Director of Disciple Formation

Job Description

Director of Disciple Formation

Position Summary:
As a direct report to the Pastor, the Director of Disciple Formation is responsible for guiding, developing, implementing, and evaluating discipleship-based faith formation programming for children, parents and other adults that provides integrated life-long development which fosters an active and involved community of faith.

Principal Duties:
• Collaborates with the Pastor and Parish Leadership Team to develop and implement all resources for faith formation in accordance with Diocesan guidelines ensuring that programming incorporates the family as an essential agent in the faith formation process, is integrated with the larger life of the church, including liturgical celebrations, sacraments, and church seasons, and provides opportunities for service, participation in prayer, personal spiritual growth, and communal worship.
• In collaboration with the Pastor and the Coordinator of Family Faith Formation, recruits, manages, supports, guides, and evaluates Family Faith Formation Accompaniment Team members and other catechetical volunteers as needed.
• Organizes workshops, courses, and retreats that inspire, equip, and train Family Faith Formation Accompaniment Team members and other Parish personnel to be intentional disciples; identifies content, recruits speakers, and secures venues; ensures that speakers and content promote discipleship and evangelization; may be featured speaker at such events.
• In collaboration with the Coordinator of Family Faith Formation, oversees the registration and related processes as well as organizes and assigns sessions.
• Collaborates with the Communications Manager to ensure the parish vision of discipleship is maintained throughout all parish messages and communications (marketing, website, bulletin, and social media).
• Oversees, in collaboration with the Office Manager, the scheduling of all events, activities, and programs under the purview of the Director of Disciple Formation
• Develops and maintains the annual Family Faith Formation budget; responsible for reviewing and approving related bills; monitors the purchasing, storage, and distribution of resources.
• Maintains an understanding of current Catholic theology and reviews professional materials and literature in order to keep parish personnel, parish committees, Family Faith Formation Accompaniment Team members and parents informed as needed.
• Acts as Parish Liaison to the Diocesan Office of Faith Formation and St. Thomas Aquinas Regional School.
• Participates in regularly scheduled staff meetings and other relevant parish meetings
• Other duties as assigned by Pastor.

Responsibilities and Authority:

Supervision Received
• Given wide latitude to exercise significant discretion in performance of job duties under the general direction of the Pastor

Management
• Positions supervised:
- Staff: Coordinator of Family Faith Formation
- Volunteers: Family Faith Formation Accompaniment Team members and other catechetical volunteers

Physical Demands/Working Environment
• While performing the duties of this job, required to have ordinary ambulatory skills; ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and manipulate (lift, carry, move) light to medium weight of 10 - 50 pounds
• Requires good hand-eye coordination, arm, hand, and finger dexterity, including ability to grasp, and visual acuity to use a keyboard, operate equipment and read
• Frequently required to sit, hear, talk and use repetitive motion of the hands/wrists
• Work performed in and out of the office setting
• Evening and weekend work are required
• Periodic travel is required

Qualifications:
• Must be a fully initiated and practicing Catholic, able to participate in the full sacramental life of the Church with a commitment to growing consistently in her/his faith life
• Sound knowledge and understanding of Catholic Church theology, history, structure, and hierarchy, and a commitment to the Church's mission
• Hands-on understanding of evangelization, sacrament preparation, and catechesis with the ability to articulate and give witness to the Catholic faith in a charitable and compelling manner
• Sensitivity to controversial issues and ability to respond in accordance with Church teaching
• Active listener with the ability to work collaboratively, foster teamwork, and address conflict as it arises, along with the ability to maintain confidentiality
• Must have the ability to apply critical thinking to solve problems
• Ability to articulate ideas clearly, concisely, professionally, and respectfully, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to develop, manage, and evaluate programs; ability to align program goals with Parish vision, strategic goals and objectives and to formulate recommendations to improve program delivery and/or management.
• Demonstrate good facilitation and presentation skills
• Strong organizational skills, including time management, planning, delegation and coordination between multiple internal and external organizations and entities.
• Strong attention to detail with the appreciation for and ability to budget and implement financial controls.
• Ability to create basic documents, spreadsheets, and presentations using Microsoft Office products and Google Office products
• MUST BE FLUENT (READING, WRITING, TRANSLATING, & SPEAKING) IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH

Education:
• Bachelor's degree in Theology, Catechetics, or Religious Education or equivalent experience required; Master's Degree in Theology or Catechetics highly preferred.
• Master Catechist Certification is expected.

Experience Required:
• At least three years' catechetical leadership experience
• Proven experience managing staff and finances
• Experience recruiting and/or managing volunteers
• Experience with Parish and Religious Education records software is expected. Experience with PushPay/ParishStaq records management software is highly desired.

About the Employer

We are an active and vibrant multicultural Roman Catholic Parish in the Diocese of Arlington, VA under the pastoral care of the Disciples of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. We live our faith focused on the sacraments and family with a special emphasis on the Eucharist and devotions to Mary.

Our mission, which is modeled on the lives of the saints, is to foster and strengthen each person's vocation to love. We focus on helping each parishioner to grow in four fundamental relationships (sonship, brotherhood, spousal love, and parenthood). Whether you come from near or far or even have been away from the Catholic Church for awhile, you are invited to worship and grow with us!