Evangelization - Adult Faith Formation - Mary, Queen of Peace

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE CATHOLIC CHURCH - MANDEVILLE, LOUISIANA

Director of Evangelization and Adult Faith Formation

The task of evangelizing all people constitutes the essential mission of the Church. Evangelizing is in fact the grace and vocation proper to the Church, her deepest identity. She exists in order to evangelize.

~ On Evangelization in the Modern World, 14.

Mary, Queen of Peace Catholic Church is looking for a Director of Evangelization and Adult Faith Formation. This is a full-time position. The Director of Evangelization and Adult Faith Formation attends to active parishioners, nominal Catholics, the inactive community, and the unchurched - and therefore is involved in the renewal and formation of ministries within the parish as well as ministries of outreach and welcome toward those not active or connected with the parish.

Goals of the position include:
 Fostering conversion and growth in discipleship among the faithful
 Implementing adult faith formation (catechetical) programs/ministries
 Fostering adult discipleship groups and small Christian communities
 Developing a welcoming parish community where "hospitality is the essence of the Kingdom"
 Animating and equipping parishioners to evangelize by witness, word, and action
 Enhancing communication of opportunities within and beyond the parish community.

This position will also help to implement a new initiative to provide personal encounters with Jesus Christ, form small Christian communities, and equip them to become stewards who are missionary disciples. The position reports to the Pastor and operates with latitude for the use of independent judgment and initiative. Salary is negotiable based on experience and education, and the position is benefits eligible.

Ministerial Character
The Pastor is the visible principle and foundation of unity in Mary, Queen of Peace Catholic Church, which the Archbishop has entrusted to him. He makes Christ's mission present and enduring in the parish. In order to fulfill his mission, the Pastor employs suitable, chosen collaborators (clerics, religious, or laypeople). He shares with them his mission and entrusts various responsibilities to them.

Positions employed at Mary, Queen of Peace Catholic Church help to extend the ministry of the Pastor in particular ways as outlined in the job description. Therefore, the employee in this position is closely connected to and assists the Pastor in the performance of his ministry and thereby engages in ministry for the Church.

Job Summary
The Director of Evangelization and Adult Faith Formation is the pastoral team member charged with assisting the Pastor in the formation of the parish in the Catholic faith. This pastoral team member develops, maintains, and administers the evangelization and catechetical programs for all adults of Mary, Queen of Peace Catholic Church. This minister works with the pastor, parish staff and parishioner volunteer leaders to create opportunities for people to encounter Jesus Christ and His Church and grow as disciples by fostering small group ministry, parish retreats, and kerygmatic presentations of the faith. This Director must work collaboratively with the Director of Faith Formation, the Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry and volunteer leaders to ensure that, as a team, they effectively manage all aspects of Christian formation and evangelization. This minister shares the Good News in fresh and innovative ways with both the "un-churched" and those in the pews in need of re-evangelization.

This minister provides vision, organization, short- and long-range planning, leadership, supervision, and coordination of faith formation programs and processes in the parish. As the Director this role will be responsible for engaging and empowering lay leaders for key area of adult ministry, organizing those leaders into a collaborative team and providing management oversight for the group. Administrative oversight and tasks for Evangelization and Adult Faith Formation programs, events and resources are also included in the responsibilities of this role.

The position focuses on Christian initiation of adults and children over the age of 7; coordination of our Adult Faith Formation team and parish activities affiliated with the team; coordination, collaboration, and support of adult faith ministries (Bible studies, men's/women's ministry, etc.); and coordination of marriage formation. The Director of Evangelization and Adult Faith Formation continually assesses the needs of parish adults in the areas of spiritual, intellectual, emotional, and religious growth while helping adults identify their gifts and use those gifts to further the kingdom. This pastoral minister is responsible for helping people enhance their personal relationship with God. Given the Church's teaching that adult faith formation is the chief form of catechesis and the catechetical priority of the Church, assisting with adult faith formation, RCIA, and evangelization efforts are essential responsibilities of this position. Engaging adults, especially parents, is of prime significance for the faith formation efforts of the parish to be successful.

The Director of Evangelization and Adult Faith Formation works on three overarching goals:
1. To bring about in all Catholics such an enthusiasm for their faith that, in living their faith in Jesus, they freely share it with others
2. To invite all people in our community, whatever their social or cultural background, to hear the message of salvation in Jesus Christ so they may come to join us in the fullness of the Catholic faith
3. To foster Gospel values in our parish family, promoting the dignity of the human person, the importance of the family, and the common good of our society, so that our parish may continue to be transformed by the saving power of Jesus Christ.
The position reports to the Pastor, collaborates with the clergy, parish staff, lay ministry leaders, and operates with latitude for the use of independent judgment and initiative. The Director of Evangelization and Adult Faith Formation must understand the nature and purpose of team organization and management, catechesis, evangelization, pastoral ministry, and continuously assess the needs and priorities of the parish, working with the pastor, clergy, parish staff, volunteers, parents, and parishioners. This individual will be expected to demonstrate good public relations skills, as well as teaching skills.

