Director of Youth Ministry: St. Mary Parish

Director of Youth Ministry Full-time Exempt St. Mary Parish in Chardon & St. Patrick Parish in Thompson Basic Function: Under the direction of the Pastor, the Youth Minister plans and executes the High School and Young Adult youth ministries at St. Mary Parish & School and St. Patrick Parish. The Youth Minister accompanies teens and young adults as they encounter Christ and helps them cultivate a personal relationship with Him in the life of the Catholic Church. Since relational ministry is at the core of the Youth Minister’s pastoral accompaniment of individuals and small groups, the Youth Minister is someone who is charismatic, relatable, trustworthy, and dependable in their work with youth. The Youth Minister will provide opportunities for age-appropriate social, service, spiritual, liturgical, sacramental, and catechetical gatherings in order to nourish and enrich each youth’s encounter with Christ. The Youth Minister will closely collaborate with the Director of Faith Formation and Principal to be available to Junior High students in the School and PSR program, especially as they prepare for Confirmation and transition into High School. Light secretarial support will be available for certain events and projects with the permission of the Pastor or his delegate.

Requirements: Must be a practicing Catholic in full communion with the Church. Must uphold the mission, vision, values, and teachings of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Cleveland, St. Mary Parish and St. Patrick Parish in performing all responsibilities of this role. Minimum of a Bachelor Degree in Theology, Religious Studies or related field is preferred. A combination of experience or other relevant certification or training may be accepted in lieu of a degree. Minimum of 3 years experience in youth or pastoral ministry is preferred. Excellent verbal, relational, and interpersonal communication skills. Excellent initiative, organizational and time management skills to successfully manage multiple projects at a time and integrate work and family life. Good teaching and presentation skills with basic knowledge of operating audio-visual equipment. Proficient with Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and major social media platforms. Ability to think creatively and address problems with a restorative view open to new opportunities. Ability to maintain a healthy working relationship with staff, parishioners, parents, and teens, and to serve as a team leader capable of supervising and training core team and youth leaders. Ability to apply discretion and maintain confidentiality for the handling of sensitive information. Ability to maintain a flexible schedule and work some nights and weekends. Must have one’s own reliable transportation for travel between St. Mary Parish and St. Patrick Parish and for occasional local travel. Must complete VIRTUS certification and fingerprinting/BCI compliance upon hire. Responsibilities: Ensure that the activities of this position are consistent with the mission, vision and values of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Cleveland, St. Mary Parish and St. Patrick Parish. Assist the Pastor in visioning, creating, and executing systematic outreach to teens and young adults in the parish, school, and local community to invite them into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. Engage in relational ministry with teens and young adults to help them on their journey of faith. Prepare and facilitate formation initiatives that address the catechetical, liturgical, spiritual, and sacramental components of our faith in conjunction with the Pastor and staff, such as: facilitating Life Nights, bible studies, movie nights, retreats, guest speakers; organizing pilgrimages and service projects; promoting regional and diocesan faith formation opportunities; and leveraging social media for a deeper engagement in the faith. Plan and facilitate the Spirit Day Confirmation retreat along with the Director of Faith Formation. Recruit, form, evaluate and support adult, young adult, and teen core team members to assist with the various formation initiatives and who witness to the faith by a Christ-centered life. Prepare calendars and invitations for faith formation initiatives. Manage social media platforms for youth ministry. Collaborate with diocesan initiatives, school and parish activities, area parishes, high schools, and the local community to find opportunities of engagement and to share resources, such as: participating in the Diocesan Youth Conference, The FEST, parish youth retreats and confession opportunities, and community social and sports events. Regularly assess the efficacy of formation initiatives with an eye to new opportunities and fostering a culture of encounter and discipleship through feedback from staff, core members, teens, and young adults. Prepare and manage the budgets for the youth ministry program in collaboration with the Pastor and Business Manager. Attend and participate in parish staff meetings, and periodic worship committee meetings throughout the year. Perform other duties in keeping with this position as assigned. To Apply: Position will remain open until filled. For consideration, please submit cover letter, resume, contact information for three (3) professional references to frscott@stmarychardon.org. Review of applications for invitation to interview will begin in February 2025.