Associate Director of Fellowship and Belonging

Job Description

Job Title: Associate Director of Fellowship and Belonging
Reports To: Director of Pastoral Care
Location: St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Parish, Madison, WI
Employment Type: Part-time ~25-30 hours per week

Mission:
At St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, we believe every person is a beloved child of God, called into deeper relationship with Christ and one another. The Associate Director of Fellowship and Belonging will nurture a culture of radical hospitality, joyful encounter, and authentic community, ensuring that all who enter our doors - families, singles, seniors, and newcomers alike - feel welcomed, known, and valued as part of our parish family.

Key Responsibilities:
1. Cultivating a Parish of Encounter & Belonging
• Create and oversee intentional opportunities for connection, including after-Mass socials, parish-wide dinners, feast day celebrations, and seasonal gatherings that reflect our community's warmth
• Foster a spirit of Christ-centered hospitality by training and coordinating greeters, ushers, and volunteers to engage parishioners with genuine warmth
• Develop initiatives that build bridges across generations and life stages within our parish community
2. Welcoming Newcomers & Strengthening Connections
• Lead a dynamic Welcoming Ministry that ensures new parishioners are personally greeted, followed up with, and integrated into parish life
• Organize "Welcome Home" events and newcomer socials to build relationships and connect individuals with ministries matching their interests
• Identify and reach out to less active parishioners, inviting them back into the community through personal invitation and hospitality
3. Building Community Through Fellowship
• Plan engaging social events (game nights, service projects, seasonal festivals) that encourage natural relationship-building
• Support parishioners in times of transition (moving, loss, life changes) by connecting them with pastoral care and fellowship opportunities
• Collaborate with multicultural ministries to ensure all cultural groups feel welcome and valued
4. Hospitality Leadership & Volunteer Development
• Recruit, train, and inspire a team of hospitality ministers who embody the parish's mission of warmth and inclusion
• Work closely with clergy, staff, and ministry leaders to foster a "culture of belonging" throughout all parish activities
• Manage the parish kitchen and oversee our hospitality facilities
5. Communication & Engagement
• Promote a "You Belong Here" message through parish communications, bulletins, and social media, in collaboration with the Associate Director for Digital Evangelization & Media
• Regularly assess and respond to parishioner engagement through feedback and surveys
6. Volunteer Coordination
• Serve as a central point for all non-liturgical volunteers:
o Funeral luncheon teams
o Hospitality volunteers
o Parish event volunteers
• Maintain volunteer database (ParishStaq) and schedules
• Implement volunteer appreciation initiatives
7. Bereavement Ministry Support
• Work with STA funeral coordinators and Director of Pastoral Care to:
o Organize funeral luncheon teams
o Manage meal coordination
o Oversee setup/cleanup
o Train hospitality volunteers
• Maintain supplies for funeral receptions
• Provide compassionate presence to grieving families

Qualifications:
• Practicing Catholic with understanding of Church structure/sacraments
o Commitment to the Catholic mission of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish: We are an evangelizing parish where people encounter Jesus in a way that changes how they live.
• Multi-tasking, organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritize and perform outlined tasks with minimum supervision.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions provided in various forms.
• Capable of performing a variety of duties, often changing from one task to another without loss of efficiency or composure and able to adapt to changes in routine and schedule.
• Ability to accept direction and support the process for the focus, control or planning of an activity.
• Ability to handle confidential information discreetly
• Experience: 2+ years in hospitality, parish ministry, event planning, or community engagement
• Skills:
o Natural ability to make others feel welcome and valued
o Strong organizational and interpersonal abilities
o Talent for bringing people together across different ages and backgrounds
o Bilingual (English and Spanish) candidates are strongly encouraged to apply
• Education: Degree in theology, pastoral ministry or related field preferred (equivalent experience accepted)

Schedule Requirements:
• Regular presence at weekend Masses and parish events
• Availability for evening and weekend activities as needed

Compensation:
• This is a part-time employment position.
• Hourly rate: $22/per hour, max 30 hours per week, no overtime.
• We offer 1 week (5 days) of paid vacation after 6 months of employment in this role.

Why This Role Matters:
In our busy world, the parish must be a place where people can find authentic Christian community. This position plays a vital role in ensuring that St. Thomas Aquinas is more than just a place to attend Mass - but a spiritual home where every member feels they truly belong.

Interested Applicants may email their resume and cover letter to: business@stamadison.org

About the Employer

We are a Catholic parish where people experience Jesus Christ in a way that changes how they live.
Somos una parroquia Catolica donde las personas presencian a Jesucristo de una manera que cambia como viven.

St. Thomas Aquinas parish is a place of God's mercy and hope, where all feel welcomed, loved, forgiven, and encouraged to live out the Good News. Our doors are wide open so that all may enter. These same doors are also wide open so we can go out and share that good news with others.