about your Catholic freelancing clients and will put their success as your top priority.

These two strategies alone will bring you to stand out, and with time, people will notice your heart, and your efforts will be rewarded.

Submitted by the Editor

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The post Catholic Freelancing Clients: How to Grow Your Network appeared first on Catholic Professionals.

To begin with, the last seven years in the US have seen high and stable rates of entrepreneurship overall. The majority of Americans say that their city is a good place to start a business, according to Babson College’s 2017 report on entrepreneurship in the U.S. This is the highest number since Babson College started conducting the survey in 1999.

With the rise of the side hustle, Catholic entrepreneurship is becoming a more accessible dream across the country. From small rosary shops to national ministries, Catholics are looking for ways to use their creativity — and their business chops — to spread God’s word, while making a living.

If you have an idea you’ve been sitting on, here are some tips for developing that idea into a business and launching your new product or service into the world – or at least into the Church.

Is It a Good Idea?

“I believe this is Heaven’s idea – from the promptings in my heart, like a restless spiritual nagging,” says Julia Miller, founder of FreshRosary. She was an established wedding florist, which she describes as a “hobby-gone-mad that came into my life as a young stay-at-home-mom,” when a friend of hers asked her to be the florist for her mother’s funeral. Among the floral creations she provided for the funeral was an eight-feet rosary made of roses. The rest, as they say, was history.

Of course, your idea might sound great. It might be something you’re passionate about and even something your friends and family find interesting. But if it’s not saleable (or, in the case of a nonprofit, fundraise-able), it won’t last. In a recent interview with HubSpot, entrepreneurship expert Jules Pieri said that “the critical first step” in starting a business is “to assess the potential market size of an opportunity.”

Do Your Homework

Internet research is a great way to start doing this research, from Google Trends (are people searching for rosaries?) to Amazon’s bestseller list (are people buying them?). You can also visit trade shows, talk to your regional Small Business Administration office and look for market data in your industry, Pieri says.

Experimentation is also a good way to know if your idea has merit. Samantha Povlock, founder of FemCatholic, says that when she created the online platform, she didn’t know at first whether it was a good idea, “except that I knew the mission was authentic to ME. As it grew, I read a lot of business advice that recommended ‘talking to your customer,’ and as I continued talking to women about the platform, I realized, this is genuinely making a difference in people’s lives. That was evidence to me that I wasn’t the only person who needed something like this to exist; other people did too.” She says when she opened the first call for contributing writers and received 50 applications, “That was the first time I thought, wow, there really is interest in not only being part of the audience but in helping move this work forward.”

Discerning Your Calling

How do you know if starting a business is something God is calling you to do? Prayer, listening, talking to trusted family members and friends. Discernment is an important part of every aspect of our lives, including Catholic entrepreneurship. For instance, Cecilia Escobedo, founder of Hair Bows 4 Life, says that she asked the Holy Spirit to help her name her business.

“Discernment of spirits is so incredibly easy to overlook but it is absolutely nonnegotiable,” says Povlock, “because you are going to get all sorts of advice – both Catholic and secular – and ultimately, you have to decide what’s right for you and your organization.”

The Side Hustle

Unless you have a pile of cash set aside, starting your new ministry or business as a side hustle is a good option. This approach to Catholic entrepreneurship gives you the security to experiment while still being able to make next month’s rent. If you do decide to start a side hustle, time management and self-discipline will be key. When your projects don’t have external deadlines, set your own (and stick to them). Have a detailed calendar, whether on paper or online, that helps you keep up with tasks and deadlines. (Color-coding is always great, especially when you’re separating your day job from your weekend gig.)

Side hustling can be disruptive to your personal life. Carve out time to be with loved ones just like you carve out time to work. It may be that you can sometimes combine the two. If your side hustle is in marketing, ask your boyfriend to join you at your favorite coffee shop and read a book while you write copy. Are you a craftsman? Skype with your parents while you’re working on your next project. Multitask when you have to; be fully present when you can.

Networking: Connecting With Other Catholic Founders

If you’ve been working for any length of time, you’ve probably heard the advice that networking is important to professional success. When you’re starting a new business or nonprofit, it’s especially critical to connect with people who have similar interests, as potential customers, partners, word-of-mouth marketers or simply friends who can offer sound advice.

The key to good networking is authenticity. When it comes to Catholic entrepreneurship, potential founders are frequently warned not to use people, and networking can often feel negative like that. But when it’s approached with authenticity and generosity, networking is simply building relationships. Don’t approach other people with the goal of finding out how they can help you; approach them with the goal of learning about them. You may find business opportunities there, or you may just make a friend. You may have a brief conversation and never talk to them again. Regardless of the outcome, you’re getting your product or service “out there,” and you’re treating people with dignity and respect. It’s a win-win.

