Bilingual Director of Religious Education

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Parish communtiy of St. Patricks of Norristown, PA

Job description

Position: Director of religious education

Time Frame: Full time

Reports to Pastor/administrator

This person is responsible for Assisting the pastor/administrator in implementing faith formation for forming the parishioners of the parish, both children in Prep and adults in OCIA. The DRE designs, develops, directs, and evaluates a program of formation and catechesis and leads the parish community in building a solid foundation for parish faith formation.

Educational requirements: BA in Theology, MA Preferred

Language requirements: must be able to speak proficiently in English and Spanish

Program of Religious Education

• Envision, implement, and refine an innovative program of catechesis and formation that draws on best practices, and gathers in parents so that the youth and adults of St. Patrick's of Norristown continue to deepen their discipleship at home, in the parish, and in the community
• Support the parents/guardians in their key role as primary educators of their children
• Maintain permanent records of students and their progress in Prep
• Ensure suitable publicity is arranged for all educational program events
• Monitor and evaluate personnel, program content and quality on an ongoing basis
• Periodically review the program (progress, effectiveness, concerns, etc.)
• Communicate program requirements to parents and teachers
• Coordinate religious education registration
• Manage home schooled students and regularly engage them in the parish program
• Participate in county meetings and events sponsored by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Association of DREs
• Supervise the Administrative Assistant for REP and provide assignments, guidance and goal setting
• Supervise the Confirmation Program Coordinator and ensure all guidelines are met.

Volunteer and Catechist Leadership

• Recruit, develop and coordinate the necessary catechists and volunteers to build and maintain vibrant pastoral and formational outreach to youth, ensure that St. Patrick's of Norristown is in alignment with national and local standards, and enable adult volunteers to continue to grow in their faith.
• Recruitment of all adult and teen volunteers related to youth catechesis and looking for volunteer catechists to assist in the OCIA
• Provide training and ongoing faith formation for all adult and teen volunteers
• Ensure compliance with Safe Environment credentials and other needed safety requirements

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in theology or education required, Master's degree preferred; an individual should be highly competent in catechetical studies and have three to five years of related experience
• The individual must understand and be able to articulate the Church's sacramental, ecclesial, moral, and spiritual theology and how they apply to the faithful
• Experience in the formation and education of children, youth, and families is essential, with a minimum of two years of experience in ministry either in Diocesan youth leadership, parish programs, or campus ministry preferred
• Must also be able excel in the same way for adults in OCIA
• An active and deep faith with full participation in the communal worship and life of the Church
• Proficient in interpersonal relationship skills
• Proficient in oral and communication skills
• Proficient in computer skills - knowledge and ability to use computer programming and Parish Data Systems
• Proficient in organizational and administrative skills
• Collaborative and a team builder - must work well with the St. Patrick of Norristown community and other parishes

Parish Collaboration

• Communicate, collaborate and integrate with pastoral staff and ministries of the parish, and outside the parish, in order to support family and life-long formation and catechesis among the parishioners of St. Patrick's of Norristown
• Interact and ensure involvement with family life and liturgy
• Support and recruit youth for parish-wide events, celebrations and initiatives
• Target promotion and communication of parish-wide programs, events and information to youth and their families

Sacramental Program

• Oversee the coordination and sacramental preparation of candidates who attend Prep and Catholic schools
• Schedule First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion with the Pastor
• Schedule and coordinate sacramental meetings for parents for First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion and Confirmation
• Schedule Advent and Lenten Reconciliation services for Prep students
• Create and oversee catechetical plans for older baptized Catholic children or teens who seek the reception of First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion and/or Confirmation

Resumes to be emailed to mjflores89@gmail.com