Director of Faith formation &amp; Family Ministry, Saints Martha &amp; Mary Parish, Allison Park

April 22, 2024

Director of Faith Formation and Family Ministry

Saints Martha and Mary Parish is looking for a passionate and innovative Faith Formation Leader to mold and adapt our well-established faith formation program for the next generation of families within our Parish. This role has oversight of faith formation, sacramental preparation and family ministries. This creates an opportunity to shape a comprehensive environment for families to come to love the Lord and desire to know Him better. If you’ve felt called to create this kind of life-changing ministry and a team to make it happen, then this is your shot.

SUMMARY
Saints Martha & Mary Parish has about 3750 registered families with almost 800 children registered in all Faith Formation programs. This full-time position reports to the Pastor and provides leadership and vision in the design and implementation of programs for families and children, guided by the overall Parish mission.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Continually develops and casts the vision for engaging, Jesus-centered family ministry for all families of the parish and those who come to us.
1. Manage and support Faith Formation staff at both campuses.
2. Intentionally focus on parents at all levels, especially during sacrament years.
  1. Be present regularly during peak programming times.
  2. Develop plan for parent formation in concert with other staff/parish ministries.
3. Serve as Diocesan point of contact related to Faith Formation.
Presents to the families and children the teaching of the Catholic Church through personal witness, in the context of evangelization.
Recruits, trains and provides resources for the ongoing spiritual and intellectual formation of catechists, aides and volunteers.
Researches, designs and implements a Faith Formation curriculum using the Diocesan guidelines, with adapted curriculum options for children with special needs.
Produces and/or acquires faith formation materials and coordinates their distribution.
1. Prepares, orders, and distributes weekly Faith Formation materials to support program needs.
2. Distributes Faith Formation materials for families.
3. Supplies and maintains narthex resources at both campuses.
Oversees Sacramental Preparation and Celebration for Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation.
1. Ensures effective information and formation meetings occur timely.
2. Assembles required paperwork and prepares data for sacramental records.
3. Coordinates at-home preparation and communicates with families about deadlines.
4. Ensures alternate means of preparation to meet the needs of all families.
5. Provides information for sacramental records.
6. Coordinates sacramental preparation for children out of sacramental sequence.
Oversees development of Family Ministries.
1. Plans and implements family activities/events for the parish.
2. Provides guidance and development of a volunteer-led family ministry.
3. Develops and implements a plan for supporting parents in living a Christ-centered family life.
Coordinates special formation programs.
1. Coordinates Special Needs Catechesis as needed.
2. Oversees Vacation Bible School
3. Serves as the staff liaison to our homeschooling families, Catholic Schools and pre-school
4. Maintains an accurate list of families that homeschool.
5. Sends periodic communications to homeschooling families.
6. Serves as a member of the Evangelization Team and assists as needed with parish strategic planning (On Mission, Pastoral Planning, etc.)
Worship Responsibilities and Tasks:
1. Ensures opportunities for liturgical worship within the Faith Formation Program.
2. Collaborates with the Music Director and other music ministries to ensure integration of the families and children in the liturgical celebrations of the Parish.
3. Designs opportunities for children and family participation in liturgy
Pastoral Responsibilities and Tasks:
1. Promotes good public relations both within and beyond the Parish and is involved in ecumenical, vicariate and diocesan networks of professional peers.
2. Provides spiritual and emotional support for individuals and families, short of professional counseling, with special consideration for those with special needs.
3. Is visibly present at principal Parish events.
Administrative Responsibilities and Tasks:
1. Oversees registration for all Faith Formation programs.
2. Maintains regular communication and collaborates with the Pastor, and other members of the staff, to integrate his/her own area of responsibility with the overall Parish vision for evangelization.
3. Publicizes the programs and events available to families and children through flyers, bulletin announcements, emails, website articles and the like.
4. Serves as the communication link between the faith formation program and the rest of the Parish, including staff, pre-school, parents and the Parish at large.
5. Develops faith formation resources including lesson plans, PowerPoint presentations, and other media.
6. Directs the work of the Faith Formation professional and support staff.
7. Prepares and manages the Faith Formation budget in collaboration with the Business Manager and Pastor.
8. Works with the support staff to register families for the new catechetical year.
9. Ensures that accurate records are kept of catechists, children, families, etc.
10. Works with the Safe Environment coordinator to ensure that all volunteers in the Faith Formation Program have their clearances and are approved by the Diocese to volunteer in this capacity.
Other duties as mutually agreed upon for the advancement of the parish.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Passion for bringing Jesus to kids in this developmental phase and their parents
Strategic and critical thinker
Effective and open interpersonal skills
Ability to create exciting and engaging programs, content, and advertising
Practicing Catholic in good standing and in compliance with all Safe Environment Requirements
Commitment to Catholic teachings and practices with knowledge of the principles of Catholic evangelization
Ability to work with a collaborative approach to ministry in a team environment
Proven organizational and leadership skills
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Moderate level of computer/new technology competencies; i.e. Microsoft Office, Canva, Flocknote and social media.
Self-motivated, team player, with a high sense of urgency and ability to manage multiple priorities at one time

Qualifications: The candidate should have a Bachelor’s degree in Theology, Catechetics and/or Pastoral Ministry, including coursework in Theology, Philosophy, Sacred Scripture, catechetical curriculum and methodology, and management and administration in the Parish/Diocese with some experience in a catechetical setting, preferably a parish, working with children and adults is preferred, but not required. The candidate should be proficient in the Microsoft Office suite, PDS (Parish database) and in the use of media including projectors, smart boards and sound equipment.

DESIRED SKILLS

Master’s Degree in Theology, Catechetics, or Education, preferably with a Theological basis
Five years experience working in a parish setting, faith formation, evangelization, ministry, education, or related setting, preferably with supervisory capacity
Experience working with volunteers

FIDELITY TO CHURCH TEACHING
Since this position is a visible representative of Saints Martha and Mary Parish and the Diocese of Pittsburgh, it is necessary that the incumbent be a practicing Catholic, registered in a Catholic parish, and embrace in word and in deed the Church’s teachings on faith and morals as articulated by the Church’s Magisterium.

Interested applicants should send a resume and cover letter to [email protected].