SUMMARY
The Parish Catechetical Leader, under the direction of the Pastor, is responsible for the overall leadership, development, and administration of the parish’s comprehensive catechetical ministry. This includes planning, implementing, and evaluating formation programs for all age groups, sacramental preparation, and catechumenal processes, in alignment with diocesan standards. The role oversees catechetical programming, supports and forms catechists and volunteers, and ensures effective communication and coordination across parish and diocesan stakeholders.
The Diocese of Orlando four core values lay the foundation for the work performed by its employees.
- Authenticity: Conviction that God has called us to reflect exteriorly our inner life of faith in our daily living.
- Respect: Affirming each person’s God-given dignity and uniqueness.
- Courage: Inspired by this gift of the Holy Spirit, we proclaim and live the Word of God fearlessly and devotedly.
- Commitment: Individually and collectively, we are steadfast to the team and its purpose.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The duties and functions outlined herein are representative of the types of tasks performed within this classification. They are not listed in any order of importance. The omission of specific duties or functions does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this role. Other duties may be required and assigned.
- Develops goals, objectives, and implements strategies for a comprehensive catechetical program that serves adults through Pre-K, including preparation for Sacraments of Initiation, Reconciliation, and Marriage.
- Develops and implements a coherent and unified curriculum and catechetical plan for the parish, in conjunction with the pastor, parish staff, formation team, ad-hoc advisory committees, and others.
- Directs and oversees various catechetical programs that support a comprehensive, systematic, lifelong, and ongoing discipleship in the Catholic faith for all parishioners in accordance with Church teaching and practice as outlined by Sacred Scripture, the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), the General Directory for Catechesis (GDC), the National Directory for Catechesis (NDC), church law diocesan guidelines, and parish needs.
- Responsible for the recruitment and training of catechists/volunteers and assures that they fulfill diocesan Safe Environment and certification requirements.
- Oversees and directs the work of the formation team; works with them on the development of a yearly schedule for all programs.
- Responsible for administrative functions such as maintenance of all Sacramental records, program registrations, evaluations, and other pertinent data or information.
- Evaluates the parish formation programming and makes recommendations to the pastor.
- Researches, evaluates, and recommends primary and supplemental catechetical resources and materials.
- Utilizes the parish bulletin, weekly update, website, social media and other media to communicate and market catechetical programming, best practices, and milestones.
- Provides support to the formation team in the areas of training, resources, and programs.
- Keeps current in developments/changes with diocesan policy.
- Acts as a resource person in the area of catechetics for the formation team, parish staff, pastor, and parish community.
- Prepares annual budget for review by the pastor and parish finance council and oversees expenditures to maintain budget within parameters.
- Develops an accurate and reliable statistical metric of the parish’s catechetical efforts and submits reports to the pastor, pastoral council, diocese, or other as required.
- Attends and participates in staff meetings.
- Attends and facilitates formation staff and/or committee meetings.
- Attends meetings/events convened by the diocese as related to catechetical ministry or job-responsibilities.
- Participates in local and regional professional organizations related to catechetics; gives priority to professional development and to keeping credentials current as a parish catechetical leader serving in the Diocese of Orlando.
- Performs any other job-related duties as required.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
The Parish Catechetical Leader has supervisory responsibility for the total parish faith formation team, which includes three catechetical professionals: evangelization, adult formation, and annulment advocate; youth minister; and faith formation/evangelization administrative assistant.