Here are some ways Catholic founders can connect with each other and with potential customers or volunteers:

Join an association.

Escobedo recommends finding or gathering a group of like-minded founders in your niche and supporting each other with ideas and advice. “I found two groups in the last three years,” she says, and “I wish I had such groups from day one!”

“It is so important for us to constantly nourish our own soul while we try to nourish and inspire the souls of others,” says Amy Brooks, the founder and president of Catholics Online. “If our ultimate goal is to become one with Christ in heaven, we should start here and now. Connecting and supporting one another unites us, and hopefully gets us closer to be one with Our Lord.”

Talk to people at church.

You probably go to Mass every Sunday. Do you talk to the people sitting in your pew? Have you found a ministry to volunteer with? Community is vital to Catholic entrepreneurship, just as it is to Christian life in general. If you have a Catholic business, your customers are also your spiritual brothers and sisters. Get to know them. Attend those fish fries during Lent, or get involved in a ministry that you’re passionate about. Connecting with other people will help you grow as a Christian while growing your business.

Have friends.

Catholic Entrepreneurship can be lonely, especially once you move from side hustle to full-time gig. Don’t neglect your relationships; they will keep you sane and motivated. Povlock says she’s met some of her best friends through FemCatholic. Use your business to meet friends, but don’t lose track of the old ones, too.

The Rule of St. Benedict states, “Whenever you begin any good work, you should first of all make it a most pressing appeal to Christ our Lord to bring it to perfection.” Catholic entrepreneurship should start by dedicating  your business to the Holy Spirit, and whether or not it’s a financial success (we hope it will be!), God will use it to touch lives.

About the Author

Taryn Oesch DeLong is an editor and writer in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she lives with her husband and works in digital media. Passionate about supporting women in work, in life, and in health, she is the managing editor of Catholic Women in Business, assistant editor and contributing writer at FemCatholic, a contributor to Live Today Well Co., and an almost-certified fertility awareness educator. When she’s not helping writers craft stories and writing her own nonfiction and fiction, you’ll find Taryn reading Jane Austen and drinking a cup of Earl Grey tea, playing the flute or the piano, or volunteering. You can follow Taryn on Instagram and Twitter @tarynmdelong, on Facebook, or on her blog.

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The post Catholic Entrepreneurship: From Idea to Execution appeared first on Catholic Professionals.

How to Hire A Qualified Parish Employee

It goes without saying that if you’re trying to live the Gospel well, prayer is of the essence! Consider praying for the right candidate as a parish or even during your staff meetings. Relying on the Holy Spirit is an excellent way to begin your search for a qualitied parish employee.

Tips For Hiring a Qualified Parish Employee:

• Use Job Boards. Avoid relying solely on personal connections to fill an open job at the parish. Casting a wider net could expose you to highly qualified candidates that you might not encounter otherwise. It also allows you to bring some objectivity into the hiring process. Using a Catholic Job Board can help broaden your search.
• Identify Your Goals. I once interviewed for a job, and the interviewer could not explain the job description! Unfortunately, they were merely looking for a “warm body” to serve as a catch-all. There was no vision for the job that took my human potential into account. In short, creating a vision with stated goals will empower your new hire.
• Offer a Fair Compensation. Parishes may be operating on a thin budget with many obligations. However, that doesn’t mean that you cannot find creative ways to offer a competitive salary. Research the position you are hiring for and find out what the average salary range is for similar jobs in your region. Take a closer look at areas where you might be able to re-allocate resources. If you sincerely cannot afford to pay an average salary, maybe consider other benefits. These perks could include vacation time, paid maternity leave, a complimentary pre-school slot, or even a paid retreat.
• Be Prepared to Train. Have a training plan in place before you make your hire. Write it down and do a thorough review of the plan with the person who will be training your new-hire. If training will take three months, plan ahead for re-assigning tasks as needed.

And why it matters: Qualified Employees Pay Big Dividends

Hiring the right person for the job means you have prayerfully and diligently selected the most qualified candidate. Job experience may require a higher salary, however, you could save time and money in the long run. Qualified candidates will usually require less training and finding the right person will often allow you to consolidate tasks typically spread between employees.

