Catholic Faith Religious Education Coordinator

Currently, we are looking for one (1) Catholic Faith Religious Education (RE) Coordinator on a Marine Corps Base in Virginia.

*Position is contingent upon contract award

Location: Chapel Annex.

Work Hours/Days: To Be Determined

The position requires a federal criminal history background check and fingerprints.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Implement multiple religious education programs which run concurrently with the traditional academic year (AY), and facilitate ecumenical activities in consultation with Catholic Pastors, i.e./e.g., a one (1) week Vacation Bible School (VBS), picnics, year-round Youth Group program, retreats, etc.
• Propose and implement AY religious education programs under the oversight of the MCB Command Chaplain and in support of the Roman Catholic Faith Group Representatives. The plan shall include a proposed age-appropriate curriculum, required materials, facility usage, modifications to existing programs, and volunteer requirements for all religious education requirements and any other support requirements as negotiated with the Faith Group Representatives.
• Coordinate the registration for any religious education programs and maintain updated registration rosters as applicable.
• Recruit volunteers to teach classes in the religious education programs, and assign volunteers to classes, ensuring they are provided with teaching aids and resources.
• Provide teacher training and orientation sessions as needed during the contract period of performance.
• Conduct at a minimum one (1) parent meeting for each Roman Catholic sacrament group: First Reconciliation (Penance) and First Holy Communion (First Eucharist) can be addressed at the same parent meeting; Confirmation will require its own parent meeting.
• Catholic Faith Religious Education Coordinator shall conduct at a minimum one (1) practice/rehearsal for the Roman Catholic sacrament of First Holy Communion (First Eucharist) and at a minimum one (1) practice/rehearsal or the sacrament of Confirmation.
• Oversee all education/training resources for Roman Catholic families who elect to home-school their children in the faith. Coordinate and meet with the parents of each sacramental student to determine the progress throughout the preparation period.
• Develop an annual calendar of events designed to enhance the delivery of religious education programs and will work with Faith Group Representatives to promote these programs and events within the respective chapel communities.
• Serve as a member of your Faith (Roman Catholic) religious education boards and committees, attending meetings as scheduled.
• Once approval has been obtained from the Faith Group Representatives, coordinate Children’s Christmas Liturgy/Program, First Holy Communion retreat, and establish a Confirmation service project and retreat for the confirmation class.
• Submit a Comprehensive Religious Education Plan annually to include age-appropriate curriculum, recommended materials, facility usage, recommended budget and volunteer requirements for the following AY.
• Assist with Roman Catholic sacramental notification following annual Confirmation in accordance with guidelines established by the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA.

Performance Objectives

Coordinated Educational Schedules for Faith Group.

• Coordinate with Catholic Priest as Director of Religious Education (D.R.E.) start of Educational Schedule for specific faith group and publish to the congregation with their approval.

Coordinate with D.R.E. of your Faith Group to discuss curriculum the Catholic Faith (approved by AMS) will be utilizing for that calendar year.

• After verifying curriculum approved for your Faith Group, provide the Financial Technician/Gov. Purchase Cardholder with the curriculum, publishers, quantity with unit price for each grade for the upcoming year so they can purchase them in a timely manner prior to the new school year.

Recruit Volunteers to teach class from Pre-K–8th grade and Adult RCIA Classes.

• Connect with congregation members to find volunteers willing to support the Religious Education Programs that meet the Faith groups requirements as teachers/catechist (for Catholic Faith).

• Vet them through background checks through the PMO

Coordinate training of Volunteer Teachers through the Priest with AMS instructors and to ensure they are properly vetted with Background checks through PMO and trained to be ready to teach the students as required by their faith group.

• For the Catholic C.R.E. they will schedule the AMS instructor to come to the Chapel Annex and certified the Teachers for their Catholic Catechist Instructional Doctrine Training.

C.R.E. will coordinate with the approval of the D.R.E. one week Vacation Bible School (VBS) during the Summer for Faith Group agreeing upon a Christ-Center VBS Program.

• Verify acceptable VBS curriculum and follow up with government ensuring that the curriculum is (like their Faith Group CCD/Sunday School program curriculum) purchased & in timely manner to be received prior to start of VBS.
• Recruit volunteers from both Faith Group with background checks through PMO.
• Schedule different crafts and activities that follow the theme of the VBS curriculum.
• Publicize through Base website, fliers, and bulletins to military families in congregation and in family housing for the widest dissemination possible for the most participation.
• Ensure registration forms are provided for each family.

Catholic C.R.E. will plan and host two day-long retreats connected to the liturgical season for the, i.e., Advent and Lent for the present Confirmation Class.

• Coordinate snacks and drinks during a break time through faith group Religious Offering Fund Sub-Accounts.
• Coordinate with AMS to ensure instructors are provided, schedule the location , arrange food during the two-day-long retreats, etc.

Catholic C.R.E. will continue to work with the AMS to keep their credentials current.

And they will provide families, and catechists (teachers) access to the AMS continuous educational online courses to support doctrinal training in the faith.

• Access the online AMS training sources and in-person sources to participate and keep their credentials/certifications current with AMS.

Catholic C.R.E. will coordinate with the Educational Office to utilize their spaces for classrooms that Chapel Annex can’t handle during the time of the classes.

• Due to limited space, each year C.R.E.s, especially the Catholics, sign an agreement with the Quantico Education Center Director to have keys and classrooms designated on Sundays available for (Catholic) Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD).

Required Qualifications, Knowledge, and Skills:

• Catholic Faith Religious Education Coordinator shall be a baptized and confirmed member in the Catholic Faith.
• Must be certified as Catechist through the Archdiocese for Military Services, USA, which will be signed off by the officiating priest of the installation and have a background check through the AMS as well.
• It is preferred that CRE possess a Master’s degree in Religious Education or a Master’s Degree in Education or its equivalent as well as have experience in Catholic theology and catechesis or working towards the Master’s degree.
• The CRE shall also have the experience and knowledge of not only Catholic theology and catechesis, but of all faiths.
• The CRE must possess a general working knowledge of the religious education process (i.e., faith-specific requirements of the Roman Catholic religious education program, particular understanding of the Vatican II Councils’ renewal in Catechism development in scripture, liturgy, sacramental expression in spirituality and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) process will be required).
• Shall be proficient in planning, coordinating, and instituting comprehensive religious programs including appropriate age specific curriculum based specified faith group requirements.
• Shall possess a working knowledge of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Shall possess the skills to recruit, train and supervise volunteers to instruct and assist with these faiths’ specific religious education programs/classes.
• Shall have an understanding and appreciation of the concept of “home schooling” to provide adequate guidance and training to parents who wish to pursue that method in educating their families in the faith.
• Shall be flexible in working with the ever-changing requirements of the military chapel communities.

Requirements

• Must sign and date your resume.
• Must provide three references.