Director of Religious Education

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

The Director of Religious Education (DRE) provides vision, leadership, and administrative oversight for the Parish Religious Education Program (PREP/CCD) serving students in grades 1 through 8. Working under the direct authority of the Pastor, the DRE designs and implements comprehensive general faith formation and strict sacramental preparation guidelines. The ideal candidate is an intentional disciple who fosters a culture of evangelization, builds dynamic partnerships with parents, and ensures full compliance with all Diocesan frameworks. This position includes oversight of both traditional parish religious education programming and a Family Faith Formation option that equips parents to serve as the primary educators of their children in the Catholic faith using approved home-based curriculum and resources.

• This is a flexible part-time position that may include:

Periodic staff meetings (Tuesdays at 9:00am)
Monthly Archdiocese Director of Religious Education meetings
Weekend religious education classes or meetings

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. General Faith Formation (Grades 1–8)

• Curriculum Management : Select, evaluate, and implement age-appropriate religious education curricula aligned with the Catechism of the Catholic Church and Diocesan standards.
• Program Execution : Schedule and oversee weekly religious education classes, including classroom assignments, student discipline, and session safety.
• Liturgical Integration : Organize youth-centered prayer services, Advent/Lenten Penance services, and seasonal liturgical celebrations in collaboration with parish school and clergy.

2. Sacramental Preparation

• Sacramental Pathways : Coordinate the structural preparation programs and other activities for First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation .
• Liturgical Planning : Partner with the Pastor to design and execute sacramental liturgies
• Out-of-Sequence Catch-Up : Formulate individualized catechetical plans for older or unbaptized children entering the Church through the Order of Christian Initiation for Children (OCIC).

3. Catechist & Volunteer Management

• Recruitment : Source, interview, and onboard volunteer catechists, aides, and safety monitors from the parish community.
• Safe Environment Compliance : In cooperation with the parish Virtus Coordinator, ensure 100% of ministry volunteers clear background checks, maintain complete Virtus / Safe Environment records, and teach mandatory child safety lessons to students.

4. Family Engagement & Administration

• Parental Formation : Organize mandatory parental meetings to equip fathers and mothers as the primary educators of their children's faith.
• Communication : Push regular updates via bulletin columns, and parish website to bridge classroom learning with home life and eventual implantation of a "homebased" Religious Education Program
• Record Keeping : Manage precise records of student registrations, attendance, and sacramental registers in cooperation with the Parish Administrative Assistant.
• Financial Stewardship : Formulate, monitor, and report on the annual Religious Education department budget.

Qualifications & Key Requirements

• Faith & Integrity : Must be a practicing Catholic in full communion with the Magisterium of the Catholic Church, living a life of public integrity aligned with Church teachings and traditions
• Ability to work collaboratively with clergy, staff, volunteers, and families.
• Education : Bachelor’s Degree in Theology, Religious Education, Catechetics, or a closely related field is preferred, but not required.
• Experience : Ideally at least several years of parish ministry leadership, teaching, or administrative experience is preferred
• Technical Skills : Proficiency with software solutions such as Microsoft Office / Google Workspace, digital communication platforms, and parish database programs.
• Strong communication and organizational skills . Especially utilizing technology, email communication, and online faith formation resources.
• Physical Demands : Ability to remain mobile for extended periods, navigate classrooms, and lift or move objects up to 30 pounds for event setups.
• Must complete diocesan safe environment requirements and background screening.