Essential Duties: (Overarching)
 Support and uphold the teachings of the Catholic Church and the mission of the parish in both your professional and personal life.
 Act as a witness to Gospel values by modeling the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.
 Continuously grow in your ministry by participating in ongoing professional and personal faith formation.
 Identify and implement programs and initiatives that teach, form and inspire parishioners to become missionary disciples.
 Identify and engage resources and volunteers to assist with Evangelization and Adult Formation activities.
 Connect parishioners, especially new to the parish, with appropriate staff, lay ministry leaders and fellow parishioners based on their state of life, formation needs and spiritual goals.
 Plan for promotion, marketing and organization of all Evangelization and Adult Faith Formation parish programs, events and special guest speakers (including yearly Lenten Mission).
 Ensure compliance with all Archdiocese of New Orleans policies and procedures including Safe Environment protocols.
 Participate in parish staff and diocesan meetings and trainings.
 Maintain a work schedule that maximizes availability and accessibility.

Essential Duties: (Director of Adult Faith Formation)
 Take leadership in helping the parish to shape its goals and strategies for adult faith formation according to the vision of Our Hearts Were Burning within Us.
 Assist parish staff, groups, and organizations to identify opportunities, acquire resources, and plan formats and programs for adult formation within their established settings and ministries.
 Enlist and supervise a lay leader to coordinate, oversee, and plan all aspects of the RCIA process for those seeking to become Catholic or who are in need of sacraments. Coordinate with the Director of Faith Formation for those involved with the RCIC and RCIT program.
 Collaborate with the Director of Faith Formation and the Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry to plan and coordinate Family Faith Formation (Christ In the Chaos) schedule and curriculum and develop catechetical lesions for the adult catechesis portion. This may include facilitating formation sessions and / or enlisting speakers to teach lesions under this role's supervision.
 Plan and promote an annual calendar of adult programming and formational opportunities.
 Recruit, orient, and provide ongoing professional training and spiritual formation for all catechists, faith formation ministers, and other ministry leaders.
 Actively engage parents in the formation of their children and assist parishioners with enhancing the domestic Church.
 Assist the Director of Communications and Media in making a variety of faith formation activities available both online and in print to all members of the parish community.
 Conduct program evaluations and parish-wide assessments to determine effectiveness of opportunities and refine efforts.

Essential Duties: (Director of Evangelization)
 Collaborate with the pastor, staff, and other committees to plan and implement strategies in order to reach active parishioners, inactive Catholics, and the unchurched in the community.
 Design and coordinate event opportunities of evangelization. This includes the recruitment and formation of volunteers/ministry leaders for such opportunities.
 Assist the Pastor in implementing a Discipleship Path that helps people Encounter Jesus Christ, grow in their knowledge and love of Christ and His Church, and live out their discipleship as they serve in the parish and community.
 Implement programming and opportunities at key stages (Encounter, Grow, Serve) to help people progress along a path: Kerygmatic Presentations, Retreats, Small Groups, Called and Gifted.
 Develop a strategy to form missionary disciples, facilitate small group discipleship, spiritual mentorship, faith formation, all in preparation for sending forth missionary disciples.
 Contribute to the faith formation and development of ministers and parishioners.
 Demonstrate an interest in the initiation of new members to the parish community and in the process of evangelization and renewal.
 Contribute to the initial formation and ongoing development of various ministers and parish groups.
 Participate in the recruitment, training, formation, supervision, and empowering of others.
 Assist in the formation of the entire community in understanding the parish mission.
 Develop or assist with parish retreats, missions, and formation events.
 Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
 Knowledge of the structure and basic teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.
 Knowledge of ministry of catechesis and evangelization
 Skill in communicating with diverse audiences both oral and written.
 Ability to build and manage teams and resources, modeling with integrity, inspiring a vision and encouraging the heart.
 Ability to operate various word-processing software, spreadsheets, and database
Programs (Microsoft Office preferred).
 Ability to excel in professional relationships and work effectively with staff, clergy, and laity.
 Ability to organize, prioritize, carry out multiple tasks, meet deadlines and utilize effective time management techniques.
 Ability to maintain confidentiality at all times.
 Ability to follow instructions furnished in verbal or written format.

Minimum Qualifications
 Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with coursework in theology, religious education, pastoral ministry, or a related field is preferred.
 Experience in pastoral ministry is preferred.
 Must be a practicing Roman Catholic in good standing with the Church.

Interested applicants should send a cover letter, resume, and references to kbaker@maryqueenofpeace.org. For questions or additional information, please contact our Director of Parish Operations and Stewardship, Karen Baker, at (985) 202-0232.