Opportunities at Parishes in the Archdiocese of Chicago

Posted 4/28/2021

Job Title:

Coordinator of Children's Faith Formation

Hours:

Full time

Parish:

St. Sylvester / Our Lady of Grace
2915 West Palmer Street
Chicago, IL 60647

Description:

The Archdiocese of Chicago is the third largest diocese in the United States and serves more than 2.2 million Catholics in The Archdiocese, pastored by Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, has more than 15,000 employees across its ministries, including Catholic Charities, the region’s largest nonprofit social service agency. The Archdiocese also has one of the country’s largest seminaries. The Archdiocese’s elementary and secondary schools comprise one of the largest U.S. private school systems.

The Coordinator of Children’s Faith Formation coordinates the parish efforts to equip children and their families to encounter Jesus Christ as part of a lifelong process that engages and encourages them to grow spiritually and intellectually as missionary disciples in the world.  The scope of this position is to coordinate ongoing formation opportunities for children and their families. The coordinator is responsible for a mission of carrying out the vision and directives of their supervisor in providing ministry to children and their families in the parish. In doing so the coordinator must demonstrate relationship skills necessary to accompany volunteer leaders critical to the success of parish initiatives.

Essential Position Functions

• Plan the Children’s Faith Formation calendar, scheduling sessions, meetings, prayer and sacramental celebrations.
• Coordinate faith formation programs for all children and their families in the parish community (pre-school to Grade 8) with attention to cultural implications in the community.
• Coordinate sacramental preparation that uses most current methodologies and includes parents; plan rituals for the reception of the sacraments.
• Under the direction of the Pastor select appropriate formation curriculum and materials based on the USCCB and Archdiocese of Chicago guidelines. 
• Recruit, train and provide training and spiritual growth opportunities for catechists and ensure that they are in full compliance with Office for Protection of Children and Youth.
• Incorporate intentional ways for engaging parents and families in faith formation that include hospitality, prayer, learning and service opportunities.
• Maintain accurate records that follow Archdiocesan policy and guidelines for sacraments, enrollment, attendance, medical and legal matters  
• Assist the Pastor and Operations Director to prepare an annual budget for parish Children’s Faith Formation.
• Recruit new students through active marketing.
• Plan Religious Education liturgies with Pastor & Director of Music.
• Work in collaboration with the Coordinator of Youth Ministry during the two years of confirmation prep to make sure those being confirmed are transitioned into the life of Youth Ministry.
• Have a collaborative spirit of co-responsibility with the other parish ministry leaders for the success of the common vision of the parish and the ongoing lifelong formation of missionary disciples.

 

 

Requirements:

• Previous experience participating in a parish faith formation program.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with clergy, staff, parish leaders and volunteers.
• Practicing Catholic with understanding and support for Catholic Church teaching, mission, and values.
• Comfortable using various methodologies and pedagogies for helping children to encounter Jesus Christ and develop a relationship with Him.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the developmental needs of children with ethnic and family subcultures, as appropriate to the faith community being served.
• Comprehensive vision and understanding of evangelization.
• Ability to form and nurture a community of missionary disciples through encounter, accompaniment and sending forth.
• Mature discipleship evidenced in ability to comfortably witness to one’s own faith journey.
• Strong commitment to collaboration and teamwork.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Familiarity with technology used for communicating and presenting.
• Self-motivated, detail-oriented, collaborative, faithful, joyful witness, persistent, available, fair and balanced, dependable, person of integrity, sensitive to cultural, racial, and ethnic diversity and openness to the needs of the parishioners.
• Ability to deal with multiple projects, flexible, sound judgment, and comfortable with change.
• Available to work evenings and weekends when necessary.
• Open to ongoing formation and education as needed.

Preferred Position Skills and Experience

• Undergraduate Degree in Pastoral Studies, Theology, Faith Formation or equivalent.
• Previous experience assisting in some component of a parish faith formation program, particularly Children’s Faith Formation program
• Language skills as needed (depending on needs of community)

The Archdiocese of Chicago is in the midst of exciting changes as we renew our local Church. With a variety of opportunities to contribute your professional talents and experience, we invite you to consider any of our current openings at archchicago.org/careers. We offer competitive salary and benefit packages, as well as opportunities for professional and personal growth and development.                                                                                                           

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