Director of Religious Education

St. Mary's Church and School is seeking a Director of Religious Education. This role will foster a vibrant and spiritually enriching educational environment. This is a full time role and will report to the Pastor.

The Director of Religious Education plays a crucial role in fostering a vibrant and spiritually enriching educational environment at St. Mary’s Church and School, in alignment with the teachings of the Catholic Church and the educational objectives of the school. As such, the incumbent of this position will serve as a full-time employee reporting to the pastor or his designee in developing and directing religious education programs for St Mary’s Church and School. The incumbent will oversee the faith formation ministries of the parish for children and teens in the parish religious education program, and, in coordination with the School Principal, develop lesson plans to implement the Archdiocese of Washington religion curriculum for the school with a focus on sacramental preparation. The position will also coordinate the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults program and oversee and develop Faith Formation opportunities for adults. The specific duties include:

• Working with the Pastor to vision, coordinate, and oversee all parish faith formation ministries and programs
• Directing Sunday morning religious education program for students in grades 1-8, including children preparing to receive their sacraments (parish and school), to include recruiting, training and overseeing volunteer catechists
• Creating a calendar for classes, training of catechists, sacramental preparation, and other religious education activities
• Responsibility for annual Child Protection Training for students and volunteers in catechetical programs, including volunteer clearance requirements as outlined in the Archdiocese of Washington (ADW) Child Protection Policy
• Maintening records related to registration, emergency contact, Baptisms, and permissions for reception of Sacraments between parishes
• Personal involvement in classes, training, and administration duties
• Acting as liaison between families with needs and the necessary agents to meet them (i.e. Couples needing marriage validation, annulment, registration in the parish, etc.)
• Ordering textbooks and materials needed (coordinated with materials used for school)
• Overseeing and supporting parish Vacation Bible School program, working with volunteers
• Supporting adult education activities by coordinating logistical needs
• The Sacrament of Confirmation. Specific duties include:
• Implementing and overseeing sacramental preparation program including setting up interviews
• Responsibility for registration, permissions, sponsor eligibility forms, registration of Confirmation names, information for sacramental registers, and baptismal certificates
• Preparing the children for Confirmation
• Arranging the Reception following Mass
• Preparing the Church for Confirmation Mass and conducting rehearsals
• The Sacrament of First Reconciliation/Communion. Specific duties include:
• Implementing and overseeing sacramental preparation program
• Responsiblity for registration, permissions, information for sacrmental registers and baptismal certificates
• Preparing the children for First Communion
• Arranging the Reception following the First Communion Mass
• Preparing the Church for First Communion Mass and conducting rehearsals
• Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). Specific duties include:
• Serve as point of contact for those adults or children of catechetical age who request the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation or First Holy Communion or who wish to be received into full communion of the Catholic Church
• Create calendar of RCIA classes and liturgical rites leading to the Easter Vigil and period of mystogogy
• Personally oversee the entire program and be able to report on the progress of each catechumen or candidate to the pastor or his designee
• Maintain records of registration, permissions, sacramental certificates of previously baptized Catholics or other Christians
• Meet with Pastor or his designee to schedule rites, scrutinies, rehearsals, etc.
• Act as liaison between families with needs and the necessary agent to meet them (i.e. Couples needing marriage validation, annulment, registration in parish, etc.)
• Administrative. Specific duties include:
• Setting regular hours of availability when the Office of Religious Education will be open
• Returning phone calls and email promptly
• Recording Sacramental receptions in the parish registers
• Identifying and communicating budget requirements to pastor or his designee and coordinate monthly tuition billing.

Other duties include:

• Recruiting volunteers and helping organize their roles in the monthly Youth Mass, Christmas Eve Mass and May Procession
• Obtaining materials and decorate the Church for Thanksgiving, Advent, Christmas, Easter, First Eucharist and Confirmation
• Other religious education duties at Pastor’s discretion

In Coordination with the School:

The Director of Religious Education at St. Mary’s Church coordinates with the Principal of St. Mary’s School to strengthen Catholic Identity and religious instruction through the following duties:

• Collaborating with the school principal in writing lesson plans to implement the Archdiocesan Religion Curriculum for students in grades 1-8, coordinate religious education activities at St. Mary’s School, ensuring alignment with the mission and values of the school. Develop curriculum for religious education, based on the official teachings of the Roman Catholic Church regarding scripture, doctrine, morality and spirituality
• Instructing or supervising instruction of religion classes as required. This responsibility may vary annually depending on the availability of certified religion teachers on staff
• Collaborating with teachers of grades 2 and 8 to develop and co-teach lessons preparing students to receive the sacraments
• Contributing to the planning of thematic elements for Advent and Lenten seasons in conjunction with the school administration
• Preparing and mentoring student lectors for their participation in Mass
• Engaging with faculty to organize and execute activities commemorating select Feast Days and Holy Days of Obligation
• Overseeing the submission process for Catholic Standard Junior Saint responses completed by students
• Collaborating with faculty members to coordinate and execute Catholic Schools Week and other initiatives promoted by the ADW
• Qualifications:
• Written recommendation from your pastor
• Bachelor’s degree in Religious Education, Theology, or related field
• Certified Catechist or become a certified catechist within two years of hire
• Experience in teaching and/or coordinating religious education programs
• Knowledge of Catholic doctrine, sacraments, and liturgical calendar
• Strong computer skills, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and willingness, ability, and creativity to learn and develop new programs
• Ability to work collaboratively with school administration, faculty, parish leadership, and parish community
• Strong organizational abilities with attention to detail
• Ability and willingness to work Sundays and occasional evenings and weekends

Please forward your resume and letter of interest to: deacon@bryantown.org.