Posted 6/10/2025
Job Title:
Director of Lifelong Formation
Hours:
Full time
Parish:
St. John of the Cross
5005 Wolf Rd.
Western Springs, IL
Description:
Position Summary:
St. John of the Cross Parish is a dynamic Catholic community dedicated to fostering discipleship, spiritual growth, and lifelong learning. The Director of Lifelong Faith Formation is responsible for assisting the Pastor in developing and implementing a comprehensive vision for lifelong formation, ensuring that parishioners of all ages encounter Jesus Christ and deepen their commitment to Him and His Church.
This leadership position oversees all faith formation initiatives at all stages of life. The director collaborates closely with the parish staff, school leadership, volunteers, and parishioners to offer engaging, spiritually enriching opportunities that encourage spiritual growth, inspire service, and deepen parishioners’ relationship with God.
Essential Job Functions:
• Develop and implement lifelong faith formation programs and initiatives that foster personal encounters with Jesus Christ and promote ongoing spiritual, catechetical, and intellectual growth for children, youth, adults, and families ensuring these programs reflect Church teaching and the parish’s pastoral vision.
• Direct and oversee Sacramental Formation, Children’s Formation, Youth Ministry and Adult Formation, ensuring programs achieve overall goals, objectives and vision for strong lifelong formation in the parish.
• Collaborate with the Pastor, parish staff, and Principal of St. John of the Cross School to resource and coordinate faith formation efforts for school children and their families.
• Foster initiatives that invite parents to be active participants in their children’s faith formation and grow in their own faith through hospitality, prayer, service, and educational events.
• Recruit, train, mentor, and support catechists, volunteers, and formation leaders, ensuring alignment with Church teachings, Archdiocese of Chicago policies, and best practices in faith formation.
• Design and implement faith formation opportunities across various life stages — from young children to seniors — that nurture both personal faith and a sense of belonging within the parish.
• Collaborate with parish staff, ministry leaders, and community partners to integrate faith formation into the broader life of the parish.
• Communicate effectively with parishioners about available formation opportunities using parish bulletins, emails, website, social media, and other outreach tools.
• Manage the faith formation and religious education budgets in coordination with the Pastor and Director of Operations.
• Ensure compliance with Archdiocese of Chicago’s Protecting God’s Children policies and guidelines for all volunteers and staff working with minors.
• Maintain membership in appropriate professional ministerial organizations and commit to ongoing personal, spiritual, and professional development.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Master’s Degree in Theology, Pastoral Studies, or related field.
• Certification as a Catechist or Lay Ecclesial Minister.
• Previous experience in a parish setting similar to St. John of the Cross Parish.
About St. John of the Cross Parish:
St. John of the Cross Parish is a vibrant, faith-filled Catholic community in Western Springs, IL committed to inspiring discipleship and providing opportunities for spiritual growth at every stage of life. With a strong parish school, active religious education program, and a wide variety of ministries and outreach efforts, we are dedicated to living out our mission to encounter Christ, be transformed by His love, and share His presence in the world.
Requirements:
• Practicing Catholic with a strong understanding and support for Catholic Church teaching, mission, and values.
• Proven leadership and management skills, including the ability to build, mentor, and retain effective teams of staff and volunteers.
• Comprehensive knowledge of Catholic teaching, evangelization, sacramental formation, and Church documents.
• Passion for forming missionary disciples and creating opportunities for encounter, accompaniment, and spiritual growth.
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, oral, and written communication skills.
• Strong collaborative spirit, open to working with parish clergy, staff, school leadership, and parishioners.
• Comfort and familiarity with technology, media tools, and communication platforms for parish outreach and education.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, to meet the needs of parish programs and events.
Special Directions:
Internal Candidates (existing employees) – Please complete the subject field of your email with the following: “Internal Candidate – Job Title – Full name”
External Candidates - Please complete the subject field of your email with the following: “Job Title – Full name”
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