The Youth Engagement & Activities Leader is responsible for the development of a parish-based pastoral ministry with youth and coordination of the Confirmation Program. Reaches out to all youth in the community, invites and enables youth to serve others and to participate fully in parish community life. Provides for formal catechesis and develops youth programs, and field trips. Develops close communication with and mutual support from families of youth and collaborates with other community and parish youth organizations.

Requirements

A. Program Development

• Creates and develops a core group of youth leaders and participants and provides for their enrichment; Develops leadership skills in youth and young adults. Develops a network for reaching out to youth, particularly the distant or alienated.
• Confirmation Program: Develop Confirmation program for Year 1, Year 2, and post-Confirmation engagement of youth within the parish. Facilitate parent meetings; recruit, support, and train Catechists/Confirmation Teachers/Speakers; coordinates class service projects; plans and implements one overnight retreat and one day-long retreat for Confirmation Year 1 and 2 respectively; coordinates prep for annual Confirmation Mass.
• Assists in the planning, coordination, and implementation of weekend retreats as well as evenings of prayer and reflection (Example: Confirmation retreats, youth group, family nights, etc.)
• Maintains site and supplies following proper cleaning and safety requirements and procedures.
• Develops relationships with families in the community that are conducive to open communication between parents and youth. Is available for and has set times for listening, advising and referrals
• Build a positive relationship with each after-school participant and foster positive connections amongst participants. Actively engages with children at all times and works towards the positive development of all children in the group
• Provides program evaluation as needed to ensure effectiveness of the programs and identify areas requiring review
• Assists in the preparation of liturgical celebrations for youth and works toward full integration of youth leadership and participation in the liturgical life of the parish
• Supports in training, assignment, and supervision of altar servers, ushers, and lectors at the 1:00 PM Bilingual Youth Mass

B. Recruitment and Training of Leaders

• Recruits, trains, assigns, and mentors youth leaders. Coordinates participation in diocesan-sponsored training programs. Advises and supports youth leadership
• Publicizes and offers education programs and support systems for volunteer leaders; Monitors the efforts of volunteer leaders and evaluates progress
• Makes special efforts to gain the endorsement, support, and involvement of adults, especially parents, volunteers, and parishioners.
• Ensures and coordinates all necessary VIRTUS/Safeguard the Children Training & Compliance for volunteers, catechists, etc.

C. Administration and Supervision

• Initiates ways of gathering data on the needs, interests, gifts, attitudes and capacity of youth and young adults in and around the parish community
• Plans, organizes, and implements programs/experiences that provide a holistic approach in meeting the needs/interest of youth and young adults
• Establish and maintain accurate expenditure and registration fee records.
• Prioritize budgetary needs of youth ministry and confirmation programs.
• Determines effective means for publicizing and promoting programs/experiences
• Initiates procedures for evaluating all aspects of the parish’s ministry to youth.

D. Communication and Collaboration

• Keeps the parish faith community informed of youth ministry activities and goals through regular parish announcements and social media outreach
• Works with youth ministry team (clergy, youth ministry assistant, DRE, Director of Liturgy, Director of Hispanic Ministry, on goals and programmatic ideas for meeting needs)
• Participates in parish governing structures and attends weekly Liturgy Planning Meeting to ensure greater participation of youth in parish life and to facilitate communication and decision-making.
• Keeps informed through attendance at diocesan, regional, and national conferences, regular reading, and membership in professional organizations
• Is aware of community agencies and resources that interface with youth
• Facilitates communication between St. Clare Catholic Church and Religious Education to ensure a comprehensive approach to youth development and faith formation through ongoing collaboration with the St. Clare’s Parish Staff and Youth Ministry Assistant.

Minimum Qualifications

• Active member of a Roman Catholic parish faith community
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field; Youth and/or Campus Ministry experience in a Catholic parish and/or university context
• Virtus trained and Fingerprinted.
• English/(Some)Spanish Fluency
• Driver’s License. Able to drive.
• Team Player: Work collaboratively with other parish staff; Demonstrates reliability; Shares important information; Listens actively; Communicates directly and constructively; Cooperates and pitches in to help; Shows commitment to the team; Exhibits flexibility; Works as a problem solver; Treats others with dignity, charity, respect and in a supportive manner; Uses sound professional judgment and consults with managers as needed; Demonstrates a commitment to growth.

Work Schedule

• Flexible work schedule of 24 hours per week, extra time maybe required, reflecting underlying tasks, especially on weekends and/or during evenings.

Wage Range
The rate of pay offered to the selected candidate is based on internal pay policy and budget. New hires are commonly paid at the minimum of the wage range or within the lower part of the range. We consider a number of factors when making compensation decisions including, but not limited to, skill sets, experience, training and other department needs.