Description

Job Description for Parish Life Director

Status: Full-time, exempt                                                                     Reports to: Canonical Pastor

St. John’s, Omaha’s Jesuit parish, is a medium-sized, vibrant parish with a passion for justice, liturgy, and community. Located on the campus of Creighton University this archdiocesan parish serves year-round parishioners and cooperates with the university’s Campus Ministry department in their service of student parishioners. 

Primary Function of this Position

This fully initiated, practicing Catholic engages in co-responsibility with the canonical pastor in stewardship of parish life: liturgy, faith formation, pastoral care, human concerns, and administration, as well as relationship building between the parish and the Midwest Jesuit province, archdiocesan leadership, Creighton University, the local church, and local community. This role balances programmatic leadership and oversight of our talented pastoral staff.

Requirements

Major Position Requirements and Regular Activities

1. Liturgy and Worship
   • Collaborate with liturgy team regarding regularly scheduled worship.
   • Be present at parish liturgies on weekends, Holy Days, and other important occasions.
   • Assist those responsible for parish retreats and other devotions.
   • Lead evening prayer, funeral vigil services, and cemetery rites as needed.
2. Pastoral Care, Formation, and Outreach
   • Grow deep relationships with the parish community in order to recognize possible needs and provide support.
   • Oversee communion ministers to the sick and homebound.
   • Provide pastoral home visits to parishioners.
   • Provide opportunities for parishioners to deepen their knowledge of, and commitment to the charisms distinctive of an Ignatian work. 
   • Oversee and facilitate Religious Education (until or unless a critical threshold of participation is reached).
   • Facilitate the process, and direct the team committed to Initiation Ministries.
3. Administration
   • Collaborate regularly on matters of parish life with the canonical pastor, staff, pastoral council and finance committee.
     • Facilitate regular parish staff meetings.
     • Attend finance council and parish council meetings.
     • Participate in the investment strategies of the parish.
   • Encourage, challenge and form parish volunteers. 
     • Co-facilitate, evaluate and further develop Parish Leadership night.
     • Assist in parish community building and networking particularly in the family of parishes.
     • Sustain and further develop structural support for parishioner involvement: i.e. committees, commissions, volunteers etc.
   • Provide care for staff
     • Plan annual staff retreat and other ongoing staff development opportunities.
     • Provide supervision and ongoing support for staff.
     • Administrate yearly performance evaluations for non-administrative staff.
   • Maintain positive relationships with the Province, Archdiocese, and University. 
     • Participate in both provincial and diocesan formational offerings.
     • Build and sustain good working relationships with university partners.

Position Specification

Candidates should have a strong sense of calling to lay ecclesial ministry, or a religious vocation. Salary is commensurate with education and experience.

1. Skills, Knowledge and/or Abilities
   • Must have the ability to network with other ministers in similar roles.
   • Must have good oral and written communication skills.
   • Must have good organizational skills.
   • Must have the ability to lead prayer and to speak with some ease before large groups of people.
   • Must be able to delegate tasks and responsibilities.
   • Must have a compassionate spirit for the poor and the ill.
   • Must be able to manage people effectively (staff and volunteers).
   • Must be capable agent for change. 
2. Education, Training and/or Experience
   • Background in ecclesiology, Christology, sacramental and liturgical theology, scripture, ethics, and morality. 
   • Master’s Degree in Divinity, Spirituality or related field and certification in Spiritual Direction preferred.
   • Commitment to ongoing formation and education.
   • Minimum 5-years of experience in professional ministerial leadership and supervisory or management experience. 
   • Good interpersonal skills.
   • Multicultural sensitivity.
3. Working Environment
   • This position requires irregular hours, including weekends, Holy Days, and on-call availability.