Faith Formation and Sacramental Preparation Coordinator

Job Description

POSITION TITLE: Faith Formation and Sacramental Preparation Coordinator

Opening Date: June 1st, 2024

Closing Date: When Filled

Location of Job: St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church (The Madeleine Parish)

Location Address: 3123 NE 24th Avenue, Portland, OR 97212

Position: Full-time, benefits-eligible (40 hours per week)

Position Summary: The parish of St. Mary Magdalene (The Madeleine) in North East Portland, home also of the Pre-K through 8th grade school is seeking a Catholic who is in love with and committed to the Catholic faith, who lives a sacramental life enriched by a personal life of prayer, and wishes to join the Church's mission to share the faith with others.
Collaborating with the Pastor and other staff members, The Faith Formation and Sacramental Preparation Coordinator will foster relationships with parishioners to equip the faithful to live out their priestly ministry of evangelizing and catechizing.

Primary Responsibilities:

The successful candidate will be Catholic, who embraces and is able to represent the teachings of the magisterium without conflict, and who will be willing to continue to learn and grow with the Church. He/she will be responsible for:
coordinating a unified sacramental preparation program, including baptism, first communion, confirmation, and marriage preparation;
coordinating RCIA/OCIA for adults and children who are seeking entrance to the Church;
evaluating, approving, and ordering curricula for programs;
providing formation opportunities for catechists involved in sacramental preparation and faith formation programs;
working with the business manager to budget programs and ensuring budgets are maintained;
working with parish staff to schedule programs and sacramental liturgies and to manage scheduling conflicts;
ensuring sacramental registers are complete in accord with Archdiocesan policies;
coordinating, when possible, with neighboring parishes to enrich our faith formation programs and Catholic community;
creatively arranging age-appropriate faith formation opportunities, such as courses, faith-sharing groups, and parish missions;
collaborating with staff at the school to involve as many school children and their parents in parish faith formation activities;
recruiting and preparing catechists as those principally responsible for catechesis;
supervise and enforce the parish Safe Environment policies in accordance with Archdiocesan requirements.
Performs other work-related duties as requested.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Position encounters frequent new and varied work situations, functioning independently with minimal supervision. The employee determines their own practices and procedures and contributes to the development of new concepts. Contacts frequently contain confidential/sensitive matters and are usually made with others both inside and outside the parish and at employee's own initiative. Must be able to communicate well with others both orally and in writing.
Proven skills in the areas of communications and administration.
Ability to successfully manage and train staff, volunteers, and programs.
Must be able to prioritize workload to meet program requirements.
Ability to work both independently and as a member of a pastoral team.
Must be flexible, creative, and responsible, as a team player.
Must be computer proficient.

Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's Degree in Pastoral Ministry with theology, religious education, or ministry formation certificate preferred. 2-4 years of ministry experience directing faith formation programs with a particular focus on life-long faith formation. Experience with whole parish catechesis and intergenerational catechetical events is a plus. Knowledge and understanding of church organization and operational procedures is necessary. Professional ongoing education and familiarity with current theology and catechetical methods is expected. Knowledge of periodicals, events being held, and resources available is important. Practicing Catholic is required, preferably active within the past 5 years. A valid driver's license is required.

Physical demands:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, walk, talk, reach, sit, finger, hear, handle, and perform repetitive motions of the hands/wrists. Lifts and moves items up to 20 pounds.

Working Environment: Work is performed in an office (shared with others), classroom recreational setting, or at home. Employee will be required to attend scheduled evening and weekend meetings and classes. This position requires flexible work scheduling to properly administer this ministry.

About the Employer

The Madeleine. A school, a church, a community. United.

We invite you to join us, as together, we further the reign of God, where all are welcome.