How to Keep A Qualified Parish Employee

Take Care of Your Employees

• Focus on keeping an employee’s work balanced: I recently spoke with two full-time parish youth ministers with similar-sized parishes and salaries. One was expected to work forty hours in the office and additionally to put on a host of other nightly and weekend events with no additional compensation. It was not uncommon for her to work 60-70 hours a week! The other youth minister had similar expectations, however, the parish offered “comp-time” for those moments when the regular forty-hour schedule went out the window. The latter youth minister had a much better experience and was more satisfied with her position. All it took was some creative planning on behalf of the parish administration.
• Give them the training they need: Ideally, you will hire the right person for the job, train them well, and then see them flourish for years to come. Be prepared to invest in your people with time and resources. If you think about it, Jesus spent years training his disciples by spending quality time with them, before giving them the responsibility of taking care of his Church!

And why it matters: Turnover is Costly!

High turnover is costly, and keeping it as low as possible is one way to be a faithful steward of parish resources. This is because overall productivity may decrease for a time when training a new-hand and the effects can usually be felt across the board. Perhaps that employee must work over-time to complete essential tasks, or another employee must temporarily abandon standing projects to assist with other important work left undone.

The time and resources spent training a new employee are financial considerations beyond salary and benefits that must be considered. If you are in the cycle of constantly training a new employee for the same job every year or two, this is a financial toll on parish resources.

Let Prayer, Planning and a Person-Centered Approach Be Your Guide

Hiring and keeping a qualified parish staff comes down to three essential elements: Praying for the right candidate, planning for success from start to finish and making sure your employees are treated with the care they need to flourish. At the end of the day, people matter most.

About the Author

Charlie Johnson is a freelance Catholic writer. Charlie lives in sunny Florida with his wife of five years and their three children. He holds a B.A. in Religion and Apologetics and also serves as the Managing Editor for the Catholic Lifestyle and Spirituality site, Taming the Wilds. His writing has been featured in places like the Catholic Stand, SpiritualDirection.com, Catholic Exchange, Catholic in Recovery and in print at Shalom Tidings. You can reach Charlie by email at: dcj.bhm@gmail.com

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The post How to Hire and Keep A Qualified Parish Employee (And Why It Matters!) appeared first on Catholic Professionals.

Admit it.

You’re sitting in your office cubicle daydreaming again, aren’t you? You want to build your Catholic resume or portfolio, but simply don’t know where to start.

Your job was rewarding at first. HR did a great job selling you on the company’s mission and the internal opportunities for growth. The pay is good, and the benefits are great. But lately everything’s been feeling mundane, even… meaningless.

You want to do something that really matters, something with eternal significance.

You daydream about bringing souls to Christ — working full-time for His Church and putting your skills and talents at the service of the Gospel. But you have a problem…

You’ve never worked in Catholic ministry.

Heck! You’ve never even volunteered to read at Sunday Mass.

Or maybe you’re concerned because you have no formal education in Catholic theology, catechesis, ministry, evangelization, or apologetics.

In other words, there’s nothing particularly “Catholic” on your resume or in your portfolio. You’ve been looking around at all the opportunities for ministry in your diocese, but you can’t help but wonder: “Why would anyone want to hire me for a ministry job? My current skillset doesn’t fit any of these job descriptions.”

If this sounds familiar, “Be not afraid” (sorry—John Paul II pun…)…

Here are five helpful tips you can use to build your Catholic resume or portfolio before you quit your day-job:

1. What skills are on your current resume or portfolio?

The first helpful tip you can use to build your Catholic resume or portfolio is pretty simple. Determine your skillset!

You have a definite skillset.

Whether you realize it or not, your current skillset can be put to use in the service of the Gospel. The Church needs you… and your skillset! So sit down, write out your skills, and brainstorm how you intend to use them in the service of the Gospel.

Are you good at building websites? As we’ve seen recently with the beatification of Carlo Acutis, the Church needs men and women who are capable of building attractive websites that folks want to come back to again and again.

Is digital marketing your thing? Great! The Church needs marketers and content creators who are adept at creating compelling content for evangelizing on the “digital continent.”

Do you work in sales or corporate coaching? The Church needs men and women like you; capable of creating stunning presentations, building compelling cases, and making persuasive arguments in favor of Catholicism.

The truth is, it doesn’t matter what your current skillset is. The Church needs you and your abilities. So write down what it is that you’ve been trained to do, and start thinking of ways you can use your skills in the service of the Church.

2. Figure out your talents

In his First Letter to Corinthians, Saint Paul says:

“There are many different gifts, but it is always the same Spirit … The particular manifestation of the Spirit granted to each one is to be used for the general good” (1Cor. 12:4, 7).

