Director of OCIA

Job Description

Director of OCIA
Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Parish Northglenn, CO
Job Type: Full-time
Reports to: Director of Evangelization
Work week: 40 hours; evenings required plus occasional weekends
Status: Non-exempt
Overview
Are you ready to bring your gifts and your Catholic faith together to walk with adults as they encounter Jesus Christ and enter the Church?
At IHM, our mission is simple: to proclaim the greatness of the Lord, and accompany our neighbors to the heart of Jesus. Nowhere is that more visible than in OCIA, where the Director walks with adults as they come to know the Lord and are welcomed into his Church.
Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Northglenn, Colorado is seeking a full-time Director of the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA). The Holy Spirit is at work here: our program has grown from about 30 students in 2020 to 110 in the 2025-26 school year, and we have 85 students enrolled this fall. This is a rare opportunity to lead a thriving, growing ministry and to shape its next chapter, including a new year-round catechumenate launching in spring 2027.
The Director oversees the full process by which adults prepare for initiation into the Catholic Church: planning and coordinating catechetical sessions, rituals, and events; recruiting and forming catechumens, candidates, sponsors, and volunteers; and handling the pastoral and canonical questions that arise along the way.
Key Job Responsibilities
Oversee the OCIA process: Manage the full cycle of initiation, including the inquiry period, catechumenate, and mystagogy, in keeping with Archdiocese of Denver guidelines and parish needs.
Plan the year: Develop and maintain a yearly OCIA calendar in collaboration with the pastor and staff, including the new year-round catechumen track.
Provide formation: Provide formation in harmony with Church teaching, fostering a catechumenal spirituality centered on conversion, community, Scripture, and liturgy.
Form and support participants: Recruit and welcome inquirers, candidates, and catechumens; provide spiritual and catechetical guidance; and connect them with sponsors and prayer partners.
Recruit and train volunteers: Find, train, and support catechists, sponsors, small-group leaders, and other volunteers, and equip them to build one-on-one relationships with participants.
Coordinate liturgical and ritual events: Plan and facilitate the rites of the OCIA, including the Rite of Acceptance/Welcoming, Scrutinies, Rite of Election, and the Sacraments of Initiation, in cooperation with clergy and liturgical staff.
Oversee courses for candidates and confirmands: Coordinate classes for baptized candidates seeking Confirmation and First Holy Communion and for Confirmation-only participants.
Manage pastoral and canonical matters: Address questions related to baptismal and other sacramental records, marital status, and other pastoral or canonical concerns, working with the pastor and the Archdiocese as needed.
Administer and budget: Maintain required records (including sacramental records), purchase program materials, and manage the OCIA budget.
Coordinate communication: Work with parish staff to promote OCIA through the bulletin, website, and social media, and communicate regularly with participants, sponsors, parish staff, and the Archdiocese of Denver.
What We're Looking For
Be a fully initiated Catholic in communion with the Catholic Church and committed to living the faith.
Align with the values and mission of the Catholic Church, the Archdiocese of Denver, and Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church.
Strong working knowledge of Catholic doctrine, Scripture, and the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults.
Ability to teach and form adults, and to lead and motivate a team of volunteers.
Warm, relational, and welcoming, with the ability to accompany people at different stages of faith.
Organized and detail-oriented, able to manage calendars, records, and a budget for a large program.
Handles sensitive pastoral and personal information with discretion and professionalism.
Communicates clearly and professionally with participants, volunteers, and staff.
Adaptable and collaborative in a growing, dynamic environment.
Proficient in Google Workspace and comfortable with parish databases and communication tools.
Bachelor's degree in theology, catechetics, or a related field preferred; equivalent formation or experience considered.
Minimum of [3] years of experience in parish ministry, catechesis, or adult faith formation; prior OCIA experience strongly preferred.
Completion of Archdiocese of Denver safe environment requirements and background check.
Application Deadline: December 4, 2026
To apply: Please submit a resume and cover letter to tylere@ihmco.org.

About the Employer

Our mission is to proclaim the greatness of the Lord, and accompany our neighbors to the heart of Jesus