Christian Employment Outreach

The Christian Employment Outreach (CEO) Program connects the Seminary with those discerning a call to ministry and seeks through roundtable discussions and "Spiritual Works" seminars to address such questions as: "Is God calling me to make a transition to ministry? How do I know? How do I make the transition? The CEO Program will provide an avenue for individuals (high school and college students included) to discern the call to work in ministry, and to provide the means for those already in ministry to be strengthened and nurtured in their work.

While CEO does give practical advice and assistance in job searches, its primary ministry is giving discernment tools for hearing and answering God's call to ministry. It provides workshops, seminars and retreats, so that individuals may consider in formal and probing ways their potential vocations.

A “Spiritual Works” Seminar is offered every semester on such topics as the following:
1. “Finding the Work You Love" An exploration of the inward motivations and meaning of work, as well as the outward practicalities involved in the process of finding work. Prayer and meditation are integral to the workshop.
2. “Matching Gifts" Here, participants focus on and begin the process of discovering their gifts and talents, and then consider types of work based on those talents, with particular emphasis on ministry roles. “Matching Gifts” utilizes a combination of the Catholic Spiritual Gifts Inventory Program of the Catherine of Siena Institute and the Life Keys Program. The latter program will be facilitated by Reverend Thomas Larkin, a certified Life Keys instructor.
3. “Avoiding Spiritual Bankruptcy; Gaining Spiritual Trust" This seminar focuses on the importance of prayer, sacraments, and good relationships as nourishment for ministry, as well as for a life lived in the secular/business world.
4. “Leadership as a Virtue" This workshop explores leadership as a Christian concept, examples of leadership from the Bible and the lives of saints, the gifts that a leader must summon up, and the ways in which spiritual practices influence the ability to lead.
5. “Prophet‑Sharing" Here, lay or religious ministry leaders, students, and secular professionals share personal accounts of the very important role of faith in their spiritual journeys, their process of discernment, the fundamental meaning of their work, and the milestones they have achieved.
6. Days of Reflection and Renewal These two days will focus on separate audiences: those already working in ministry, and those considering certain types of work based on their talents, with specific emphasis on ministry roles.
7. Networking Sessions These opportunities will be available annually to those who attended past workshops, enabling all to come together to pray, reflect, discuss a particular issue of interest to many, and share news.
Annual Ministry Resource Day

This is an all‑day event beginning with a discernment workshop and concluding with presentations by Archdiocesan leaders about current ministry openings.
Essay Contributions

Essays are solicited, particularly from young adults, on such topics as “Spiritual Works,” “Matching Gifts,” and “Prophet‑Sharing” for publication in the annual Spiritual Directions journal.
CEO Section of the Institute Newsletter

This section includes such items as witness accounts, reflections on work, events schedules, book reviews on related topics, and opportunities for past participants to network and share career news. At the end of the section will be a bold line, titled: “The Bottom Line.” To find out CEO tips for “Finding the Work You Love,” please consult the CEO section of the newsletter.
CEO Notices

CEO Notices are spotlighted in the various Institute publications, and serve to promote opportunities for employment within the Archdiocese of Newark and other dioceses, as well as spotlighting companies that are more “spirituality‑ friendly” and that actively promote concern for employee values and business ethics.