Director of Youth Faith Formation - Evanston - Vic. II at St. John XXIII Parish

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The Archdiocese of Chicago, the third largest in the United States, serves more than 2.2 million Catholics in 216 parishes in Cook County and Lake County, a geographic area of 1,411 square miles. The Archdiocese, pastored by Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, has more than 13,000 employees in its systems and ministries, including Catholic Charities, the region's largest nonprofit social service agency. The Archdiocese also has one of the country's largest seminaries. The Archdiocese's 150+ elementary and secondary schools comprise one of the largest U.S. private school systems. Its schools have received 96 U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Awards.

The Director of Youth Faith Formation is responsible for leading and directing vibrant programming that provides young people (ages 12-18) opportunities to encounter Jesus Christ, build community, and experience missionary discipleship. The director strengthens the parish’s commitment to youth and facilitates the ongoing development of a personal and communal relationship between young people, the faith community, and God. The scope of this position is to discern, design, and implement ongoing formation opportunities for young people that integrate them into all components of the life of the parish. The director is responsible for the development, implementation, evaluation, and ongoing improvement of the formation initiatives, expanding youth involvement in parish ministries, including liturgical leadership, service, and prayer opportunities. The director must demonstrate strong leadership skills necessary to identify, develop, and retain strong teams of volunteer leaders critical to the success of parish ministry.

Essential job functions:
• Inspire and facilitate belonging and community among all young people, their families, the parish, and broader Church community through a comprehensive vision of evangelization and research-based faith development in the 21st Century.

• Work collaboratively with key St.John XXIII parish and school stakeholders in the construction of a research-based, age-appropriate, integrated, and scaffolded faith formation program guided by specific objectives that center and accompany young people toward their development as whole adult persons.

• Coordinate, recruit, train, and support teams of adult mentors in the accompaniment of young people.

• Support the development of small faith communities that celebrate the diversity of culture and lived experience within the Roman Catholic faith that include spirituality, sacramentality, works of mercy, and a faith committed to justice.

• Develop a culture of encounter where young people are empowered to experience the joy of the Gospel, deepening their relationship with Jesus Christ through individual and communal prayer and participation in the liturgical, devotional, and ecumenical life of the Church.

• Guide young people in experiencing, reflecting, and acting on the social mission of the Church in accordance with Catholic social teaching.

• Engage the parish and broader Church community in dignifying (voicing and responding to) the joys and hopes, griefs and anxieties, as well as rights, responsibilities, and ongoing needs of young people. Facilitate synodal listening sessions, focus groups, and surveys to understand the youth’s daily concerns, spiritual interests, data on religious disaffiliation, and questions.

• Affirm and call forth the unique gifts of young people and the teams of adult mentors serving them by providing opportunities for leadership development within the life of the parish.

• Coordinate with parish staff and ministry leaders to advocate for greater participation of young people in the life of the parish and ensure their inclusion in all available parish ministries.

• Cultivate discernment skills in young people that assist in the exploration and realization of personal vocation and a commitment to the common good, reflective of a mature young adult life of faith. 

• Seek parishioners with grant writing expertise to pursue funding and endowments for faith formation initiatives, especially those that directly impact young people.

• Provide regular updates in the parish bulletin and other communication channels to highlight faith formation activities and opportunities.

• Systematize a 360 degree feedback loop with parish and school stakeholders that provides regular (seasonal and/or annual) evaluation and reflection on all programming, ensuring their efficacy, continuity, relevance, and responsiveness consistent with the comprehensive vision and objectives of the St. John XXIII faith formation program.

• Ensure that all ministry programming complies with the guidelines for Protecting God’s Children for those who minister with and to children in accordance with the Archdiocese of Chicago policies.

The Archdiocese of Chicago offers a comprehensive total rewards package to include competitive compensation and benefit programs. Information about our benefit programs is available here.

This position has an annualized salary range of $45,000-$55,000. An employee’s pay within the salary range will be based on many factors including but not limited to: relevant education, qualifications, experience, skills, geographic location, and organizational needs.