Budgeting, Calendar Management, Coaching, Community and Social Services, Detail Oriented, English Language, Interpersonal Skills, Leadership, Legal, Mentoring, Multilingual, Multitasking, Nonprofit, Organizational Skills, Pedagogy, People Management, Presentation/Verbal Skills, Primary School, Project/Program Coordination, Record Keeping, Religious Studies, Secondary School, Spanish Language, Team Player, Training/Teaching
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The Archdiocese of Chicago, the third largest in the United States, serves more than 2.2 million Catholics in 216 parishes in Cook County and Lake County, a geographic area of 1,411 square miles. The Archdiocese, pastored by Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, has more than 13,000 employees in its systems and 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 150+ elementary and secondary schools comprise one of the largest U.S. private school systems. Its schools have received 96 U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Awards.
The Coordinator of Family Faith Formation supports 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 discern, design and implement ongoing formation opportunities for children, youth and their families and may include managing other ministry staff. The coordinator is responsible for a mission of development, implementation, evaluation and ongoing improvement of ministry to children, youth and their families in the parish. In doing so, the coordinator must demonstrate leadership skills necessary to identify, develop, accompany and retain a fully developed and well-functioning staff and teams of volunteer leaders critical to the success of parish initiatives.
Essential Job Functions
- Oversee planning and implementation of the Family Faith Formation calendar, scheduling sessions, meetings, prayer and sacramental celebrations
- Coordinate faith formation programs for all children, youth and their families in the parish community with attention to cultural implications in the community
- Direct sacramental preparation that uses most current methodologies and includes parents; plan rituals for the reception of the sacraments
- 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
- Incorporate intentional ways for engaging parents and families in faith formation that include hospitality, prayer, learning and service opportunities
- Maintenance of accurate records that follow Archdiocesan policy and guidelines for sacraments, enrollment, attendance, medical and legal matters
- Ensure that ministry complies with the guidelines for Protecting God's Children for those who minister with and to children in accordance with the Archdiocese of Chicago policies
- Collaborate with the Pastor and others to prepare an annual budget for the Family Faith Formation Program.
Job Requirements
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) proficiency to work with a culturally diverse community
- Previous experience directing a parish faith formation
- Demonstrated ability to expertly collaborate with clergy, staff, parish leaders and volunteers
- Practicing Catholic with understanding and support for Catholic Church teaching, mission, and values
- Expertise in 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
- Ability to direct the work of staff or volunteers and to drive key initiatives and programs
- Consistently exhibits expertise in faith formation and can coach and mentor others in their formation process
- 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
- Familiarity with technology used for communicating and presenting. Self-motivated, detail oriented, collaborative, faithful, joyful witness, and persistent
- Available, fair and balanced, dependable, person of integrity, sensitive to cultural, racial, and ethnic diversity and openness to the needs of the community
- Ability to deal with multiple projects, flexible, sound judgment, and comfortable with change
- Open to ongoing formation and education as needed
- Performs other responsibilities as assigned
Job Skills and Experience
- BS or BA in Theology, Education or Pastoral Studies preferred along with Archdiocesan Catechist Certification.
- At least 2 years of previous experience directing some component of a parish faith formation program,
- Bilingual – English/Spanish
The Archdiocese of Chicago offers a comprehensive total rewards package to include competitive compensation and benefit programs. Information about our benefit programs is available here
This position has an annualized salary range of - $42,000 - $48,000. An employee’s pay within the salary range will be based on many factors including but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, experience, skills, geographic location, and organizational needs.