Job Description

POSITION SUMMARY :

The Office of Marriage, Family and Respect Life (OMFRL) assists the Bishop, pastors and parishes with initiatives, programs and resources that sustain Marriage, Family & Life issues. It also supports the ministries for men and women, outreach to the divorced, adult children of divorce and provides pastoral care for pregnant women (Gabriel Project) and those in need of after abortion care (Project Rachel).

In addition, the Office assists the Virginia Catholic Conference in efforts to educate legislators and voters, and advocates on issues in support of families and human life.

The Assistant Director for Marriage and Family Life provides support to the Executive Director for all programs relating to Marriage Preparation and Marriage Enrichment.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES :

Management of the Conference for the Engaged program, which includes but is not limited to:

• Establishing dates with parishes and coordinating with the parish secretary;
• Recruiting and training volunteer couples, counselors and priests;
• Assigning volunteers and managing logistics for twenty (15-17) CFEs per year;
• Coordinating with office staff and volunteers to prepare materials and vouchers;
• Reporting results of each conference to the Executive Director, and compiling a monthly report;
• Creating a stronger community with the volunteers and giving them feedback from each of their conferences;
• Reviewing the program on an on-going basis and implementing changes based on the evaluations, presenting couples’ suggestions, trends in marriage national preparatory conferences, and the Bishop’s and USCCB’s initiatives;
• Assisting the Executive Director in designing new talks and exercises, and editing volunteers’ talks as needed;
• Supporting couples who have attended conferences by responding to their requests for information and sharing pertinent email updates
• Helping to train transitional deacons on different aspects of the Conference for the Engaged program and marriage preparation in general within the diocese.

Management of the Marriage Enrichment Conferences/Events, which includes but is not limited to:

• Assisting the Executive Director in choosing speakers and topics for each of the conferences/events;
• Establishing dates with parishes and coordinating details with the parish secretary;
• Vetting and inviting speakers for the biannual conferences,
• Coordinating with office staff and volunteers to prepare materials and vouchers;
• Reporting results of each conference to the Executive Director

Management of the Ministry to Adult Children of Divorce, which includes but is not limited to:

• Coordinating and organizing the annual weekend retreat for adult children of divorce, as well as the online book club.
• Assisting the Executive Director in choosing topics for each of the on-line and in-person event/retreats
• Creating new ways to minister to adult children of divorce.

Management of the Men’s Ministry Outreach, which includes but is not limited to:

• Improving Men’s Ministries throughout the diocese by working closely with the Program Specialist for Men’s Ministry;
• Managing the annual Diocesan Men’s’ Conference with the Men’s Ministry leader (500-700 attendees); work with the Executive Director to decide on a venue, design a program, create a theme and solicit speakers; recruit and maintain a network of men throughout the diocese to help with promotion, program details, and volunteers. Manage all logistics for the day and act as primary liaison for all contractors.

• Coordinating with the Program Specialist for Men’s Ministry to design the quarterly Men’s Ministry Newsletter (~3500 recipients). Enlisting a priest for the spiritual reflection, soliciting diocesan men’s groups for updates/events, selecting events to spotlight, and designing and distributing the newsletter.

Prepare weekly and monthly reports for the Executive Director regarding each of the ministries listed above.

Seek out relationships with parish staff throughout the diocese to encourage, support, and coordinate diocesan initiatives that support family life and marriage enrichment.

In the absence of the Executive Director, supervise the administrative office staff and Program Specialist for Men’s Ministry.

Review and approve vouchers.

Support other initiatives of the Office and the Executive Director, including the Diocesan Festival, and perform all other duties as assigned.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND AUTHORITY:

Direction Provided

• Provides direction and articulates the mission of the Office as defined by the Executive Director.

Supervision Received

• Works under the general direction of the Executive Director.

Management

• Positions supervised: In the absence of the Executive Director, provides supervision to the administrative staff and the Program Specialist for Men’s Ministry.

Budgets and Financials

• Assists in managing the Office program budgets.

Physical Demands/Working Environment

• While performing the duties of this job, required to have ordinary ambulatory skills sufficient to visit other locations; ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and manipulate (lift, carry, move) light to medium weight of 10 – 50 pounds
• Requires good hand-eye coordination, arm, hand, and finger dexterity, including ability to grasp, and visual acuity to use a keyboard, operate equipment and read
• Frequently required to sit, hear, talk and use repetitive motion of the hands/wrists
• Work performed in and out of the office setting
• Able to hold a valid driver’s license and to operate a vehicle
• Required to travel to parishes throughout the diocese
• Occasional evening and/or weekend work is required

QUALIFICATIONS :

Knowledge/Skills: Must be a practicing Catholic with an excellent background in Catholic teachings on marriage and family life. Demonstrated ability to apply Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body and Theology of the Family in all aspects of OFL ministry. Must have excellent communications and writing skills along with the ability to guide and manage the work of others. Working knowledge of the Microsoft Office Software a must. Background in design, either with Adobe or Microsoft Publisher, highly desirable. Very strong organizational skills and a focus on details is imperative. Must have the ability to balance different priorities and manage deadlines.

Education: BA in theology required, or equivalent background in Theology of the Body, Theology of the Family and Natural Family Planning. An advanced degree in Catholic theology or related field with special emphasis on marriage and family life preferred.

Years and Types of Experience: Minimum of five years of experience in parish, diocesan, or Church-related non-profit ministry – ideally in family life, pro-life, or a related field.

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