Diocesan Director of Catechesis and Christian Initiation

Job Description

The Diocesan Office for Catechesis and Catholic Formation seeks to assist the faithful of the Diocese, through sound catechetical and general Catholic formation, to obtain a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ within the heart of the Church, and a proclamation of that relationship and the beauty of the faith by word and deed. It is comprised of two offices: the Office of Catechesis and Christian Initiation, and the Office of Ongoing Catholic Formation.

The Director of the Office of Catechesis and Christian Initiation is a qualified, professional, administrative catechist who, in obedience to the Bishop and under the supervision of the Vicar for Catechesis and Catholic Formation, and in collaboration with the Office of Ongoing Catholic Formation, contributes to the mission of the Church in the following areas:

•All Sacramental preparation for Baptism, Penance, Holy Communion, and Confirmation
•Parish catechetical and formation programs for children and youth through high school
•In collaboration with the Catholic Schools Office, catechetical and formation programs for Catholic school students
•Parish programs for the Christian Initiation of Adults

The Director works to serve and support those involved in these areas of ministry throughout the Diocese - pastors, parish catechetical leaders, catechists, parish youth leaders, school administrators and religious educators, parents, godparents and sponsors. The Director maintains collaborative relationships with other diocesan offices and agencies, with national and regional organizations relating to the areas mentioned, and with the People of God in general to promote authentic religious values and church teachings.

The Director is tasked with the following responsibilities:
1. Organizing, under the supervision of the Vicar for Catechesis and Catholic Formation, a diocesan-wide commission for the development of diocesan norms for preparation for the Sacraments of Initiation for children and youth, and catechesis and Catholic formation for children and youth, including recommending catechetical curricula.
2. Organizing, under the supervision of the Vicar for Catechesis and Catholic Formation, a diocesan-wide commission for the development of diocesan norms for catechesis, Catholic formation, and preparation for initiation into the Christian life for adults.
3. Implementing, monitoring, and engaging in ongoing evaluation of the aforementioned diocesan norms formulated by the commissions and approved by the Bishop.
4. Supporting those involved in the work of catechesis and youth formation throughout the Diocese, including Parish Priests, Deacons, godparents and sponsors, parish leaders and coordinators of catechesis and OCIA programs, catechists, youth leaders, and volunteers. This is accomplished, among other ways, by (a.) ensuring means for formation for those involved in catechesis and youth formation at the parish level; (b.) providing consultation in particular areas when requested; (c.) hosting periodic meetings for the building up of those involved in these areas and the sharing of resources amongst parish personnel; and (d.) assisting, when requested, in the recruitment, selection, training and promoting of professional and volunteer staff, such as qualified religion teachers, catechists and parish catechetical and youth leaders.
5. Providing proactive recommendations of programs which pertain to the purview of this office and are beneficial for parish life, including suggestions on how to observe particular diocesan, national, or universal Church commemorations.
6. Fostering collaborative relationships with and among those involved in catechetical and youth ministry in the diocese, and collaborating with the respective offices of the USCCB, other national bodies, and other dioceses.
7. Serving as a liaison with the Catholic Schools Office in matters pertaining to the teaching of theology in the Catholic Schools of the Diocese.
8. Serving as a liaison with the Office of Sacred Liturgy with regards to catechetical and formational requirements leading to the celebration of the various Rites associated with the Christian Initiation for Adults.
9. Serving as the diocesan liaison with the Catholic Scouting Movement within the Diocese.
10. Attending, when possible, such meetings and conferences related to the welfare and improvement of catechesis and youth formation in our diocese.
11. Coordinating, from time to time, diocesan-wide programs related to catechesis, Christian Initiation, and youth ministry.
12. Interpreting diocesan catechetical and youth ministry policies to personnel, community groups, and individuals.
13. In collaboration with the Office of the Chancellor, promoting proper sacramental record keeping in conjunction with parish catechetical and formation programs, as well as the proper referral of materials to the Diocesan Archive.
14. Conducting regular "Parish Profile" reviews of various forms of parish catechetical and youth ministry to provide statistical and interpretive reports on these programs for the Bishop, the Vicar for Catechesis and Catholic Formation, pastors, and other parish leaders.
15. Directing the preparation and presentation of the budget for the Diocesan Office of Catechesis and Christian Initiation.
16. Engaging in regular promotion of catechetical and youth events, materials, resources, etc. through various forms of communication, such as websites, social media, newsletters, etc.
17. Directing and coordinating the activities of the Diocesan Office of Catechesis and Christian Initiation, and maintaining an adequate employee accounting system.