He then goes on to say that, as the body as a whole needs its various parts, so too does the Church need her members to use their various God-given gifts and talents for the sake of spreading the Gospel.

Ask yourself: “What talents has God given me?”

Are you musically inclined? Or maybe you have a gift for the written word. Do you “come alive” when you’re speaking in front of a large crowd? Or maybe one-on-one coaching is more your thing.

You have a talent. Most likely you have several talents. And you can use each talent to build up the Body of Christ. Find out what your talents are. And if you struggle to figure it out (*ahem* you’re not alone), ask a couple close friends or relatives what they think your talent is.

3. Volunteering can build your Catholic experience

Worried that you have no direct experience working in ministry or in a Church-related role? Not a problem!

Your parish may need RCIA sponsors who are available and knowledgeable enough to answer an RCIA candidate’s questions. Or maybe your parish priest could use some extra help ministering to the Youth Group, even if there is already a full-time Youth Minister employed by the parish.

Does your parish have a blog? Why not volunteer to write weekly or monthly articles?

Ask around. There are more than enough opportunities for you to volunteer and put your unique skills and talents to work, while at the same time building up that Catholic resume or portfolio you’ve been working on.

One great way to get involved as a volunteer is to join your local St. Paul Street Evangelization team!

4. Add Catholic education to your resume or portfolio

Who among us hasn’t been put off by the “Master’s Degree in Theology and three years of experience as a catechist or youth minister” requirement for that Director of Religious Education job you know you’d be perfect for!

You’re already working on building your experience by volunteering your time as a catechist, sponsor, street evangelist, or youth minister. Now, thanks to the internet, you have multiple ways to fulfill that education “requirement.”

If you need formal education, there are some amazing Catholic schools that offer Master’s degrees in theology, ministry, or catechetics 100% online! Franciscan University of Steubenville, Catholic Distance University, and the Augustine Institute are three of the best schools out there offering online degrees in theology.

But if you just need to brush up on your knowledge of the Faith, and want a certificate to show for it, there are some great options out there. The St. Paul Evangelization Institute and Catholic Answers School of Apologetics are two great places where you can solidify your knowledge of Catholicism, while also earning a certificate to post on your LinkedIn profile and brag about on your resume.

5. A final word to help you build your Catholic resume or portfolio

Building up your Catholic resume or portfolio is great and all. But there’s one thing you can do right now that will launch you into full-time Church-work faster than that perfect resume or portfolio ever could.

Networking!

Get out there and meet some people, especially the “key players.” Spend time getting to know your parish priest. Go to your local “Theology on Tap” events. Join or start a parish or diocesan book study program.

Get out there and meet people. After all, ministry and evangelization aren’t so much about what you know. They’re all about bringing the Gospel to people.

And if you’re already putting some of the above advice into practice, then you’re well on your way to launching your Church career.

Philip Rolfes is a freelance direct response copywriter, connecting people with the missions they’re passionate about.

Search here for Catholic job postings, or Catholic Professionals you can hire.

The post Build Your Catholic Resume or Portfolio in 5 Easy Steps appeared first on Catholic Professionals.

Your ministry has been growing steadily now for some time, and you’ve reached a tipping point. There’s work to be done that requires specific skills that you just don’t have. You could learn these skills yourself, of course, but that would eat up valuable time that should be focused towards growing your ministry. You could have one of your staff learn the skills, but that could get expensive, not to mention it would take them away from the vital work they’re already doing for your mission. What other options do you have?

The Risks of an Employee

Like a lot of ministry-leaders-turned-businessmen, you may think your only option is to hire more full-time staff with the specific skills needed to grow your ministry to the next level. But this option comes with a few risks that you may not be ready to face:

The expense of hiring full-time staff

Hiring full-time staff members is not cheap. Not only do they deserve a just wage, but you end up shouldering the responsibility for their health benefits, office supplies and equipment, taxes, social security, and additional overhead. You’ll also end up investing a lot of additional time – and therefore money – getting your new staff member trained and up-to-speed on their role in your ministry.

The limited scope of the project

Not all the projects you have in the pipeline will be ongoing or everyday tasks. You may simply need a new website built. If you hire a full-time web designer, how will you occupy their time once your new website has been launched? You may not be able to afford keeping a web designer on a full-time payroll to do a job that amounts to part-time work.

Finding the right fit

Let’s say you decide to create this new full-time role within your ministry. Now you have to spend additional time and resources hunting down the right candidates to interview. This is time and money taken away from the crucial mission of your ministry! And there’s no guarantee that the candidate you settle on will be the right fit. Many candidates are great in the interview process, but fail to deliver on the promises they made. You could be stuck with a lemon employee, facing the challenge of firing him and finding someone to take his place.

