Chancellor

Job Description

Job Title: Chancellor
Agency: Office of the Chancellor
Reports To: Vicar General
Position: Full-time, Benefited, Exempt

JOB SUMMARY
The Chancellor fulfills the duties of this position by ensuring the documents and acts of the Curia are gathered, arranged, and safeguarded in the archives; and by recording the ecclesiastical acts, decrees, and dispensations issued by the Bishop as required by the Code of Canon Law. Produces official ecclesiastical documents as requested and required.

The Chancellor ensures the documents and acts of the Curia are gathered arranged and safeguarded in the archives; records the ecclesiastical acts, decrees, and dispensations issued by the Bishop as required by the Code of Canon Law; produces official ecclesiastical documents as requested and required.

CURRENT ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Canon law consultant for Bishop(s) and Diocesan employees, inside and outside the Blanchette Catholic Center (BCC) (including Rite transfers, Excardination, help create policies, Synod of Bishops)
• Canonical notary for all official diocesan decrees, letters, proof of finance etc.
• Draft many of Bishop's correspondences
• Conduct preliminary investigations of priest accusations, etc.
• Archives - records/files, assist and direct the diocesan Archivist
• Correspondence with Rome, i.e., dicasteries, etc.
• Letters of Suitability for our priests; regulate compliance with Virtus
• Approve letters of suitability for extern priests
• Official Catholic Directory - consensus every year end of ALL diocesan entities
• October Counts - average attendance at Sunday masses in every parish of the Diocese of Joliet
• Imprimatur (Catholic book approvals)
• Parish closings - consultation and writing ALL necessary canonical decrees

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Compiles and prepares info/stats for the Official Catholic Directory, the Secretariat of State (Rome report), and the October Count
• Compiles information and prepares the Quinquennial Report
• Completes the form for the Paulist Press Ordo
• Orders the Acta Apostolicae Sedis and the Annuario Pontificio
• Prepares the Chancery budget
• Supervises and approves timecards for the administrative assistant
• Prepares and distributes Celebret cards
• Prepares and sends Letters of Suitability to dioceses
• Prepares letters of good standing for lay persons as appropriate
• Receives and maintains Letters of Suitability from those outside the diocese
• Forwards requests for faculties to the Vicar for Clergy
• Prepares and publishes obituaries of priests
• Maintains priests' necrology and other lists of priests
• Faxes/emails/mails notifications of Diocese of Joliet priests' deaths
• Keeps list of persons having keys for vault
• Maintains the archives including priests' files
• Prepares files of newly ordained for insertion along with other priests' files
• Prepares files of deceased priests for the vault
• Places files of priests no longer in diocese in the vault
• Collect and maintain priests' funeral arrangement plan forms and maintain them in priests' files
• Enters information regarding candidacy, lector, acolyte, diaconate, and priesthood in diocesan record book
• Notifies the parish of baptism upon the ordination of a priest or deacon
• Mails notices of marriages or confirmations of those baptized in a foreign country to the church of baptism
• Keeps track of Declarations of Nullity, Defective Form & dispensations
• Sends Office of Communication an updated list of priests' anniversaries of deaths & ordinations, and birthdays each month
• Administers the Mass Stipend account & sends acknowledgment letters for stipends
• Requests papal blessings and tickets for papal audiences
• Maintains lists and prepares certificates for the appointment of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
• Signs documents for the Bishop, the Finance Office, and for property tax exemptions
• Prepares documents attesting to pastors' ability to act on behalf of the parish in financial matters
• Works with the archivist regarding sacramental record requests, other records, etc.
• Answers mail or phone calls of persons requesting information, etc.
• Assures that a coordinated system of file retention and storage, for both paper and digital files, is established and maintained throughout the Curia and assists other offices of the Curia in maintaining and storing their files in collaboration with the Information Technology office

OTHER DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Handles other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS
• Must be a practicing Roman Catholic in good standing with the Church
• Must have a sound theology of Church and parish in keeping with the teachings of the Catholic Church and expertise in archival science and experience in archiving, including digital
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills are required, along with good computer skills
• Proficiency in English is required
• Bilingual in Spanish is helpful but not required

SALARY RANGE
Salary range for this position is $80,000 - $87,000 annual, depending on experience and qualifications.

BENEFITS
We offer a competitive benefits package that includes:
• Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance, Basic Life and AD & D, Long-Term Disability Insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts, Defined Pension Plan funded by Diocese of Joliet, 403(b) Retirement Plan, Paid Personal Leave Days, and Paid Holidays based on holiday schedule approved for Blanchette Catholic Center
• Voluntary benefits of Short-Term Disability, Critical Illness, Accident, Hospital Indemnity, and Permanent Life Insurance

WORKING CONDITIONS
This is a full-time exempt position, with benefits. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Friday. Flexibility of schedule and reliable transportation is required. Evening work as needed or required.

To apply for this outstanding opportunity, please send your resume and cover letter to humanresources@dioceseofjoliet.org. No phone calls, please. When sending your resume and cover letter, please reference Chancellor in the subject line of your email.

About the Employer

The Diocese of Joliet encompasses 7 counties of northern Illinois and has a Catholic population of more than 658,000.