Director of Youth and Family Faith Formation

Job Description

REQUIRED WITH APPLICATION:
Cover letter with a personal statement, answering the question: "Who is Jesus to you and how do you nurture your own personal relationship with Him?" (no more than 500 words)

PURPOSE:
The Director of Youth and Family Faith Formation at St. Mary Church in Athens will provide visional leadership in the area of family faith formation for a community of approximately 270 families within the Diocese of Knoxville. This role is focused on fostering missionary discipleship by creating opportunities for parishioners to encounter Jesus Christ in a transformative way, regardless of where they are on their faith journey. The Director will emphasize the formation of youth while recognizing the church teaches that families are the primary teachers of the faith, support families in their own growth in discipleship. All ministry initiatives will prioritize evangelizing catechesis while upholding the teachings of the Catholic Church, working toward a unified and intentional discipleship experience across the parish.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:
Youth Ministry
Serves as the parish Youth Minister. Design and implement comprehensive programs that nurture a personal relationship with Jesus Christ among middle and high school students, while fostering a culture of discipleship, authentic community, and spiritual growth.

Collaborate with pastor in developing a comprehensive discipleship pathway for youth that focuses on evangelizing catechesis and prioritizing introducing participate to the person of Christ
Plan, develop and implement a schedule of social opportunities for the youth (7-12 grades) of the parish to form community identity and establish peer relationships within the parish community.
Plan, develop and implement a schedule of service activities for the youth (7-12 grades) of the parish to develop their sense of responsibility to and awareness of the needs of the parish community and the Diocesan church community and the larger social community.
Communicate regularly and clearly with youth and parents to ensure their awareness of both parish and diocesan opportunities.
Obtain, when necessary, parental support and consent for activities, particularly those involving travel outside the parish boundaries.
Empower youth leaders to maintain adequate supervision and always provide safety.
Ensure all adult volunteers are compliant with the Diocesan Safe Environment requirements.
Maintain current records on all youth participating in programs and all adult leaders.
Manage youth ministry budget.

Faith Formation
Provide support to the ministry lead for the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) process while also overseeing
the experience, ensuring it prioritizes an authentic encounter with Christ before catechetical information, and coordinates with
sponsors, catechists, and liturgical ministers.
• Direct the parish Religious Education program by empowering the part-time religious education coordinator to minister through a missionary discipleship lens, focusing on forming young people as disciples rather than simply transmitting information,
including curriculum selection, catechist recruitment and formation, sacramental preparation, and parent engagement.
Develop and implement adult faith formation opportunities that move beyond intellectual understanding to foster a
transformative encounter with Christ, including Bible studies, theological formation, spiritual enrichment, and small group
initiatives.
Create and implement programs for marriage and baptism preparation.

GENERAL DUTIES:
Recruit, train, and support volunteer ministry leaders forming them as authentic witnesses to the Gospel who integrate evangelization into every aspect of parish ministry.
Collaborate with the pastor to ensure parish initiatives align with and advance the parish's missionary vision to bring the Good News of Jesus to all people.
Develop and implement strategies to equip parishioners to confidently share their faith and invite others to discipleship.
Maintain accurate records for all pastoral programs, including sacramental registrations and ministry participation
Prepare and manage annual budgets for all areas of responsibility, ensuring stewardship of parish resources.
Embrace personal responsibility for the Church's mission of salvation through intentional leadership of pastoral initiatives.
Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS:
A Missionary disciple of Jesus Christ who is committed to a lived relationship with Him and His Church and is passionate about evangelizing to others.
Practicing Catholic who supports the magisterium of the Catholic Church.
Helpful gifts and charisms: Evangelism, Helps, Hospitality, Pastoring, Teaching, and Wisdom.
Bachelor's degree in theology or related field preferred.
Demonstrated knowledge of Catholic doctrine, liturgy and sacramental theology programs and ministry teams.
Excellent interpersonal skills with all age groups, from children to seniors.
Proficiency with technology including Microsoft Office, parish database systems, and social media platforms.
Experience in supervision and team leadership.
Strong conflict management skills.
Proven ability to anticipate needs and take initiative in addressing them.
Required to work some evenings and weekends as needed for program schedules and liturgical celebrations.
Ability to build and foster relationships with families and foster a sense of community.
Commitment to ongoing personal spiritual growth and professional development.
Bilingual preferred but not required.
Must be able to pass a background check.

About the Employer

The mission of St. Mary Catholic Church, entrusted by Jesus Christ, is to "go and make disciples of all nations... teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you" (Mt 28:19-20). As the local expression of the universal Church in Athens, Tennessee, we serve this mission by proclaiming the Word of God through works of mercy, sharing the Gospel, and inviting all to surrender their lives to Jesus Christ; engaging our faith through catechesis faithful to the Magisterium, formation in prayer and virtue, and reverent liturgy; and empowering disciples to live their baptismal vocation, use their charisms, and engage the world with a missionary spirit.