An Alternative – Hire a Catholic Freelancer

At this stage in your ministry’s growth, you need an option that’s going to give you plenty of wiggle room. Something that isn’t going to eat away at your bottom line, and will give you maximum results with a minimum investment of your time, effort, and resources. Something that you can pull the plug on as soon as you’ve passed this tipping point, but possibly make use of once again when you reach the next tipping point.

So what do you do? Where do you turn? You’re passionate about ministry and spreading the Gospel. The logistics of running a startup that’s on the verge of becoming a full-fledged business isn’t your specialty.

Have you ever considered hiring a Catholic freelancer? If not, you should.

Hiring a Catholic freelancer could be just the solution to the growth and hiring problems you face. They can help you save money that would be put to better use furthering the mission of your ministry. They can help you save time that you should be using to grow your ministry. And they bring a highly specialized skill set to the table that you can take advantage of to make sure your ministry function as a truly world-class business.

Hire A Catholic Freelancer To Save Money

1. Not on payroll – pay-as-needed

Most freelancers work on an as-needed basis. You hire them to take care of a specific project – building the new website you’ve been talking about for months, writing that grant proposal that’s been sitting on your desk, setting up that automated email marketing campaign you need – then once the project is complete you send them their check and that’s it! There’s no more out-of-pocket expense on your part.

2. No overhead costs

Let’s face it, office supplies can get expensive. If your ministry is a startup to medium-sized ministry, you’re spending nearly $2000 each year per employee for office supplies! Here’s another area where working with a Catholic freelancer can save you some money. Freelancers typically work remotely from their home office, in their local library, or in their favorite coffee shop. They use their own computers, printers, phones, and other office supplies. By hiring a Catholic freelancer, you free up the money that would’ve gone to purchasing office supplies for an additional full-time employee, and you can redirect it back into promoting the mission of your ministry.

3. No benefits pay

If you choose to hire a full-time employee, you don’t just take on the responsibility of paying them a just wage. You’ve also saddled yourself with the responsibility of paying their taxes, social security, and health benefits. But, because freelancers are seen as contractors and not employees, they are responsible for paying their own taxes, social security, and health insurance. The savings on benefits alone can amount to nearly $5000 per year!

Hire A Catholic Freelancer To Save Time

4. Flexibility

Freelancers can be a strange breed. Many of them prefer to work odd hours – early mornings, late nights, even weekends. They know how to take advantage of their peak hours when they will produce their best work. By taking advantage of a freelancer’s flexibility, you’re no longer locked into the 9am – 5pm business hours to get your urgent projects finished. So, if you have an important project on Friday night that needs to be completed by Monday morning, a freelancer will likely be happy to tackle that project for you over the weekend.

5. Works Independently

Freelancers are often among leading experts in their area of expertise. They’ve spent years fine-tuning their specific skill set so that they can produce the highest quality. When you hire a freelancer for a specific project, you don’t have to waste time training them, supervising them, and constantly reviewing their work. Just give them the big picture of what you want done, point them in the right direction, and turn them loose to do what they do best.

6. Efficient

Believe it or not, it’s in the best interest of a freelancer to be as efficient as possible. They’re running their own businesses after all. They know that the success of their business is dependent on repeat customers. A good Catholic freelancer will keep you happy not just by producing top-notch work, but by doing so as efficiently as possible. You can bet your urgent projects will be done by your deadline, if not long before.

Hire A Catholic Freelancer For Specialized Skills

7. Expertise

You may be a gifted public speaker, but can you build a website? Or maybe you know Church teaching like the back of your hand, but can you set up an automated email marketing campaign? Or you could be a gifted CEO, but can you write a persuasive fundraising letter that gets results? Most of us have a sweet-spot, some area of specialty where we function at our peak. The same goes for Catholic freelancers. Some specialize in writing effective copy. Others specialize in building attractive websites. Others can be some of the best accountants you’ve ever seen. And all of them are happy to put their expertise to work, furthering the Gospel by serving your ministry’s mission.

8. Breadth of Experience

In addition to being experts in their fields, most freelancers have also worked with a broad range of clients from various fields. This breadth of experience can help you bring new perspectives and fresh insights to the projects you’re working on. A freelance copywriter, for example, will help you write more persuasive marketing materials, but they may also help breathe new life into your blog, newsletters, and online content by applying the principles of persuasion to your Catholic content.

