Director of Evangelization

Director of Evangelization - St Patrick Church of Merna

St. Patrick Church of Merna in Bloomington, IL is a Catholic parish of 1,719 families. The original St. Patrick Catholic Church was built in the small town of Merna in 1891 and was destroyed by a tornado in 1982. At that time the Bloomington/Normal area was growing quickly with no parish located on the east end of town where the growth was occurring. Bishop O’Rourke decided to build the church at its current location, thus giving it the unique name St. Patrick Church of Merna. The first semi-rural church built here was home to 50 families but has grown significantly. Two major building projects have been completed making it one of largest parishes in the Diocese of Peoria. St. Patrick Church of Merna is connected to Corpus Christi Grade School, a consolidated school that serves multiple parishes in the Bloomington/ Normal area. In addition, St. Patrick has a large religious education program for students who attend public schools in the area. St. Patrick Church of Merna is linked to St. Mary Church in Downs, a parish of 201 families. 

To meet the needs of the parish, Stewardship was implemented under the theme of Rooted in Christ. A Parish Stewardship Council was organized and has been working to implement the following mission statement: Rooted in the Most Holy Eucharist and the other Sacraments, St. Patrick Church of Merna welcomes all to a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ through stewardship, by loving and serving others through our God-given gifts. 

Job Summary: With the support and collaboration of the pastor, work to ensure that all those involved with our parish have an opportunity to encounter our Lord in a manner that changes their lives in a substantial way. The Director of Evangelization will utilize current small groups and build new small groups as a tool for these evangelization efforts. This role will also include looking at what the parish offers and working with the pastor to integrate evangelization in all ministries.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

Education: A college degree is required. A masters degree in Catholic theology or equivalent is preferred. 

Experience: Must be a practicing Catholic in good standing. Previous evangelization experience required, particularly in the area of small groups. Individuals should be able to demonstrate familiarity with the various aspects of ministry including liturgy, catechesis and faith formation, and day to day operations of a parish.
Job Related Skills: Experience collaborating with clergy, staff, volunteers, and parishioners; exceptional personal skills such as listening, conflict resolution, collaboration, written/oral communication; effective public speaking skills and presence; willingness to learn church structures and systems.

PRIMARY RESPOSIBILITIES

Small Group Coordinator - Formation of small group leaders and promotion of these groups will be a primary part of this job.
Establish relationships with our current small groups 
Give small groups and small group leaders support, direction, and formation as needed 
Work to create new small groups by inviting those currently not in a small group to participate
Oversee training of new small group leader
Look at current ministries to see if the small group model may be integrated.

A Place of Encounter
After assessing the state of our parish and getting to know its parishioners, work to create a culture of evangelization. Work to organize and facilitate retreats and parish programs that give parishioners an opportunity to encounter Jesus Christ and his Church in a more profound way. 

Other Areas of Involvement:
Support the Baptismal Preparation Program to facilitate the parents' encounter with Christ and help them more fully understand the significance of Baptism.
Implement ways to reach out to those active, inactive, and unchurched in our community.
Support and participate in the following: Parish Stewardship Council, Adult Faith Formation, New Parishioner Committee, RCIA, Eucharistic Revival Team, Grace Within.

COMPENSATION (Full-Time with Benefits)

Compensation for all lay employees within our parishes is intended to enable them to provide for the needs of their own lives and those of their families and will be based on experience and qualifications. Compensation includes health insurance, tuition assistance at Corpus Christi Grade School, and retirement contributions.