Take Up the Call: Sponsor finds she doesn’t need a theology degree to point people to Christ

Denise Podjenski readily and humbly admits that she still has a lot to learn about her Catholic faith.

So when someone exploring Catholicism has a question she can’t answer, she sets out to find someone who can.

Sometimes that person might be someone else helping with the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, formerly RCIA) program at St. Robert Bellarmine Parish in Omaha.

Sometimes that person might be a deacon or priest at the parish.

Though Podjenski has no theology degree, she’s helped lead five people into the Church by being an OICA sponsor.

It’s just one way she is able to “Take Up the Call.”

The Archdiocese of Omaha recently began its Take Up the Call initiative, urging all Catholics to embrace the missionary role given to them at Baptism and commanded by Jesus in His Great Commission: “Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them My disciples.” (Matthew 28:19).

Every follower of Christ has a unique role in that mission, the archdiocese has said, and every follower is surrounded by people desperately in need of a Redeemer.

But in a culture that often stands in opposition to Christian beliefs, the task of evangelization can seem overwhelming.

“The world won’t change overnight,” the archdiocese says on its website, “but our job is a lot easier: to help restore friendship between Christ and just ONE person in our lives.”

Podjenski has been leading people to Jesus for years now. Before St. Robert Bellarmine hired her as a pastoral administrator and before she volunteered as an OCIA sponsor, she served 10 years as a catechist for third-graders in the parish’s religious education program. There she taught basic-level subjects like the 10 Commandments and the Sacraments.

In her personal life, she found that her faith was strengthened during tough times when she gave God control.

“I really found God and built a relationship with Him when I was going through a lot of low times in my life,” she said. “And for me, turning to Him, He’s going to bring me that happiness. I’ve got to hand that steering wheel over to Him.”

Denise Podjenski, right, and Debbie Marcil, director of pastoral ministries at St. Robert Bellarmine Parish in Omaha, help as OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) begins again at the parish. COURTESY PHOTO

Serving as an OCIA sponsor involves a time commitment. The weekly Wednesday evening OCIA sessions, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., began Sept. 4 at St. Robert Bellarmine and will continue through the Easter Vigil, which will be April 19 next year.

Handing over that extra hour and a half to the Lord each week and beginning the evening with prayer gives her a break from her busy life to re-focus, learn more and grow in relationships with others, Podjenski said.

When they meet, participants sometimes dive deep into theology, she learned.

“I was nervous at first,” Podjenski said. “But I was getting a lot out of it myself, so it became really easy.”

She and others throughout the archdiocese give witness to their faith by being vulnerable, authentic and joyful – all in their own unique way.

Mistakes, failures – and not knowing everything – are OK.

According to Take Up the Call: “God has given you a task only you can accomplish, with His grace.”

Please consider prayerfully: How is He leading you to Take Up the Call?

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