9. Top-Tier Talent

Many freelancers are among the top performers in their areas of expertise. Dave Ramsey was a freelance financial consultant who worked out of his living room before building his company up to what it is today. Ray Edwards, one of the biggest-name copywriters of our day, also got his start working from home as a freelance copywriter. Even many of the prominent Catholic speakers and authors today – Matthew Kelly, Christopher West, Matt Fradd, etc. – got started as “freelance” parish mission and retreat leaders.

Add to these advantages the fact that Catholic freelancers who serve specifically Catholic ministries are obviously passionate about one thing – spreading the Gospel by making use of the skills and best-practices they’ve acquired in their professional careers. Catholic freelancers care about your ministry. They want to see it succeed as much as you do, and they’re willing to put in the time and effort to make that happen.

So the only question left isn’t whether or not you should hire a Catholic freelancers. Your question should be why you haven’t hired one yet! Search Catholic Freelance Profiles!

Sources

• Big Businesses Like to Hire Freelancers
• Average Annual Single Premium per Enrolled Employee For Employer-Based Health Insurance
• JPScience Marketing: Hire a Freelancer
• All Things Advertising: 5 Reasons to Hire a Freelancer
• Leaders in Heels: 6 Reasons you Should Hire a Freelancer
• Social Media Today: Hire Freelancers
• Grant Burke: Reasons to Hire Freelancers
• 10x Management: 5 Benefits of Hiring a Freelancer
• LinkedIn: Benefits of Hiring a Freelancer
• Twago: Advantages of Hiring Freelancers
• Recruiterbox: Pros and Cons of an Independent Contractor
• Paperless Proposal: Value of hiring freelance contractors
• WritingAssist.com: Top Advantages of Hiring a Freelancer

Philip Rolfes is a freelance direct response copywriter, connecting people with the missions they’re passionate about.

Search here for Catholic job postings, or Catholic Professionals you can hire.

The post Hire a Catholic Freelancer? Here’s 9 Reasons You Should appeared first on Catholic Professionals.

Getting hired in ministry can be one of the most challenging steps in a career. Parishes, schools, and organizations, seek to further their mission and serve their members. But at the same time they have to be very careful about who they hire. I don’t envy those who do the hiring, but I’ll be the first to admit that I see more challenges for those who seek employment in ministry. With that said, here are Ten Tips For Getting Hired in Ministry.

1. To get hired in ministry, you need to be upfront

Be clear and honest with your potential employer about your financial needs. It’s easy to get so passionate about ministry or so desperate for employment that we settle for less. And while doing so isn’t inherently bad, it can become a problem later. If you can’t afford to pay your rent or your salary doesn’t cover your student loan payments, the stress in your personal life will prevent you from being present to the needs of those being served by the ministry. If you’re a parent and your potential employer isn’t interested in paying for your child’s necessary health insurance (I speak from experience on this one), the opportunity is not worth your time. So be clear about your needs. 

2. Don’t be intimidated

Often, successful ministry people (especially those in the public eye) appear like celebrities. And instead of learning from them, we see them as unapproachable, and we practically idolize them. Instead of seeing Christ working through these people, we see them. We need to celebrate the ministry successes of others, not envy them. You too are capable of doing something incredible! Find inspiration from those who came before us. Saints like St. Therese of Lisieux

3. You Are Interviewing Them Too

I’ve been there. Interviewing for a position, hoping desperately to get the job. And then one of the worst possible things happened; I was offered the position and I accepted it. In retrospect I realized I should have asked more questions. It became clear that I should have been myself more in the interview. But once I was hired, it didn’t take long for me to realize that I was in the wrong place. That led to a bumpy transition for all involved. Come prepared with questions to help ensure that it’s the right place for you.

4. Pray, Pray, and Pray Some More

Pray for guidance and pray that God’s will be done. Many of us in ministry spend too much time focusing on our plans. Ministry is not supposed to be self-serving. But for too many of us it becomes exactly that. Focus on God’s plans.

In his youth, my father was a competitive swimmer, a swim coach, and a pool manager. This was a big part of his life. And throughout his life he drew parallels to swimming and pretty much anything else. In his wisdom he would say, “You can’t save someone else from drowning until you learn to swim yourself.” And he was right. Nowhere is this truer than in ministry. We cannot give what we don’t have. And what we need to give comes only from God.

So instead of running a retreat, attend one. Before organizing an evening of Adoration, visit the Blessed Sacrament, and before sending in your résumé, pray your favorite prayer (I suggest the Divine Mercy Chaplet). 

