Director of Religious Education

Director of Religious Education
Job Description

1. Parish Religious Education Programs

The primary responsibility of the Director of Religious Education is to administer (design, develop, direct, communicate and evaluate) the Parish Religious Education Program for parish children who attend public or non-Catholic private schools.
• coordinates and oversees the development of the Parish Religious Education Program (PREP) from Level 1 to Level 7 in conformity with the guidelines of the Office of Catechetical Formation of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia
• coordinates and oversees two methods of Parish Religious Education: a traditional weekly program, and a one-week intensive Summer program; present for all in person classes and activities
• coordinates and oversees a home based method of catechesis for qualifying families; prepares and distributes materials and monitors instruction on a weekly basis
• maintains enrollment records and monitors attendance for the weekly and Summer programs
• prepares and distributes an annual family and faculty handbook
• prepares and distributes the Summer program guideline and maintains record of Faith Based activities; holds a meeting for new incoming Summer families
• actively communicates with Summer families and provides opportunities for spiritual growth and Parish involvement throughout the year
• prepares the annual calendar for all in-person classes and activities
• prepares and sends welcome packets to all traditional program families in August
• coordinates Religious Education and Sacramental preparation for children with special needs
• initiates the process for unbaptized children in coordination with the Director of Adult Faith Formation
• recruits, orients and provides ongoing professional training and spiritual development for PREP volunteers and Summer program faculty; provides opportunities for fellowship
• encourages and provides resources for Catechists to obtain Catechetical certification according to the policy set out by the Office for Catechetical Formation
• keeps records and ensures that volunteer names are submitted to the Office of Catechetical Formation for Archdiocesan service awards when appropriate
• ensures that the Safe Environment requirements, and policies for volunteers are in compliance with the Office of Child and Youth Protection; maintains the Safe Environment records for all PREP volunteers and assists new volunteers in obtaining clearances
• researches and requisitions all resources utilized in the religious education program (textbooks, stationery supplies, craft supplies, etc.) for both the traditional and Summer program
• coordinates and oversees the PREP registration process for the traditional and Summer program in conjunction with Parish Giving
• develops and executes a plan for religious education and Sacrament reception for out of sequence Parish children
• submits the annual Safe Environment report to the Office of Child and Youth Protection
• compiles an end of the year binder with all records of attendance, enrollment, family demographics, Sacrament reception and financial data
• maintains PREP demographics in the Microsoft Access system
• prepares all invoices for payment to the Parish Business manager
• coordinates and oversees children's Liturgy of the Word (CLW)
• coordinates, attends, and provides resources for Parish activities such as Living Stations and Christmas tableau; provides worship aid for Living Stations
• attends monthly Parish staff meetings
• participates in Archdiocesan sponsored events such as Catechist Convocation, Fall and Spring professional days and retreats
• belongs to the Archdiocesan Association of Parish Directors, Coordinators and Administrators of Religious Education (PDCARE) and actively participates and attends meetings monthly

2. Sacramental Program
The Director of Religious Education oversees and coordinates the sacramental preparation of parish school age children who are enrolled in PREP, the Parish Catholic school, and private Catholic academies.
• Schedules dates for the celebrations of First Penance and First Holy Communion
• Provides all Sacrament families with resources (assembles Sacrament folders)
• Prepares the Confirmation Liturgy Planning form as directed by the Bishop's office
• Schedules and coordinates the Sacramental preparation meetings for First Penance/First Holy Communion and Confirmation
• Prepares, coordinates and attends all retreat days for First Penance/Holy Communion and Confirmation
• Conducts a banner retreat for all First Holy Communion candidates
• Collects and records all Sacrament fees
• Obtains and organizes all candidate and sponsor's pertinent documents required for Sacrament reception (Sacrament binders) and for the proper recording of First Penance, First Holy Communion and Confirmation in the Microsoft Access system
• Prepares and distributes worship aids for all Sacraments
• Prepares and distributes parish gifts for all Sacrament recipients
• Prepares and distributes certificates to all Sacrament recipients
• Prepares and decorates the Church for the reception of all Sacraments
• Provides Sacrament register to the school office for the recording of school children's Sacraments on the permanent record cards
• Notifies the Parish of Baptism outside of Nativity regarding a candidate's reception of Confirmation
• Coordinates with the Music Ministry for all Sacrament liturgies; makes suggestions, changes and provides resources
• Schedule, coordinate and attends practice sessions for the reception of all Sacraments
• Coordinates and schedules with the Pastor the opportunity for Lenten confessions
• Coordinates and oversees catechetical plans for baptized Catholic children who have not participated in the typical way in either the PREP program or Catholic school whose families desire the reception of the Sacraments; this includes children with special needs
• Consults with school administration and prepares school children for Sacrament reception who may be out of sequence or in need of Sacraments at the time of admission to the school