Director, Children Faith Formation and Catechesis

Job Description

The Director of Children's Faith Formation and Catechesis manages the Children's Faith Formation Program. The purpose of the Secretariat for Evangelization and Catechesis is to support parishes, families, and Catholic academies/parish schools in offering formational, spiritual, and catechetical opportunities that encourage missionary discipleship.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manages and supervises the Children's Faith Formation Program in coordination with the Vicar for Evangelization and Catechesis.
• Works with the Vicar for Evangelization and Catechesis to evaluate the Diocese's catechetical needs.
• Collaborates with Directors of Adult Faith Formation, Marriage and Family Formation, and Respect Life Education to support the Diocesan mission of evangelization.
• Provides resources and support for individuals with special needs in catechetical programs.
• Offers consultation regarding the Religious Education Program Administrative Manual Handbook.
• Establishes guidelines and recommendations for Parish Children's Faith Formation Programs that align with the teachings of the Catholic Church and the Directory for Catechesis.
• Oversee and provide consultation for Sacramental Proximate Preparation.
• Provides outreach and consultation to all Directors of Faith Formation and Coordinators of Religious Education on parish children's faith formation/religious education programs and catechist formation, including required diocesan reports.
• Supports new Directors of Faith Formation and Coordinators of Religious Education with orientation sessions throughout the catechetical year.
• Ensures active Diocesan Outlook email accounts for all Directors and Coordinators.
• Provides a platform for Directors and Coordinators to discuss catechetical questions or concerns.
• Promotes Diocesan Sacramental policies.
• Assists in creating strategic plans, models, mission statements, and parent handbooks for parish Religious Education programs.
• Reviews and consults on Parish Crisis Management Plans, ensuring biennial submission by Directors of Religious Education (DREs).
• Consults DREs on compliance and updates Parishes regarding the Crisis Management Plan.
• Works with the Safe Environment Office to ensure compliance with diocesan mandates for child protection.
• Prepares reports for the Vicar for Evangelization and Catechesis, assisting with program review and consultation.
• Coordinates Diocesan Religious Education/Children's Faith Formation initiatives.
• Organizes annual gatherings for catechetical leaders to discuss current topics and best practices in English and Spanish.
• Manages the annual Recognition Mass to celebrate service anniversaries and retirements.
• Creates and promotes the annual Children's Faith Formation Calendar.
• Designs and teaches courses on children's catechesis and other topics for ongoing formation.
• Provides resources and information about relevant webinars on catechetical topics and best practices.
• Other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Master's degree in theology or religious education.
• Minimum of five (5) years' experience in Parish/youth ministry, working within a large and diverse organization.
• Minimum five (5) years of experience in Childhood Faith Formation and Family Catechesis or relevant field.
• Proficient with MS Office software programs.
• Knowledge of Diocesan Sacramental policies and Safe Environment requirements.
• Knowledge of current resources, processes and methodologies for evangelization, children's and youth ministry.
• Strong catechetical experience: Catechetical Certification preferred.
• Program development experience.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Must be a practicing Roman Catholic in good standing and in-depth knowledge of the doctrines, teachings, and traditions of the Roman Catholic Church.
• Proficient understanding of the Diocesan organizational structure.
• Familiarity with and ability to stay abreast of current challenges facing children and adolescents and obstacles to faith formation.
• Ability to identify current children's and adolescent faith formation resources.
• Ability to coordinate religious and special events.
• Ability to teach and design courses on children's catechesis and other ongoing formation topics.
• Ability to utilize social media platforms to promote adolescent faith formation initiatives.
• Ability to maintain collaborative relationships with colleagues, clergy, staff and departments/agencies throughout the Diocese.
• Ability to be VIRTUS Trained.
• Independent and collaborative worker.
• Creative with keen attention to detail.
• Excellent organizational, Calendar management, communication skills and ability to solve complex problems required.
• Ability to conduct and facilitate effective virtual meetings and to visit parishes in Brooklyn and Queens as needed.
• Independent judgment required to plan, prioritize, and organize diversified workload with a strong tendency towards initiative.
• Bilingual: Fluent in English and Spanish.
• Ability to travel within the geographic boundaries of the Diocese of Brooklyn, primarily Brooklyn and Queens.
• Ability to treat confidential information with appropriate discretion.

About the Employer

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn was founded in 1853. It is headquartered in Brooklyn and its territory encompasses the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens. It is presided by the eighth and current Bishop of Brooklyn, His Excellency, the Most Reverend Robert J. Brennan. The Diocese of Brooklyn includes 176 parishes with 200 churches and 69 elementary schools. For more information about our organization, please visit https://dioceseofbrooklyn.org/

By appointing the Bishop, Pope Jon Paul II recognized both Brooklyn's popular status as a Diocese of Immigrants, as well as the Bishop's skill in responding to the needs of new comers from other lands.