5. Be Persistent, But Not a Pest

Reach out to potential employers. And always make sure to follow up with them. Even if they say, “we’ll be in touch” or “we’ll let you know”, reach out to them. Following up with a potential employer demonstrates to them that you have a strong interest in the position and practice taking initiative.

Don’t go overboard. The last thing you want to come off as a disruption to their other responsibilities.  

6. Make contacts to get hired in Ministry

You will find this tip in any “business 101” discussion. But out of necessity, ministry often finds itself managed like a business. And all ministry work is inherently relational anyway. So make contacts. Now don’t confuse relationships with some form of nepotism (although that happens sometimes). Getting to know people intimately will enable you to trust each other. You can do this through online social networks like Linkedin.com or Facebook, but nothing beats face-to-face connections.

7. Be Patient

There are a lot of qualified and unqualified people serving in ministry, and even more looking for opportunities. And those who are in a position to higher you are under enormous pressure to get it right. This pressure may cause them to overlook qualified candidates. Or they may simply be drawn to another candidate. Resist discouragement. Remind yourself before every interview, every email, every application, and every teleconference that all things are to happen on God’s time.
As for self-starters it typically takes a successful small business at least two years to be profitable. So if you are a freelancer or you are starting your own ministry, keep in mind that the money might not come in as quickly as you hoped.

8. Recognize a Difficult Truth

For most of us who dedicate ourselves to ministry, we have a preconceived notion about what our ministry will be like. We have goals and we have talents to share. So we construct a scenario in our minds and build expectations around that. A difficult truth for those seeking ministry work is that whatever position or opportunity you get, it will not match what you have in your mind. In most cases you’re coming into an established system that will demand flexibility on your part. This is true for parish employees, diocesan employees, freelancers, and even people who are starting their own ministry.

9. (When Possible) Don’t Turn Down Volunteer Opportunities

Ministry work is supposed to mirror the work of Christ. And Christ sought out those most in need.

And fill that resume! You can be the most talented speaker, musician, writer or retreat leader, but nothing makes you more appealing as a candidate than experience. And the easiest way to get experience is as a volunteer. Volunteer opportunities are out there. Some will be boring, but each time you volunteer you will learn something that will help you in the future.  

Now, this comes with and important exception. Never commit yourself to a volunteer opportunity if you can’t fulfill the commitment. Inability to fulfill commitments will hurt you in any professional field.

10. Stop Competing, Start Cooperating

Of all the challenges facing people who serve in ministry is the attitude of competition. We become jealous when someone else gets the paid gig.  We feel like our talents aren’t recognized, and we begin competing with one another for resources and opportunities. This divisive approach doesn’t help build God’s kingdom.  Instead of competing with one another, we should be focusing on cooperating with God’s will.

Trust God’s Plan

Throughout my years in ministry, I have been passed over for positions many times and hired for both long term employment or one time events many times. Early in my ministry career, I found myself engulfed in self-pity when a position went to someone else. But one of the high-points of my career was when I didn’t get hired as the Campus Minister at an all-male high school. Two weeks later I was offered a job that was a much better fit!  And the person they hired instead was definitely the right person for the job.

Humility and Service

One of the dirty little secrets of the Church is the struggle of competition. Too often, Catholic parishes, schools, and organizations find themselves desperate for resources and members. Which often results in a I’ve personally witnessed a Pastor defend their parish’s “border” with a determination rivaled only by those who defended the need for the Berlin Wall. This pastor went so far as to turn dismiss a young family’s interest in the parish because they lived within the boundaries of another parish as established by the Archdiocese. As people who feel called to work in ministry, we are susceptible to these same temptations. We must work to avoid turning ministry into business, while still acknowledging that running a ministry can sometimes mirror the structure of the modern business.

There are many challenges and considerations when seeking to get hired for a ministry job.  Don’t let these obstacles discourage you. In times of discouragement, we should all turn to Sacred Scripture and the lives of the Saints.  If you haven’t read the Book of Job, make sure to check it out.

References:

Chron.com: Average time to reach Profitability for a Start-Up

USSB: The Bible

Catholic.org: Saints

CareerKey.org: Choose a Career

Chaplet of the Divine Mercy

– Tim Lucchesi is the Director of Chaste Love Ministry. But more importantly, he is a Beloved son of God, a husband to an amazing woman and the father of two children: the most beautiful little girl and a precious baby son. Tim loves cheesecake and sees every superhero movie that he can. After six years in parish and regional youth ministry, Tim felt called to create Chaste Love, because everyone deserves healthy relationships. Follow him on Twitter @tim_lucchesi and Instagram @timlucchesi

Search here for Catholic job postings, or Catholic Professionals you can hire.

