Description
We seek a passionate, committed disciple of Jesus Christ who can embrace this vision and equip the youngest members of our community to become missionary disciples “alive in Christ” (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:22). The Coordinator of Faith Formation & Family Life will oversee all faith formation activities for children in grades Pre-K – 5 and will concurrently equip parents to become effective catechists at home with support from staff and volunteers. This individual will work diligently to empower each family’s “domestic church” by also forming parents to become effective “first preachers of the faith to their children” (Lumen Gentium, 11). The Coordinator of Faith Formation & Family Life will order all efforts to help our families and young people grow as disciples of Jesus Christ through dynamic kerygmatic evangelization, starting with our youngest parishioners enrolled in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.
The Coordinator of Faith Formation & Family Life will coordinate faith formation classes/activities for children enrolled in grades Pre-K – 5 by tailoring an established catechetical curriculum to meet our community’s specific needs. This individual will also organize our weekly Children’s Liturgy of the Word program, provide ongoing communication to families to include robust and informative at-home activities, organize a regular cadence of social and catechetical sessions for both children and parents, play a central role in organizing the annual Summer Adventure vacation bible school, and take on other responsibilities as directed.
The Coordinator of Faith Formation & Family Life must have the ability to partner across multiple programs to ensure a consistent vision and seamless implementation. The ideal candidate will be a strong communicator, a natural “people person,” have strong organizational skills, thrive in a collaborative environment, and be adaptable to a fast-paced, growing community.
Role Purpose:
The Coordinator of Faith Formation & Family Life will ensure that faith formation for children in grades Pre-K – 5 and their families aligns with the parish mission/vision. This individual will oversee a dynamic program that empowers each family member to develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, to understand the basic tenets of Catholic doctrine, and to take next steps on their respective discipleship paths. The Coordinator of Faith Formation & Family Life will take special care to engage and equip parents beyond the traditional religious education classroom and will work diligently to increase full, conscious, and active participation at Sunday Mass.
Duties & Responsibilities:
Deploy a hybrid catechetical curriculum with classroom, in-person, and digital components.
Organize/produce bi-monthly Family Faith Formation gatherings both social and catechetical in nature.
Lead/organize weekly sacramental preparation classes for children in grades 1 & 2.
Work closely with the Director of Discipleship to equip parents/guardians with the tools necessary to become effective “first preachers of the faith to their children” and support progression along each individual’s unique discipleship path.
Build, train, maintain, and support a network of volunteer catechists to lead faith formation “pods,” assist with sacramental preparation classes, produce the bi-monthly family faith formation activities, and support the program through other means as necessary.
Oversee and support the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program; manage volunteer catechists.
Lead the development of Children’s Liturgy of the Word at Weekend Masses.
Manage the Rite of Christian Initiation for Children (RCIC) when necessary.
Work collaboratively with the Youth Minister to ensure seamless transition from the elementary to middle school faith formation program.
Manage the annual Summer Adventure vacation bible school.
Liaise with parents/guardians to empower Christian family life; provide frequent feedback to the parish leadership team to ensure families are adequately supported to meet the challenges of time and place.
Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
Must be a Catholic in good standing.
Undergraduate and/or graduate degree in theology, catechechetics, ministry, or a related field preferred.
2+ years of experience with catechetical/religious formation pedagogy in a parish setting; a background in education and/or working in a classroom environment; familiarity with executing an established curriculum preferred.
Level 1 Certification from The United States Association of The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd preferred but not required.
Demonstrated experience with event planning/production, e.g. parish/school events, fundraisers, etc.
Manifest organizational skills, excellent written, public speaking, and interpersonal abilities.
Competency with distance education/LMS management a plus.
Personal Characteristics:
The ideal candidate must be a faithful, practicing Catholic with an optimism and eagerness to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ to “make disciples of all nations” (cf. Matthew 28:19).
The successful candidate will ensure that all catechetical content remains faithful to the magisterium but will be forward-thinking and innovative in regards to pedagogy and program design.
Working with a broad spectrum of staff and volunteers, the ideal candidate must be collaborative, actively solicit others’ ideas and perspectives, and be an active listener/learner.
The ideal candidate will exhibit strong leadership skills and have an ability to marshal resources and volunteer personnel.
The candidate will be a “people person” with keen emotional intelligence.
Expected to be present on Sundays, Christmas, and Easter.
Physical Performance Elements:
Ability to use a computer keyboard for up to 8 hours/day.
Ability to sit for up to 8 hours/day.
Ability to lift up to 20 pounds.
The duties and requirements described above are representative of those encountered during the performance of the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.