Parish Catechetical Leader - Director of Religious Education

Saint Joseph Parish is seeking a Parish Catechetical Leader (PCL) / Director of Religious Education (DRE) who is caring, engaging, organized, and passionate about passing on the Catholic faith. Our active parish community strives to create a welcoming environment for all who seek to deepen their faith. In this role, you will partner with parish families, staff, and ministries to oversee the planning, evaluation, and management of religious education and faith formation for children in grades 1-8. You will also provide support for adult religious education and formation initiatives, including the OCIA program. If you're interested in this opportunity, visit http://sjmillstone.com/employment for more information. Submit your resume and cover letter to [email protected]. We can't wait to hear from you!

The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree in a related field; Master's degree desired. Training and experience in religious education, program development, catechist development, program review, budget management, and administration.

The Parish Catechetical Leader (PCL) is responsible for supervising religious education for parishioners in grades 1-8; coordinating special sacramental preparation and celebrations; supporting OCIA and adult education; and upholding community standards. The PCL will have the opportunity to seek out and participate in professional development.

The grade 1-8 religious education program is divided into five formats: 1) the traditional program, which includes after school and Sunday sessions during the school year, 2) the home school program, 3) the alternate pathway program, 4) the special needs program and 5) Children's Liturgy of the Word Program. Through partnership with families, the church, and community, the PCL will be responsible for organizing, evaluating, and managing children with their religious education, faith formation and discipleship.

Job Responsibilities

Supervising Religious Education
- Articulate program goals: The PCL will specify the overall and grade-by-grade goals in terms of students' growth in the areas of Prayer, Catechesis, Scripture, Liturgy and Service
- Develop curriculum: The PCL will develop a curriculum that incorporates best practices in the field, Diocesan requirements and feedback from parents and the parish's CCD Advisory Council
Promote student enrollment and retention
- Interact with parishioners, visitors and staff in a professional manner appropriate to the parish's mission
- Follow up with families that opt out of the program to understand their reasons for leaving and partner with them to identify a path forward to bring them back into the program

Cultivate catechists
- Recruit and train catechists in a timely manner
- Schedule the catechists
- Develop and deliver appropriate methods for rewarding catechists

Manage program logistics
- The PCL will oversee and organize the annual program calendar, class schedules, evacuation, and emergency lockdown procedures and room assignments; supplies of required books, technology and classroom requirements, program budget and parent orientation
- Hire and Supervise PCL Assistant

Coordinate program assessment
- Develop qualitative and quantitative measures to assess the extent to which the program satisfies the stated goals
- Share those assessments with the pastor and the CCD Advisory Council
- Incorporate key findings when adapting the following year's programs

Coordinating Special Sacramental Preparation and Celebrations
- Organize the Sacramental Liturgies: First Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation
- Schedule the sacramental services or mass, providing advance notice to all participants
- Oversee the sacramental preparation process

Supporting OCIA and Adult Education
Upholding Community Standards through Professionalism and Accountability

Job Facts:
Title: Parish Catechetical Leader (PCL)
Category: Exempt
Reporting Structure: Reports to the pastor
Salary: Competitive and negotiable
Schedule: 40 hours, modified. In dialog with the Pastor, the PCL will arrange a 40-hour work week that satisfies program needs and the PCL's needs

St. Joseph Parish - Fact Sheet
- 34 Yorktown Road, Boro of Millstone, Hillsborough, NJ 08844
- http://sjmillstone.com
- Pastor: Fr. Hank Hilton
- Number of full-time staff: 7
- Number of part-time staff: 9
- Registered Families: 2,037 (2022), 1,918 (2021)

Highlighted Ministries:
- Children's Liturgy of the Word (CLOW)
- Young Families Ministry
- Youth Ministry (High School)
- Young Adult Ministry
- Social Concerns
- Sages (55+) Ministry

Diocese of Metuchen, http://diometuchen.org
Bishop James Checchio

Religious Education Program
- Number of active/enrolled students in 2022/23: 310
- Current Religious Education Program: Loyola Press "Finding God"
- Number of active teachers, aides and volunteers: 81
- Current class schedule: Sept through April, Monday and Tuesday nights, Sunday mornings

Mass Schedule
- Weekends: Saturday, 4:45 pm, Sunday, 8:00, 9:30, 11:30 am
- Weekdays: Monday - Friday, 8:35 am