Associate Director of Hispanic Ministry and Community Life

Job Description

Associate Director of Hispanic Ministry and Community Life
Reports To: Director of Pastoral Care and Ministries
Location: St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Parish, Madison, WI (in person role)
Employment Type: Full-Time
Mission Summary:
This role is central to the mission of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish: to be a spiritual home where every person, from every background, feels welcomed, known, valued, and empowered for discipleship. The Associate Director will nurture a culture of radical hospitality and authentic community, with a special focus on ensuring the Hispanic/Latino community is fully integrated and celebrated within the broader parish family. This position blends pastoral leadership, event coordination, volunteer development, and intercultural bridge-building.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Intercultural Pastoral Leadership & Evangelization
• Serve as the primary pastoral leader for the Hispanic/Latino community, promoting faith formation, sacramental preparation (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage), and ongoing catechesis in Spanish.
• Support and manage Hispanic devotional traditions (e.g., Our Lady of Guadalupe, Posadas, Via Crucis).
• Act as a bridge between cultural groups, fostering mutual enrichment and a unified parish identity.
• Organize retreats, Bible studies, and small faith groups that meet the needs of diverse parishioners.
• Implement diocesan vision for Hispanic Ministry
2. Cultivating a Parish of Encounter & Belonging
• Create and oversee parish-wide opportunities for connection, including after-Mass socials, parish-wide dinners, seasonal gatherings, and major cultural celebrations.
• Oversee a dynamic Newcomer Integration Ministry that includes personal contact, a welcome packet, and intentional follow-up to connect individuals and families to ministries and small groups based on their interests.
• Develop a "Re-engagement Initiative" to identify, reach out to, and personally invite inactive parishioners back into community life.
• Plan engaging social events (game nights, service projects, festivals) that encourage natural relationship-building across generations and cultures.
3. Volunteer, Leadership, and Hospitality Development
• Recruit, train, and inspire a diverse corps of volunteers for hospitality (greeters, ushers), fellowship events, and bereavement support.
o Oversee all non-liturgical volunteer coordination, including schedules, databases, and appreciation initiatives.
• Work with Liturgy Coordinator to recruit and train bilingual/Spanish liturgical ministers.
• Specifically focus on empowering lay leaders from all cultural backgrounds to take ownership of community-building initiatives.
• Foster the formation and maintenance of six Hispanic ministry councils (e.g., Worship, Fellowship, Evangelization, Discipleship, Ministry, Stewardship).
• Host leadership formation workshops for lay leaders, especially from the Hispanic community.
4. Liturgical, Bereavement, and Event Coordination
• Assist the Worship Director in planning bilingual and Spanish-language liturgies, feast days, and sacramental rites.
• Work with funeral coordinators to manage bereavement support, including luncheon teams, meal coordination, and providing a compassionate presence to grieving families.
• Ensure all parish gatherings, from liturgies to funeral receptions, are marked by a warm, inclusive, and comforting atmosphere.
• Plan a strategic calendar of parish-wide social events that cater to diverse interests and encourage natural relationship-building.
5. Outreach, Advocacy, and Administration
• Connect parishioners, especially Hispanic families and immigrants, with parish and community resources (e.g., immigration support, ESL classes, family services).
• Collaborate with local organizations (e.g., Catholic Charities) to support social justice initiatives.
• Manage budgets and resources for community life and intercultural programs.
• Promote a "You Belong Here" message through parish communications, bulletins, and social media, highlighting parishioners' sense of belonging and meaningful connections.
Qualifications:
• Faith: A practicing Catholic in good standing with a passion for building Christian community and evangelization.
• Language: Fluency in both English and Spanish (written and spoken) is essential.
• Experience: Minimum 3 years in pastoral ministry, community engagement, hospitality, or a related field, with demonstrated experience in Hispanic ministry.
• Skills:
o Exceptional interpersonal, cross-cultural communication, and bridge-building skills.
o Strong organizational, event planning, and volunteer management abilities.
o Ability to work collaboratively with clergy, staff, and diverse groups of volunteers.
• Education: Bachelor's degree in theology, Pastoral Ministry, or a related field preferred (equivalent experience accepted).
Schedule Requirements:
• Sunday: 9 am-5 pm
• Monday: 9 am-5 pm
• Wednesday: 11 am-7 pm
• Thursday: 11 am-7 pm
• Saturday: 12 pm-8 pm
Note: Hours may vary for presence at parish events in the evenings and weekends as needed.
This job description is intended to provide an overview of the position and responsibilities. Duties may be subject to change based on the needs of the ministry and parish.

Compensation:
• This position is a full time, salaried position. Applicant will be awarded a generous base salary and health care benefits, including contribution to a Health Savings Account if you elect to be covered by the health insurance plan. Other benefits include a 401(k) retirement plan, vacation time and sick time.

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

Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church
602 Everglade Dr., Madison WI 53717 | (608)833-2600 x4867 www.stamadison.org

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Subdirector de Ministerio Hispano y Vida Comunitaria
Reporta a: Director de Cuidado Pastoral y Ministerios
Ubicacion: Parroquia Catolica San Tomas de Aquino, Madison, WI (cargo presencial)
Tipo de empleo: Tiempo complete
Este rol es fundamental para la mision de la Parroquia de Santo Tomas de Aquino: ser un hogar espiritual donde cada persona, de cualquier origen, se sienta bienvenida, conocida, valorada y empoderada para el discipulado. El Director Asociado fomentara una cultura de hospitalidad radical y comunidad autentica, con un enfoque especial en asegurar que la comunidad hispana/latina este plenamente integrada y celebrada dentro de la familia parroquial en general. Este puesto combina liderazgo pastoral, coordinacion de eventos, desarrollo de voluntarios y construccion de puentes interculturales.
Para este puesto, es esencial la fluidez tanto en ingles como en espanol (escrito y hablado).

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.