The principal duty of all employees is to assist in the mission of the Church in the Diocese of Fort Worth. This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
General Position Summary: Responsible for program development and administrative oversight ofReligious Education programs which foster children and their families in becoming lifelong disciples of Christ. This is accomplished through a pastoral, liturgical and catechetical approach toward evangelization and catechetical formation. Areas of responsibility include but are not limited to Religious Education, intergenerational and family catechesis, Sacrament Preparation (Reconciliation, Eucharist and R.C.I.A). All catechetical instruction must be in keeping with the magisterial teachings of the Catholic Church. Parish cluster including St Mary Henrietta, St Joseph Nocoan, St Jerome Bowie, and St William Montague.
Principal Accountabilities:
General Administration
- Serves as the primary point-of-contact for formation and religious education.
- Manages the proper storage and disposal of confidential information and personal identifiable information (PII) in accordance with policy and law.
- Demonstrates dynamic problem-solving skills through adaptable and flexible leadership. Clarifies the needs and directives of supervisors, supervises and manages logistics, and clearly communicates resulting needs and barriers to success in a timely, professional manner.
- Foster mutually responsive relationships with parish staff and the parish community at large
- Mitigates conflicts quickly and charitably.
- Works independently and within teams on special nonrecurring and ongoing projects as assigned.
Formation and Religious Education
- Develop and implement processes of Formation for elementary and youth students in accordance with the vision and guidelines of the Diocese of Fort Worth for Evangelization and Catechesis.
- Responsible for planning and implementing programs, meetings and retreats for sacramental preparation for Reconciliation, First Eucharist, Confirmation and OCIA adapted for children.
- Fosters effective communication with parents and volunteers of the Religious Education Programs.
- Coordinates with Pastor for presence and oversite of children’s catechetical and sacramental preparation programs, meetings and trainings.
- Ensures catechist/aide to student ratio is maintained for all RE programs/events.
- Schedules, organizes and ensures compliance with yearly Virtus Empowering God’s Children (formerly Called to Protect) curriculum for children and maintains record for audit.
- Maintains communication with the Pastor in all matters and needs related to Religious Education.
- May participate in on-going formation and skill enhancement programs, workshops or certification related to job responsibilities.
- Assists in planning, implementing and teaching workshops for volunteers on various components of catechetical development.
- Plans, coordinates and implements yearly Vacation Bible School.
- May attend general staff and formation department meetings & act as a resource to the Parish staff regarding children, families and sacramental preparation offerings.
- Responsible for all other projects, tasks, etc., as assigned.
ADMINISTRATION:
- Coordinates and promotes student registration and ensures current forms are maintained in parish and formation offices, as well as on parish website. Coordinates with Parish Coordinators the development of yearly schedule of classes and programs for religious education and sacrament preparation publicity.
- Responsible for communicating plans for religious education and children’s ministry through parish bulletin, parish website, and social media.
- Coordinates and procures facilities for all classes and programs for religious education and sacrament preparation.
- Coordinates all class schedules, student lists and volunteer lists, catechist folders, and classroom assignments for all areas of education.
- Responsible for coordinating the ordering, receiving, maintaining and dispensing inventory of textbooks, teaching materials and program resources and ensures submission of requests for payment for program resource orders.
- Attend Catechist certification training courses offered as required by Pastor.
RECORD KEEPING
- Develops & assures accurate yearly record maintenance and administrative processes for program.
- Responsible for data entry and student record keeping and maintenance for student registration.
- Responsible for receiving and maintaining all necessary sacrament paperwork and documentation for students and maintaining student registration by paper.
- Maintains catechist files and ensures current safe environment training is maintained for all Religious Education and sacrament preparation volunteers.
- Ensure completed sacrament records are provided to responsible staff for sacrament record keeping.
- Maintains and tracks expenditures for materials as related to programs with approval from Pastor.
- Manages the proper storage and disposal of confidential information and personally identifiable information (PII) in the Formation Department in accordance with policy and law.
RECORD RETENTION RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Maintains work process binder
- Religious Education Registration forms, student records – 5 years after school year completed.
VOLUNTEERS:
- Catechists
- Religious Education Support help (Parish Coordinators)
- VBS volunteers
- Sacramental Prep (1st Communion & 1st Reconciliation) volunteers
Typical Decisions and/or Recommendations Made in This Position:
Supervision Given and/or Received:
Internal Contacts:
- Diocese Pastors, Priests, Business Managers, Diocese Faith Formation Managers, Parish Coordinators, Parents, and employees.
External Contacts:
- Diocese vendors, local, state, and federal agency representatives, and auditors.
Working Conditions and/or Physical Requirements:
- This position works in a typical office environment but is subject to stress due to the evolving and quickly expanding needs of the Diocese, tight deadlines and moderate workloads.
- Ability to sit and perform computer work for lengthy periods of time.
- Able to access and maintain centralized departmental files. Involves extending arms and reaching files stored in multiple levels on shelves.
- A significant amount of time regularly spent on the telephone providing customer service support and problem solving for both internal and external customers.
- Ability to accept work interruptions while remaining focused on duties.
- Data entry via computer keyboard, requiring repetitive and frequent hand and wrist movements.
- Ability to lift up to 35 pounds without assistance and up to 60 pounds with assistance.
Travel Requirements:
- Infrequent travel, by car, may be required to Diocese Office and local Parishes
Education and Experience Preferred:
- Practicing Catholic and in good standing with the Catholic Church, faithful to the Magisterium, and in good standing with the Catholic Church. A current parishioner of St Mary Henrietta, St Joseph Nocona, St Jerome Bowie, and/or St William Montague.
- Previous volunteer management preferred.
- Previous teaching experience preferred.
Knowledge and Skills Preferred:
- Ability to honor and maintain confidentiality.
- Ability to work well with people.
- Ability to receive, understand, retain, and complete verbal and written tasks.
- Ability to work independently as well as in teams.
- Ability to provide excellent customer service and work efficiently with staff, clergy, religious, and laity.
- Ability to work occasional nights and occasional weekends.
- Excellent organization, prioritization, and communication skills.
- Excellent time management skills.
- Demonstrated competency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and Parish Data Systems.
- Demonstrated history of good judgement.
- Ability to work well with people from a diverse variety of audiences.
- Demonstrated aptitude for adaptability and flexibility.
- General ability and willingness to learn, use, troubleshoot, and implement/teach technology.
- Bilingual (Spanish/ English) is highly desirable but is not required.
FLSA Designation: Non- Exempt, Part-Time 25-29 hours / week. This contract ends 6/30/2027 with possible renewal opportunity.