Director of Faith Formation

Job Description

Director of Faith Formation

The Faith Formation Team at Our Lady of Perpetual Help accompanies the parents of our community as they raise their children in the Catholic faith. Guided by our parish discipleship pathway, the Faith Formation Team provides our parish children and youth with opportunities to encounter the Lord through the liturgy and other prayer experiences, systematic catechesis, communal fellowship, and service to the Church and our local community. The Director of Faith Formation oversees and mentors the Coordinator of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Coordinator of Middle School Formation (Grades 6-8), Coordinator of High School Formation (Grades 9-12), and Administrative Assistant while being directly responsible for coordinating the Elementary Formation program (Grades K-5). Working closely with our Director of Evangelization, the Director of Faith Formation will also ensure that parents are included and empowered, as much as possible, as the primary educators in their child's faith life. As with all Faith Formation personnel, the Director is expected to be a practicing Catholic in good standing with the Church, pursuing a consistent prayer life, seeking ongoing personal and professional formation, and participating in our parish's liturgical and communal life.

Program Elements (in light of our Discipleship Pathway):

Belong - Create an atmosphere where participants are seen, known, and cherished by their peers and adult volunteers. Building community through easy-entry events such as Donut Sundays, game nights, movie nights, parish "backyard bash," etc.

Believe - Challenge our families to move beyond weekly church attendance and make a deeper commitment to Jesus, opening up opportunities for them to encounter him daily through prayer, scripture, the sacraments, and the Church's communal life.

Become - Provide systematic and organic faith formation and sacramental preparation opportunities for our young parishioners and their parents, founded primarily on Scripture, the Catechism, and personal witness, but also utilizing the great wealth of content and experiences now available to the Church through study programs, video series, podcasts, regional events, and retreats.

Beyond - Encourage participants to respond to the needs of those in their immediate spheres of influence and their parish community through service opportunities on campus, in Ellicott City, and beyond.

Administrative Responsibilities:

- Oversee all aspects of children's preparation for the sacraments of Baptism, First Communion, First Reconciliation, and Confirmation with the assistance of the Faith Formation Team.
- Coordinate age-appropriate faith formation program for children in grades K-5.
- Attend weekly in-person staff gatherings and bi-monthly Leadership Team meetings.
- Set calendar and room reservations for faith formation activities throughout the year.
- Train and equip catechists and other volunteers for their catechetical work, ensuring cooperation with Archdiocesan safe environment standards.
- Develop and maintain the Faith Formation budget with the Parish Administrator.
- Regular collaboration with the Archdiocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry (OFYYAM), OLPH School, regional gatherings of parish faith formation leaders, and annual Archdiocesan Pastoral Staff Day

Education and Professional Skills:

- Master's Degree in Catholic Theology, Catechetics, or comparable field
- 3-5 years of professional experience in the field of parish faith formation
- Strong public speaking skills, emphasizing a personal and kerygmatic presentation of the Gospel message
- Ability to connect and communicate well with children, youth, and adults alike
- Familiarity with Microsoft 360 office programs and G-Suite
- Proficiency in e-mail, calendar, and cloud-based drives

Resources for Vision:

- Directory for Catechesis (2020)
- A Light Brightly Visible 2.0 (December 2021) by Archbishop William Lori
- Pastoral Letter on Faith Formation (Sept 2022) by Archbishop William Lori
- ArchBalt Guidance on Family Faith Formation (Fall 2024)
OLPH Parish Discipleship Pathway

Salary:

Base salary compensation will be determined based on factors such as geographic location, skills, education, experience for this role, and/or internal equity of our current employees as part of any final offer. Employees may be eligible for a discretionary bonus, which is determined by company and individual performance.

Benefits:

We offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package with this position, including health, dental, and vision coverage; employer-paid life and disability insurance; automatic enrollment in the 403(b) plan and employer contribution (whether or not the employee contributes); and generous paid holiday, sick and vacation leave. Please click on the link below for more detailed information:
https://www.archbalt.org/human-resources/employee-benefits/employee-benefits/

Contact Information: Email Lisa Sliker at olphparish@archbalt.org

About the Employer

Welcome to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Since 1893 it has been our mission to bring God's love out to Ellicott City, Maryland. We want our neighbors and friends to experience God's life-changing love in a welcoming and genuine atmosphere. We are much more than just a church to attend, but a community centered on the person and work of Jesus Christ. We want to create an environment where you can find encouragement in a Christ-centered community, grow in your faith and experience the joy of finding the mission that God has for you.