SUPERVISION

•SUPERVISED BY: The Vicar for Catechesis and Catholic Formation
•LEADS/GUIDES: Parish catechetical and youth leaders (e.g. DREs, Youth Ministers, program coordinators, etc.), catechists and religion teachers
•COLLABORATES WITH: The Catholic Schools Office, the Office of Black Catholic Ministry, the Office of Hispanic Ministry, the Office of Sacred Liturgy, the Office of Child and Youth Protection

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

EDUCATION:
•Required: BA in Catholic Theology plus MA in Religious Education, or equivalent
•Desired: Proficiency in English and Spanish; Updated postgraduate work; Courses and/or workshops on multicultural awareness and education.

EXPERIENCE:
•Required: At least 3 years working in parish Religious Education.
•Desired: Some experience working with southern rural parishes, multi-cultural parishes, as well as experience on the Diocesan level.

EQUIPMENT/TOOLS/WORK AIDS: Computer skills, copying machine, facsimile machine and knowledge of other office equipment

SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS: Must be:
1. Knowledgeable in the field of religious education and pastoral ministry.
2. Personable, flexible, understanding of others.
3. A good listener.
4. Able to assess the needs of the diocese and to plan to meet the needs.
5. Proficient on both written and spoken communication.
6. A challenger
7. Self-motivated.
8. Creative without imposing personal opinion on people.
9. Knowledgeable of southern culture.
10. A skilled administrator.

PERSONAL TRAITS QUALITIES & APTITUDES: Friendly, willing to work with other agencies. Open to ideas of others. Willing to work for the greater good of the Diocese. Willing to use personal gifts for the good of the whole. Able to win the respect and loyalty of co-workers.
•Must be a practicing Catholic
•Be able to work in a team context
•Possess clear evidence of integrity and the highest standards of ethical conduct
•Demonstrate an ability to motivate and win the respect and loyalty of staff, build a faith community and accomplish results through others
•Be literate in areas of new and developing educational technologies. Be sensitive to cultural and racial diversity
•Be flexible, assertive, persuasive and highly motivated
•Demonstrate an ability to accept responsibility for direction, control and planning of an activity
•Demonstrate an ability to make generalizations, evaluations and decision based on sensory or judgmental criteria
•Demonstrate an ability to perform a variety of duties requiring the changing from one task to another without loss of efficiency or composure
•Demonstrate an ability to communicate effectively with people of all cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds
•Demonstrate an ability to solve problems in a creative and effective manner
•Be willing to assess personal strengths and weaknesses and receive and respond to performance reviews and constructive criticism

WORKING CONDITIONS: Inside environment protected from weather, but not necessarily from temperature changes. Duties accomplished in the office, on location, and remotely. A substantial amount of traveling, mostly by automobile, both locally and out of town.

For additional details, please visit www.bhmdiocese.org/employment for a complete description of duties. as well as further details to apply.

About the Employer

We are the Catholic Church of Birmingham, Alabama. We are responding to God's call to proclaim Jesus Christ as the Eternal Son of the living God. We are witnesses to the Gospel as we announce the death of the Lord, proclaim His resurrection, and await His coming in glory. At the heart of our Christian Community is celebration: of the Word, of the Eucharist, of the Sacraments. We journey with the Holy Spirit as our guide, with Mary, the Mother of God as our model, and in communion with the Holy Father, the Bishop of Rome.