SUMMARY

Provide various forms of direct pastoral and administrative support to all diocesan clergy and ministries.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:

• Serve as a primary contact point for priests, deacons, and other pastoral leaders on questions related to ministry.
• Assist with implementation of diocesan policies regarding diaconal and priestly life and ministry.
• Assist in intake and response to questions and concerns about clergy ministry performance.
• Care for clergy files and information in accordance with canon law and diocesan policy.
• Support retired clergy in arranging for healthcare and personal healthcare-related documents
• Assist clergy in creating and maintaining Advanced Directives, Wills, funeral plans, etc.
• Assist in identifying the ministry needs of the diocese to ensure proper assignment and distribution of clergy.
• Assist in providing opportunities for the ongoing human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral formation of clergy.
• Assist in the pastoral care of priests, deacons and their wives and children, and widows of deacons as appropriate.
• Ensure that clergy receive timely communication of information and resources related to ministry.
• Maintain contact with pastors, ministries, agencies, diocesan offices, and other appropriate parties regarding the ministry of deacons and priests.
• Maintain professional contact and coordination with religious superiors and local ordinaries from institutes and extern dioceses which provide clergy for ministry in the Diocese of Nashville.
• Transition support for incoming clergy in areas of Safe Environment, assignments, and diocesan orientation.
• Welcome international priests into the diocese by coordinating work authorizations and other immigration matters.
• Arrange assistance for parishes when emergency clergy coverage is needed.
• Assist parish and ministry leaders in responding appropriately to unexpected events, with crisis and emergency management as needed.
• Administrative support to the Priest Benefit Foundation.  Review and reimburse healthcare expenses for priests. 
• Provide support, organization, and structure to implement the Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities.
• Assist in coordination of USCCB special collections and serve as local Director of Catholic Relief Services.
• Support special ministries of the diocese, including those which minister to particular ritual, cultural, or language communities, as well as prison ministry and other chaplaincies.
• Assist those responsible for providing pastoral care and the administration of sacraments for patients and their loved ones in local Catholic hospitals and other care facilities.
• Develop Pastoral Care resources for ministry. 
• Collaborate with healthcare organizations in the education and training of pastoral ministers in healthcare facilities. 
• General assistance in diocesan administration relative to the clergy, at the direction of the Vicar General.
• General assistance in diocesan administration relative to parish/ministry life, at the direction of the Vicar General.

 SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Pastoral Care Coordinator
• Office of Clergy and Pastoral Support Administrative Assistant

 EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Bachelors degree minimum.  Masters degree in a theological discipline or counseling preferred
• Ordination to the Diaconate is preferred, but not strictly required

OTHER SKILLS

• Pastoral experience and training.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Knowledge of the clergy and ministries of the Diocese of Nashville.
• Knowledge and experience with immigration law.
• Proficiency in the use of office equipment and computers, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and internet.