Posted 6/17/2022
Job Title:
Director of Faith Formation
Hours:
Full time
Parish:
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church
708 West Belmont Avenue
Chicago, IL 60160
Description:
We are seeking an individual who possesses a heart for evangelization and strong leadership qualities. The scope of this role is to discern, design and implement ongoing formation opportunities for all in the parish. This Director is committed to collaborating with our team of dedicated and mission-driven members.
Duties of a Director of Faith Formation include, but are not limited to:
Religious Education
• Directs the Religious Education Program for the parish religious education students and in collaboration with Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy to resource and assist with the faith formation of the school children and their families (especially in sacramental years).
• Manages and oversees the planning, administration, budgeting and record keeping of parish catechetical programs.
• Manages recruitment, orientation, supervision and evaluation of catechists and other catechetical personnel and provides ongoing formation opportunities and spiritual development for catechists and catechetical personnel.
• Provides formation and education of catechists leading to archdiocesan certification.
• Determines comprehensive curriculums and resources to be used by the catechists.
• Creates and maintains the religious education calendar for all classes and additional trainings, practices, prayer services, and masses.
• Properly updates and maintains the student files and database.
• Actively welcome non-Catholic children to the faith.
• Develop and lead summer vacation bible school program.
• Coordinates the sacramental preparations for students for both the Academy and religious education students (First Reconciliation and Communion, Confirmation).
• Coordinates Archdiocesan Safe Environment programs for children, volunteers, and parents in catechetical programs; and
• Reports statistics of parish programs annually as requested on the Archdiocese Data Survey.
Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA)
• Serves as leader of the RCIA Team and is primarily responsible for the planning, execution and coordination of the entire RCIA process.
• Develops curriculum for the RCIA program.
• Recruits and trains competent catechists, teachers, sponsors and team members and ensures their continued training.
• Maintains accurate files on all catechumens and candidates and collaborates with the Pastor and liturgical staff members to ensure proper celebration of Rites.
Children’s Liturgy of the Word
• Implements a yearly calendar
• Recruits, trains, schedules and disciples volunteers who will serve as the primary leaders and when needed on Sundays, be present to train, direct, and facilitate.
Other Duties
• Works with Communications Director to communicate available faith formation opportunities to parishioners through multiple forms of media.
• Works directly with the Pastor/Deacon to assist with baptism and wedding preparation/
• Collaborates with Pastor, Principal (when appropriate) and Operations Director on all Sacramental Liturgies for Religious Education and Academy Students, and RCIA.
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.
• Understanding of Lifelong Formation and its key methodologies, components, and strategies; comfortable with various methodologies and pedagogies in developing disciples.
• Comprehensive vision and understanding of evangelization.
• Ability to form and nurture a community of missionary disciples through encounter, accompaniment and sending forth.
• Fluent in related Church documents, especially national and local.
• Mature discipleship evidenced in ability to comfortably witness to one’s own faith journey.
• Developed skills in leadership and management; strong commitment to collaboration and teamwork.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Familiarity with technology used for communicating and presenting.
Preferred Job Skills and Experience:
• Master’s Degree in Theology, Pastoral Studies, Faith Formation or equivalent. Certification as a Catechist.
• Previous experience directing some component of a parish faith formation program.
• Ability to apply knowledge of stages of human development and faith formation best practices across all ages.
• 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 open 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.
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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