Director of Religious Education

Do you love sharing your faith with children? Do you enjoy meeting new people and bringing them together? Does talking to a child bring a smile to your face and does teaching bring you greater joy? Do you enjoy your family? Does working with parents to help their families bring you a sense of renewal? Do you like to organize groups of people and events that bring people a sense of joy and community?

St. Dominic’s Catholic Church is currently seeking a Director of Religious Education (DRE). We are looking for a candidate who has a balance of real-world experience with children and families as well as real catechetical experience teaching. The DRE will develop and lead our religious education program for children, youth and their families under the guidance of the Pastor and with the assistance of the Faith Formation Commission. We intend to maintain our intergenerational formation program, which brings families together in sharing and deepening their faith at church and at home. The DRE will have a background in religious education, will select, guide, and supervise the teachers, and make use of the programs provided by the Archdiocese for their training. The Director will assist parents in their role as the “first teachers of their children in the ways of faith” (Rite of Baptism), and as much as possible encourage and integrate them as participants and volunteers in the classroom. We seek a person with organizational skills in building a team. The Director of Religious Education is responsible to the Pastor, works with the Director of Adult Faith Formation and is a member of the Faith Formation Commission of the Parish.

Experience, Knowledge, Skills

• Degree or Certificate in Theology, Religious Education or related fields
• Minimum of three years of supervised catechetical/teaching experience in a religious education program or Catholic school and 1 year management experience
• Initiative and the ability to work effectively in a highly-coordinated, team environment

Job description and specific duties

1. Purpose: To provide professional leadership for an integrated religious education program for children and youth that involves the parents and strengthens the family’s connection to the parish.
2. Responsibilities
• Sets the goals and provides direction for youth religious education with the larger vision of intergenerational formation program that assists and involves parents as much as possible.
• Plans and holds regular meeting with the Youth Faith Formation Committee (teachers with a limited number of parents).
• Oversees the selection, formation and supervision of teachers and volunteers.
• Act as a member of the Faith Formation Commission.
• Works in collaboration with the pastor and parish staff.
3. Management
• Provide leadership for goal setting and development of religious growth and learning
• Develop study courses; review and coordinate curriculum
• Prepare, implement, and monitor yearly budget and calendar
• Prepare agenda items for committee meetings
• Maintain records for registration & attendance; file and distribute pertinent material; maintain library and other resources
• Implement the Archdiocesan Program for the protection of youth.
4. Publicize and communicate
• Advocate for and publicize the religious education program through the parish newsletter, website and other means of communication
• Maintain open, effective communications with parents, teachers, children and youth, pastor, council and congregation.
• File and distribute letters, reports, articles
5. Promote community building
• Encourage active participation by families in engaging activities
• Organize intergenerational events, socials, and worship services
• Recruit and assist new families
• Plan, coordinate Parent workshops
6. Classroom Support
• Recruit, train, and schedule teachers
• Nurture and support teachers
7. Professional Development
• Keep abreast of new resources, curricula, educational philosophies
• Participate in professional development activities to connect congregation to the greater community