Director of Religious Education

Position Title: Director of Religious Education

FLSA Classification: Non-Exempt

Reporting Relationships:

• Reports directly to: Pastor
• Provides work direction to: Faith Formation Coordinator, OCIA Coordinator & Adult Formation, Youth Ministry, Administrative Assistants, Custodian, and volunteers.
• Receives work direction from: Pastor and Parish Business Administrator
• Resource person to: Latino Coordinator, Music Coordinator, & Faith Formation Board

Hours: Part-time, 25-29 hours per week

Benefits: Eligible for PTO and retirement benefit

Position Purpose:

To lead the Church of Saint Henry faith formation and evangelization for youth, parents, and families become the Saints they were created to be, by catechizing and supporting the people of the parish, leading them into encounters with Christ, teaching them to deposit of Faith, and mentoring them as disciples.

General Responsibilities:

 *Employment in and by the Church is substantially different from secular employment. Church employees must conduct themselves in a manner which is consistent with and supportive of the mission and purpose of the Church. Their public behavior must not violate the faith, morals, or laws of the Church of the Archdiocese, such that can embarrass the Church or give rise to scandal. It is required that this employee be an active, practicing Roman Catholic.

Representative Responsibilities:

 General and Professional:

• Be present where needed, ready to work and on time for all scheduled hours. Includes recognizing when situations require more effort, satisfying responsibilities in a timely manner, providing an example of punctuality and attendance, and generally ensuring all is ready and taken care of.
• Maintain professional standards of confidentiality
• Determine and maintain an approved, annual budget for the faith formation department. Prepare billings and collect fees for program. Submit bills and receipts in accordance with program expenditures.
• Communicate program requirements and expectations clearly to parents in a timely, up-front manner as much as possible (especially in regards to sacrament preparation).
• Comfort with public speaking and leading faith based talks
• Handle complaints of parents by effectively listening and responding to them by phone conversation or meeting in person. Do so with some direction from the pastor.
• Attend staff meetings in order to facilitate the work of faith formation and as a staff team member of the parish.
• Attend weekly meetings with pastor to receive direction, communicate upcoming event details, and review events.
• Attend deanery and Archdiocesan meetings for youth faith formation in order to compare approaches, receive support, and be apprised of upcoming opportunities. Collaborate with Deanery to plan deanery events (annual catechist retreat, special topic speakers, etc.)
• Attend staff development and training as needed and at the direction of the pastor.
• Communicate and promote faith formation and evangelization events and activities (including via Mass announcements, parish bulletin, parish posters and displays, postcards and mailings, social media, e-mail communication, and parish website)

Particular Responsibilities:

• Leading the implementation of the Pastor’s vision for religious education for the parish
• Managing all personnel in the religious education departments including but not limited to regular meetings, conducting performance reviews, and giving direction to direct reports.
• Oversee and provide direction to the Coordinator of Faith Formation for 7-12th grade
• Oversee and provide direction to the Coordinator of the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA), formally known as, The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA).
• Ensure communication of all programming to the parish and community
• Design, development, lead, and coordinate faith formation program as a support to parents, the primary educators of their children, by offering weekly catechetical classes for pre-k-6th grade youth taught by volunteer catechists and weekly Catechesis of the Good Shepherd sessions led by volunteer catechists. Conduct all of these activities with cooperation with the Coordinator of Faith Formation for 7-12th
• Collaborate and assist to coordinate First Sacraments preparation program for youth who have not yet received First Reconciliation and/or First Communion.
• Design, develop, and implement annual overall goals for Faith Formation through the direction of the Pastor. Do so together with the Coordinator of Faith Formation for 7th-12th grade and by attending seasonal meetings with the Faith Formation board.
• Collaborate and assist in the design, develop, and implementation of yearly Faith Formation calendar with regular class time and special events (including family nights, Confession nights, and safe-environment lesson nights). Coordinate well with the parish calendar and with the Pastor.
• Assist in administering background checks and Code of Conduct Agreement to volunteers working with the faith formation program and ensure that all compliance with the Archdiocese Protection of Children and Youth Initiative (PCYI) guidelines including the requirement for all volunteers to receive VIRTUS training. Maintain file for each volunteer in accordance with Archdiocese guidelines. Conduct annual update of each volunteer.

Other Responsibilities:

• Includes other responsibilities identified as needed by the employee and approved and/or assigned by the supervisor.

The responsibilities listed above are representative of the position and are not all-inclusive.

Job Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Arts of Science in Catholic theology, Catholic education, or related field.
• Two years paid experience in youth formation
• Preferred: Two years of managerial experience
• Familiarity with church documents on catechesis
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills youth and parents
• Proficient computer skills – word processing, spreadsheets, internet communication, and PowerPoint presentations.
• Detail-oriented and highly organized.
• Have flexibility in working a wide variety of hours, including weekends and evenings.
• Successfully complete required background check and VIRTUS training.

Mental Demands:

• Utilize good listening and communication skills – oral, phone, written.
• Utilize proficient computer skills – word processing, spreadsheets, databases, internet communication, and PowerPoint presentations.
• Works well with other (staff, parishioners, volunteers, and the community)
• Practice good math and accounting skills, especially as related to good financial recordkeeping and preparing budget reports.
• Coordinate and implement multiple concurrent tasks.
• Plan, organize, and meet deadlines.
• Assess realistically with is possible, given time constraints.
• Be pleasant and service-oriented even when exposed to negative influences.
• Keep staff, the pastor, and the parish community informed.
• Be comfortable in discussing a wide variety of personal topics, i.e., sexuality, drugs, peer pressure, depression, death and grieving, suicide, family issues, and questions or doubts about faith.
• Know when to disengage from difficult personal topics and recommend counseling.
• Demonstrate a commitment to pastoral and family sensitive approached to life situations.
• Work both independently and as a team member.
• Work effectively with all ages.
• Maintain good contact with school staff and officials and utilize insights gained.

Physical Demands:

• Work 25-29 hours per week, flexible schedule including evenings and weekends.
• Lift and move up to 20 pounds using proper techniques.
• Move quickly and easily to and from various locations in the complex.
• Hear and talk by phone and communicate with adequate proficiency by electronic means.
• Utilize keyboard and other office equipment for an hour at a time.
• Give direction in a large group situation with high level of activity.

Please send cover letter and resume to Father Barnes at frbarnes@sthenrycatholic.com.