Job Opening: Pastoral Associate for Sacramental Life
Brief Description of Job
The Pastoral Associate for Sacramental Life manages Baptisms, Marriages/Weddings/Convalidations, and Funerals and coordinates throughout each of these processes with secretarial support in the front office.
The Pastoral Associate for Sacramental Life is an integral part of the Christian Formation and Evangelism team. The ideal candidate is comfortable in a diverse and vibrant parish family and thrives in active pastoral ministry, supporting parishioners as they grow deeper in the Sacramental Life of the Church. Our Pastoral Associate will also ensure we better reach and cultivate, through a ministry of presence and critical communication support, our growing parish population of many young families with multiple children.
Baptisms
- Coordinates Baptisms at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, including all paperwork and scheduling with deacons and/or priests.
- Coordinates with the parish secretary for date availability on the church calendar and the pastor’s availability on his personal calendar. Communicates directly with priests and deacons, as they maintain their own calendars.
- Maintains ongoing communication with families via phone and email to finalize a date that works for the family, godparents (some from out of town), and the officiant.
- Communicates and coordinates with visiting priests coming to our parish to confer Baptism; ascertains that a Letter of Good Standing and Celebret are provided to our Diocese and pastor by the visiting priest.
- Collaborates with Deacon Gus Suarez regarding his scheduled Baptism class.
- Issues Letters of Delegation on behalf of Fr Smith when a POP parishioner wishes to baptize a child in another parish or diocese.
Marriages/Weddings
- Coordinates weddings with appropriate staff members, including music, wedding coordinators, scheduling, parish priests/deacons, visiting priests or deacons, etc.
- Works with couples on marriage paperwork, making sure all documents are submitted within the appropriate timetable and following all procedures the parish has outlined for weddings.
- Obtains all necessary original documents and communicates with NFP instructors, the FOCCUS provider, and Marriage Preparation class (Deacon M. Cavin) to ascertain that these classes were taken and obtain certificates of completion for the file.
- Ascertains that the couple applies in a timely fashion for a local Marriage License to bring to the rehearsal.
- Coordinates with Deacon Cavin regarding the dates of Marriage Preparation classes.
- Coordinates the liturgical calendar, church calendar, priests’ own calendars, and couples’ dates to finalize a wedding date that works for all involved, taking national holidays into account.
- Requests a Letter of Good Standing from a priest or deacon who is visiting to carry out a wedding ceremony or Mass at POP.
- Communicates as needed with the Diocese of Charleston and/or the Chancery from which the priest is traveling to ascertain that all documentation and permissions are in place.
- Issues a Letter of Delegation to a visiting priest or deacon on behalf of Fr Smith.
- Approximately fifty percent of cases require the original file to be mailed via USPS to the Office of Marital Concerns at the Diocese of Charleston. Copies of all documents are made as backup. A cover letter to the head of the department is drafted and included with the file, delineating the specifics of the case to ensure that a dispensation favoring the couple is granted.
- Communicates by email or telephone with the Office of Marital Concerns to determine the status of marriage files.
- Communicates by telephone and in writing with diocesan and parish personnel in other countries where a POP parishioner is celebrating his or her wedding, i.e., Brazil, Colombia, Australia, the Philippines, Indonesia, et al.
- Inputs all pertinent information in the Excel wedding spreadsheet as information comes in for other staff members to access as needed.
Convalidations and Marriage Cases
- Works with couples who need convalidations. Initially establishes with the couple that no other pertinent issues or irregular situations exist in their marital backgrounds that may require them first to proceed with a decree of nullity by way of the Diocesan Tribunal.
- Has the couple gather all necessary original documents to initiate their file. The first meeting entails sitting with the couple in person to complete the diocesan Prenuptial Information/Questionnaire.
- Serves as liaison with a parish member who has expertise in marriage cases of Nullity and Lack of Form to assist POP parishioners dealing with those marital circumstances.
- Ascertains that those seeking assistance are registered POP parishioners prior to initiating the Nullity process.
- Confers with the Director of the “Introduction to Catholicism” program (OCIA) on specific circumstances of persons and couples needing to rectify their previous marital situation (irregularities) in the Catholic Church.
Funerals
- Manages all aspects of funerals.
Additional Responsibilities
- The Pastoral Associate is present when visiting clergy other than those of POP are officiating a sacrament or ceremony, including Baptisms, weddings, convalidations, and funerals.
- Assists POP staff members in deciphering sacramental documents/paperwork received from other countries.
- Attends weekly staff meetings, Wednesdays at 10:30a.
- Collaborates with the Pastoral Associate for Adult Faith Formation as he prepares and prints sufficient booklets and related paperwork and information on POP Baptisms, weddings, and funerals.
Minimum Qualifications
- BA or higher in Theology or related field; experience in teaching and Christian Formation.
- Must have a working knowledge of and a strong commitment to the mission of the Diocese of Charleston and Prince of Peace Catholic Church, and be in full communion with the Church.
- Knowledge of the use of the tools and equipment for the job (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, copier, laminator).
Reports to: Pastor
Classification: Exempt, Full-Time (includes evening and weekend hours)
Salary Range: $50,000-60,000, plus benefits, commensurate with education and experience.
To Apply
Interested candidates should submit the following materials to Mr Phil Head, Director of Administration, by email at directorofadministration@princeofpeacetaylors.org:
- A cover letter introducing yourself and describing your interest in the Pastoral Associate for Sacramental Life position, including relevant experience in parish ministry, sacramental preparation, Christian Formation, or related work.
- A current résumé or curriculum vitae.
- Contact information for three professional references.
Please include “Pastoral Associate for Sacramental Life” in the subject line.
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