Parish Life Director- Delaware County

Job Description

Job Title: Parish Life Director

Location: Eastern Delaware County

Reports to: Regional Bishop

Employment Type: Full-Time exempt

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia and its entities is a Roman Catholic religious organization, and employees are expected to respect and conduct themselves in accordance with the values, teachings, and morals of the Roman Catholic Church.
Job Overview

A Parish Life Director is qualified professionally, spiritually, academically, and by experience, to serve as a community leader. A Parish Life Director may be a deacon,

religious, or lay person and is appointed by the Archbishop in accordance with Canon

517.2 to lead and officially administer a parish(es).

The Parish Life Director serves in conjunction and collaboration with assisting priests / sacramental ministers, a pastoral staff, and the Regional Bishop who is the canonical pastor.

In the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, this role is to provide pastoral coordination and support to communities in the anticipated absence of an available priest pastor. While the role will include the oversight of administrative and operational aspects of parish life, the individual is primarily intended to be an animator and pastoral presence for the community. He/she will be supported administratively by both the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and/or the staff of the parish where they are assigned.

Key Responsibilities

Vision and Planning - Consult, develop, and execute a pastoral vision and plan for the

parish community that includes providing service to the worshipping community, as well as outreach and evangelization to the larger community. Specifically, the Parish Life Director will:

Meet consistently with the pastoral council, finance council, and other advisory bodies of parishioners to ensure engagement and consultation.

Administration of Temporal Affairs - Oversee and execute the day-to-day operations and administration of the parish. Specifically, the Parish Life Director will:

Oversee the recruitment, training, and supervision of employees and volunteers

Develop and monitor an annual budget for the parish

Ensure the adherence to local laws and archdiocesan policies

Oversee any fundraising or special events that are sponsored by the parish and cultivate stewardship among parishioners

Be accountable for the appropriate record keeping and reporting required including sacramental reporting, financial reporting, and Safe Environment

Coordinate the maintenance of facilities and grounds

Coordination of Sacramental and Pastoral Life - Coordinate and support the overall sacramental and pastoral life of the parish through close collaboration with assisting priests, deacons, and volunteers. Specifically, the Parish Life Director will:

Develop a liturgical calendar and engage assisting priest celebrants, deacons, servers, lectors, musicians for the regular mass schedule, for holy days, and other sacramental needs such as confession, anointing of the sick, etc.

Have a consistent presence at parish events, for example presence at weekend Masses, with parishioners at important times in their lives, and significant parish pastoral events.

Offer support to parishioners who are ill, hospitalized, bereaving, as well as provide oversight of faith formation, evangelization and outreach, sacramental preparation, including matrimony.

Offer assistance and connection to neighboring parishes when necessary with respect to programs or services that may not be offered at the parish.

The Parish Life Director should expect to be working on nights and weekends, while maintaining a healthy life balance with time off mid-week.


Community engagement - Engage the neighboring parishes, Archdiocese, and larger community on behalf of the parish. Specifically, the Parish Life Director will:

Engage neighborhood and local civic groups

Represent the parish in local ecumenical settings

Candidate Profile

1. Is a practicing Catholic in good standing.

2. Shows evidence of commitment to his/her on-going formation and personal and professional development;

3. Bi-lingual (Spanish) is a plus / strong preference depending on the parish.

4. Ideally holds a Bachelor's degree in pastoral ministry, theology, religious studies, or its academic equivalent; Master's degree preferred

5. Has a sense of the history of the parish and a keen grasp on its current demographics, constituencies, challenges and complexities.

6. Is able to gather, motivate, train, form, unify and evaluate a team of volunteer and employed parish staff;

7. Is skilled in general administration, decision-making, delegation of tasks, negotiation and conflict resolution;

8. Is aware of community resources and can refer those in need to appropriate professional resources;

9. Has an awareness of and is able to demonstrate marketing, public relations, and public communications skills;

10. Is aware of the Church's tradition of stewardship and can invite and empower people into a collaborative participation in parish life;

11. Is able to work effectively with the Regional Bishop and assisting priests;

12. Is able to offer reflection on Sacred Scripture, and as appropriate, lead other parish community gatherings, meetings and training. The attire used at liturgy should be consistent with the person's state of life;

13. Is able to reflect theologically, in an appropriate and objective manner, on his/her spiritual journey, gifts and limits in leadership style; and

14. Models a balanced lifestyle, with a healthy distinction between role and identity and can handle criticism constructively.

Relevant Experience

Has a minimum of 5 years in pastoral ministry, preferably in a variety of parishes and ministries;

Is committed to participation in diocesan and/or other programs that will enhance and continue his/her professional development in the diocesan context; and

Must be in full compliance with the Diocesan Child and Youth Protection Policy.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary commensurate with experience.

Health, dental, and vision insurance.

Paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and holidays.

Opportunities for professional development.

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While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift or move office products and supplies, up to 25 lbs.

About the Employer

The men and women employed by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia are dedicated professionals who endeavor to support the mission of the Archdiocese in many diverse areas including spiritual ministry, formation, social work, education and administrative services. We are an equal opportunity employer who continually seeks qualified, dedicated and passionate individuals to support the mission and services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.