Director, Youth and Young Adult Ministry

Job Description

Saint John the Evangelist, located in Wilde Lake Interfaith Center in Columbia, Maryland is a parish community of 3600 households, striving for holiness by welcoming multi-generational engagement and dynamic experiences that inspire wonder and lead to encounters with Jesus. We foster meaningful interactions, prayer, community, fun, fellowship, and lasting friendships, enabling young people to experience Christ in authentic and transformative ways. We are seeking candidates for a Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry. The Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry reports to the Pastor.
The Director of Youth Ministry must bring creative, innovative ideas and philosophies to develop a comprehensive and robust Youth Ministry for a multicultural community, using an evangelistic approach that is far reaching, encompassing and inclusive.
The preferred candidate for this position is proficient in English and Spanish and will manage all aspects of the Youth and Young Adult Ministry programs. The Director will foster a strong, resilient environment that encourages participation and guides faith development, social, and service leadership, while mentoring middle and high school students toward a proactive life with Christ.
The Director of Youth Ministry must excel at building trust and connecting with teens, young adults, and parents/families, with a God centered passion for sharing biblical messages. Strong interpersonal, event planning, and program management skills are essential.
Essential Functions:
• Faith Formation and Catechesis
• Provide faith formation, spiritual guidance, community building, service, outreach, mentoring, and lead volunteers.
Overall Youth Engagement
• Develop a CORE Team for Youth Ministry.
• Lead weekly high school youth ministry programming.
• Plan and organize the annual youth retreat.
• Hold CORE Team meetings to support volunteers.
• Create a teen leadership program within the parish.
• Find ways to involve parents and families in youth formation.
• Encourage youth and families to participate in the monthly youth Mass, involving youth as lectors, ushers, and musicians.
• Support and collaborate with the Confirmation Coordinator.
Summer Camp Program
• Work with the DRE to launch a summer camp for elementary and middle school students by summer 2027.
• Keep the program affordable and effective for community needs.
• Build community relationships to increase engagement.
• Generate profit for parish use while maintaining high standards of care and enrichment for participants.
Young Adult Ministry (Ages 18-30)
• Spiritual Development and Teaching.
• Offer individual mentorship and guidance for young adults on life challenges.
• Organize social, service, and outreach events to build community.
• Recruit and train young adult volunteer leaders.
• Connect young adults to wider parish ministries.
• Manage budgets, event planning, and ministry communications.
Position Qualifications:
• Practicing Catholic
• Proficient in both English and Spanish, bilingual preferred
• Bachelor's degree required in Religious Studies, Pastoral Theology, or a related field.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel and Word
• Must have the capacity to set your own direction, identify solutions, and execute decisions with limited direction.
• Exercise Strategic Judgment - the ability to assess situations, weigh options, and make sound decisions without senior management guidance and direction.
• Willingness to grow in expertise related to ongoing development in youth and youth ministry
• Collaboration and effective communication with clergy, parish staff, parish leaders, and families.
• Critical thinking and analysis required.
Compensation: $60,000
Benefits:
We offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package with this position, including health, dental, and vision coverage; employer-paid life
and disability insurance; automatic enrollment in the 403(b) plan and employer contribution (whether or not the employee contributes); and
generous paid holiday, sick and vacation leave. Please click on the link below for more detailed information:
https://www.archbalt.org/human-resources/employee-benefits/employee-benefits/

Submit cover letter and resume to Fr. Mel Portula, CICM, Pastor, at fr.mel@sjerc.org

About the Employer

Saint John the Evangelist, located in Wilde Lake Interfaith Center in Columbia, Maryland is a parish community of 3600 households, striving for holiness by welcoming multi-generational engagement and dynamic experiences that inspire wonder and lead to encounters with Jesus. We foster meaningful interactions, prayer, community, fun, fellowship, and lasting friendships, enabling young people to experience Christ in authentic and transformative ways