Baptism/Marriage Prep Coordinator

Description

Under the direction of the Director of Family Life and Evangelization, and in cooperative effort with the pastoral team, the Baptismal/ Marriage Ministry Coordinator organizes and facilitates the process of preparing families to celebrate baptisms, as well as the planning, coordination, and execution of wedding masses. Using his/her administrative, liturgical, pedagogical, and pastoral skills, he/she will effectively plan, coordinate, execute, and evaluate all liturgical celebrations around these events.

Baptismal Responsibilities

• Implements the baptismal preparation process as developed in consultation with the Director of Family Life and Evangelization.
• Recruits, trains, supervises, and evaluates baptismal preparation volunteers.
• Ensures that appropriate materials are available for the program.
• Collects registration and baptismal certificates and completes all administrative work.
• Interviews families interested in baptism for their children.
• Facilitates information and parent meetings for baptismal preparation.
• Ensures that a spirit of prayer and hospitality prevails throughout the entire preparation process.
• Assists in setting dates and preparing for liturgies.
• Arranges for certificates and for names to be recorded in the parish registers.
• Maintains the baptism certificates and files.

Wedding Responsibilities

• Develops and maintains marriage prep/marriage ministry.
• Contacts and meets with engaged couples, providing them with the cathedral guidelines and responding to any questions they may have.
• Consults the Director of Family Life and Evangelization with any questions that arise outside the scope of the cathedral guidelines.
• Brings to the attention of the preparing clergy any matters related to the spiritual needs of the engaged couples.
• Schedules all wedding and wedding rehearsals on the cathedral calendar.
• Builds a relationship with each couple, ensuring timely and effective communication.
• Handles all administrative tasks related to wedding preparation.
• Records the marriages in the sacramental books and ensures proper archiving of marriage files.
• Directs contact for all marriage record requests.
• Manages, trains, and schedules the wedding coordinators.
• Manages all aspects of the FOCCUS Program, including volunteers.
• Assists the couple in understanding and implementing the parish guidelines with respect to music, flowers, decorations, photography, and video cameras.
• May conduct the wedding rehearsal, should the Director of Family Life and Evangelization wish to delegate this privilege, or assist him in doing so.
• Coordinates and/or checks details of the wedding day itinerary including: set-up, camera placement, opening procession, flower placement, musicians, professional photographers, and arrival of participants.

Administrative Responsibilities

• Collaborates with the Director of Family Life and Evangelization and other members of the cathedral staff, integrating his/her own area of responsibility with the overall cathedral process.
• Ensures ministries adhere to applicable Diocesan risk management, communications, and Safe Environment policies; ensures timely fingerprinting and clearance of volunteers.
• Facilitates and/or participates in staff and committee meetings as well as meetings and events convened by the diocese as related to catechetical ministry or job responsibilities.

Requirements

CATHOLIC FAITH

Practice of the Catholic faith is required.  Church employees must conduct themselves in a manner that is consistent with and supportive of the mission and purpose of the Church.  Their public behavior must not violate the faith, morals or laws of the Church or the policies of the diocese.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Bachelor’s Degree in Theology, Catechetics, or Pastoral Ministry from an accredited Catholic university or related field preferred, or equivalent combination of relevant experience and certification. Three to five years of experience in parish ministry, including lay ministry or ministry leadership responsibilities. Demonstrated experience working in an office environment with additional experience in customer service preferred. Bilingual Spanish and English speaking and writing skills a plus.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Strong communication, organizational, problem-solving, and analytical skills;
• Knowledge of Catholic doctrine and beliefs as presented in the documents of the Second Vatican Council, the Catechism of the Catholic Church and other relevant ecclesial documents and publications;
• Ability to deal effectively with a diversity of individuals at all organizational levels;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and Publisher;