Faith at Work: Discerning and Surrendering to God’s Will

“God speaks in the silence of the heart. Listening is the beginning of prayer” (St. Teresa of Calcutta).

Whether our workplace is a corporate office, our home, a restaurant, or a medical facility, women encounter similar themes while exploring our relationships with our faith at work.

For each individual, faith expression looks different. In fact, entire institutes exist to explore this intersection. Princeton University’s Faith at Work Initiative, for example, showcases a myriad of expansive research, resources, and lectures on the topic. It shows that engaging with others in our work environment can provide context for religious expression.

Dr. Joan Ritter, assistant service chief at the General Internal Medicine Service at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, says, “It is part of my practice to ask patients if they have a spiritual life, especially if I know they are going through something difficult. But this discussion ends up being more about the patient’s faith than my own. If a patient shares with me that they are Catholic, I will generally share that I am as well. As a result, I have been the recipient of many rosaries from my patients. It’s definitely one of the special ways to find connections with patients.”

What Makes Catholic Women Different From the Rest of the Workforce?

There may be many answers to this question, but as we mature into our practice of faith and prayer, discernment comes to mind. How we spend our days is a deeply personal practice that we undertake in concert with the Lord through prayer.

In “‘Christus vivit’: Post-Synodal Exhortation to Young People and to the Entire People of God,” Pope Francis writes, “Your own personal vocation does not consist only in the work you do, though that is an expression of it. Your vocation is something more: it is a path guiding your many efforts and actions towards service to others. So in discerning your vocation, it is important to determine if you see in yourself the abilities needed to perform that specific service to society.” Pope Francis calls us to a deeper servanthood in our occupation and outside of it, in our daily lives. Furthermore, he says that our paths are unique to each of us.

As a practicing physician for over 25 years, Ritter is experienced with engaging with vulnerable patients daily: “I try to have reminders at work that would support discernment and prayer. I try to remind myself if I’m dealing with a difficult patient or difficult situation that prayer is often helpful … If a patient asked for me to pray for them, I will certainly do that. Many of my patients also offer to pray for me, and I certainly always encourage them to do so.”

Erica Campbell, owner and founder of Be a Heart, starts her day in prayer, trying to open her heart and mind to God’s will: “Everyone working with me right now comes with their own personal faith life. We pray before meetings and trust that God is guiding us. Since most of my days are spent by myself, it is really important for me to come at it from a place of prayer. I am constantly relying on the Holy Spirit for inspiration and new ideas. There are many days I want to give up, say it’s all too hard, not put myself out there with such vulnerability. And the only way to fight those old messages of ‘not good enough’ is to go to the Source that lets me rest in a space of love.”

How Can I Practice Catholicism Within the Restrictions of My Workplace?

Depending where you are working, your organization may impact your expression of faith. Online resources can help. David Miller of Princeton University’s Faith at Work Initiative suggests thinking about organizations using a framework that separates employers into four categories: faith-avoiding, faith-tolerant, faith-based, and faith-friendly. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, meanwhile, has several fact sheets and legal references available.

Even with our civil rights of religious expression, not all organizations allow women benefits that encourage religious practice. Maternity leave, religious holidays, and the ability to leave the workplace for Mass are a few examples of how a workplace can impact decisions about faith and family. Juggling these decisions can, at times, seem overwhelming and impossible. On FemCatholic’s blog, contributor Charlene Bader highlights daily responsibilities such as student loans, livable wages, health care and childcare, housing, and car costs that impact a family’s decision-making.

Business owners also have decisions to make when it comes to religious practice in the workplace. Campbell said, “Over the summer, I joined Archetype [a Catholic accelerator] so that they could help me grow in a sustainable way. They really wanted me to be able to drive the mission of Be A Heart and create new products. With them, I have an accounting team, sales team, [and] digital marketing team. And then I just hired a part-time customer service employee. The goal is to be able to grow in a way that provides work for more people and to be able to support them with great benefits. Our hope is that by 2026, all of these positions will be in house.”

How Do I Find Peace in This Season of My Professional Career?

Campbell turns to surrender as an answer to the complexities of a growing business: “In the beginning, when I wasn’t sure how I would pay rent, my spiritual director would have me get on my knees and ask God for more work. The work continued to come. My understanding of a life with God is both spiritual and practical. He cares for our souls and for our practical needs. I trust that as I continue to understand the mission, as it continually changes as I change and grow, that He will provide.”

The act of surrender in our faith can cast a new light on the work we do. For working women, our days may be complicated by internal conflict between home life,  professional decisions, and personal faith practice. We may have to frequently discern what we believe we are called to do and prioritize accordingly. Though our daily lives are flooded with many messages and tasks, our faith gives us some guidance on the direction of our behavior, work ethic, and fulfillment.

As Pope Francis writes, “Young men and women speak of work as fulfilling a function and providing meaning. Work allows young adults to meet their practical needs but even more importantly to seek meaning and fulfilment of their dreams and visions. Although work may not help achieve their dreams, it is important for young adults to nurture a vision, learn how to work in a truly personal and life-giving way, and to continue to discern God’s call.”

Molly Franzonello is a brand new wife and health care systems innovator in Washington, D.C. When not driving all over the metropolitan area to see “her people,” you can find her reading, writing, podcasting, or staycationing at her favorite spots in the District.