The post 10 Tips For Getting Hired in Ministry appeared first on Catholic Professionals.

Importantly, discernment is only needed when you’re deciding between two good decisions; after all, you don’t need discernment to decide between a good decision and a sinful decision. (It may be a difficult decision to make – but you know what to do.) So, for instance, if you have a job selling software for a tech company and are considering taking a job at a different tech company, assuming neither company is doing anything immoral, you can use discernment to make that decision.

Good Spirits and Bad Spirits

St. Ignatius said that the thoughts that occur to us while we are making a decision come from good spirits and “bad spirits.” He believed that the good spirits come from God and His angels, and the bad spirits come from “the evil angel.” Both good and bad spirits can cause either spiritual consolation or spiritual desolation, which can bring us closer to or take us further away from God. The key to discernment is to understand where the consolation or desolation is coming from.

For example, if you are generally living a prayerful life that follows Church teachings, and then you experience spiritual desolation, you can bet that desolation does not come from God – after all, He doesn’t want to sway you from the good life you are living. On the other hand, if you are living a life that’s apart from God, and you experience spiritual desolation, that’s definitely coming from God.

How to Use Ignatian Discernment

The first key to using Ignatian discernment is practice. Like any skill, you can’t just start using it and expect it to work overnight. So, start practicing Ignatian discernment before you have to make any big career decisions. Use it for the small, even silly decisions. Should you take a vacation this year? Or ask your boss for a raise? Maybe work remotely next week? Which task should you prioritize today?

There are a few Ignatian practices to help you build this discernment muscle. One is the Examen, a daily, five-step meditation that includes gratitude, prayer, reflection and planning for the next day. Another is the “colloquy,” which is a type of prayer that involves intimate conversation with God (or Mary, or a saint). As with anything in the Catholic life, having a solid prayer life is the foundation of successful discernment.

Once you are ready to make a big decision – let’s say, whether or not to quit your job – it’s important (and difficult!) to try to create some distance between yourself and the consequences of the decision. This distance doesn’t mean you don’t care about those consequences; it just means that you try to leave your natural biases and emotions to the side so you can examine the decision as clearly as possible. With this detachment, writes Loyola Press editor Vinita Hampton Wright, your “decision-making process can become more well-rounded and holistic.”

In other words, if you’re angry at your boss, try to put that anger aside for the moment. If you were not angry, what would be the reasons you’d want to quit your job? Do you have to take a new step to move further toward your career goals? Or maybe you need to freelance to have more flexibility at home? Perhaps you need more money to support yourself or a family? These questions are easier to answer without the anger that could cause you to make a rash decision.

6 Tips for Ignatian Discernment in Career Decisions

That’s easier said than done, of course. Here are a few tips to make it easier:

• Take time. Unless you have a hard deadline on your decision, don’t make it in haste. It might feel good in the moment to rush into your boss’ office and quit, but you will probably regret it later. Time time to pray, discern and talk over the decision with people you trust.
• Be alone. Talking with others is good. Talking with God is better. Whether it’s alone in your bedroom or at adoration, silence is often necessary to hear those good spirits.
• Be honest – with yourself and with God. What do you actually want from your career, and what are you afraid might happen if you do or don’t make a certain choice? Sometimes, verbalizing our goals and our fears in prayer or conversation is the only way we can identify them for ourselves.
• Tell God, “Thy will be done” – and then ask for the strength to accept it.
• Commit. Once you make the decision, don’t waver, and don’t go back (unless something comes up that confirms that you actually made a bad decision).
• Evaluate. “Discernment is ongoing,” writes author Joe Paprocki, D.Min. Evaluating the results of your decision will not only help you continue on or alter your course but also strengthen your discernment muscle.

The Suscipe

Asking for God’s will to be done is hard. It takes faith that His will is, in fact, best.  It means silencing that voice in the back (or maybe the front) of your mind that says, “But what if His will is something I don’t want?”

St. Ignatius had a prayer for that: the Suscipe. It might be difficult at first, but after practice, it can bring comfort. After all, if God’s in charge … do we need to worry?

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding,
and my entire will,
All I have and call my own.
You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.
Everything is yours; do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace,
that is enough for me.

Taryn Oesch is the owner of Everyday Roses Editorial, LLC, where she writes and speaks for Catholic women. Her role models are all named Teresa, and she keeps discovering new ways they influence her work and her life. An active member of the Raleigh Catholic Young Adults community, Taryn is also a contributing writer to FemCatholic and managing editor of Catholic Women in Business.

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