Parish Catechetical Leader (PCL)

Job Description

St. Joseph Parish in North Plainfield, NJ is seeking a part-time 15 hours per week) Parish Catechetical Leader for a program of approximately 250 students. The candidate for this position must be fluent in both English and Spanish and will work closely with the pastor and parish staff.
Responsibilities include:
• evaluates and modifies Parish Religious Education Program and Sacrament Prep program in response to needs of the parish and diocesan policies and procedures
• develops, schedules, and implements calendar of Parish Religious Education and Sacrament Prep sessions, meetings, retreats, liturgical events, and parish events
• oversees compliance with diocesan Safe Environment requirements for children and adults involved in the Parish Religious Education Program and Sacrament Prep
• evaluates and oversees use of available resources (textbooks, on-line tools/videos, formation tools, program administration tools) in light of parish needs, diocesan policies, Church documents, and catechetical literature
• recruits, orients, supervises, and trains catechists, staff, and other volunteers, supports pursuit of diocesan catechist certificate and participation in diocesan formation opportunities
• provides access and inclusion for children with Special Needs on an individual basis as necessary
• coordinates Religious Education and Sacrament Prep for children whose formal formation and/or sacramental experience has varied from the norm
• works closely with parish staff to successfully facilitate Parish Religious Education and Sacrament Prep programs
• updates and distributes Parent Handbook and Catechist Handbook
• updates parish website with information pertaining to the Parish Religious Education and Sacrament Prep programs
• administers program registration and payment, and maintains program documentation as per diocesan policy
• oversees budget for Parish Religious Education and Sacrament Prep
• takes advantage of diocesan formation and diocesan PCL certificate opportunities
• communicates with parents and strives to involve parents as an integral part of the Parish Religious Education and Sacrament Prep programs
• serves as the liaison between the parish and the diocesan Office of Discipleship Formation for Children

Qualifications
Education/Experience: Master's degree (M.A.) or Bachelor's degree (B. A.) in Catechetics, Theology, Religious Studies, Pastoral Ministry or equivalent preferred; or extensive experience and/or training in catechesis of children and adults; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Religious Requirement: Must be a practicing Roman Catholic in good standing who upholds the teaching and traditions of the Catholic Church and who possesses a sound working knowledge of the Catholic faith and Church hierarchy.

Language Ability: Must be fluent in both English and Spanish. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general catechetical periodicals, professional journals, and theological journals. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions accurately.

Math Ability: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

Reasoning Ability: Ability to solve practical problems and deal with various concrete variables in situations with limited standardization. Ability to interpret various instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Computer Skills: To perform this job successfully, an individual should know MS Word, Excel, Outlook (or equivalent software), and contact management systems and be willing to learn and utilize new technology tools as needed for successful and efficient administrative and formative tasks.

Certificates and Licenses: Parish Catechetical Leader Certificate in the Diocese of Metuchen (to be pursued if not already completed).

Supervisory Responsibilities: Directly supervises administrative staff and volunteers in accordance with parish policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees and volunteers; planning, assigning, and directing work activities; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Physical Demands
The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit and talk or hear.

About the Employer

St. Joseph Roman Catholic Parish's mission is to worship God through the liturgy, with a focus on Jesus as the daily bread and through the celebration of all the Sacraments. The parish aims to serve, inspire, and evangelize, emphasizing the sanctity of human life.