Pastoral Associate - Parish Ministry

Pastoral Associate
- Parish Ministry

0104 St. Michael Parish, Olympia
- Olympia, WA 98501

Salary Range $55,000.00 - $85,000.00 Salary/year Position Type Full Time

Position Title:

Pastoral Associate for Parish Ministries

Position Type

Full Time

Our Parish Family:

Through the Partners in the Gospel initiative, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle has integrated parishes and resources into groupings of parish families that are now in the process of becoming new canonical parishes. Saint Michael Parish (Olympia) and Saint Edward Parish (Shelton) constitute a dynamic and growth-oriented parish family. St. Michael Parish and St. Michael Parish School comprises a truly vibrant multicultural Catholic community that serves approximately 2,800 families, representing 7,000 individual mass attendees per weekend and approximately 440 school students enrolled in pre-k through 8th grade.

The past decade has witnessed unprecedented growth in parish life engagement, ministry participation, and school enrollment. St Edward Parish is a diverse parish, inclusive of many ethnic cultures including multilingual staff, mass offerings in Spanish and serving approximately 1200 families per weekend.

Position Overview:

The Pastoral Associate for Parish Ministry serves as a senior staff leader responsible for assisting the pastor in advancing the parish mission: "To place God first in all things: proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ; and grow in holiness through prayer, sacraments, and service. We Make Disciples."

Ingrained in an intimate relationship with Jesus and his Church, the Pastoral Associate for Parish Ministries reports directly to the pastor and provides leadership and oversight for the parish's efforts related to faith formation (including ministries for children, youth and adults), discipleship, catechesis, sacramental preparation (including Christian initiation), liturgy (including sacred music), pastoral care, volunteer catechist development and vocational accompaniment. The position establishes the culture, priorities, and strategic direction of the Office for Parish Ministry and ensures that all parish ministry initiatives contribute to the mission and long-term vitality of the parish.

This role is responsible for creating pathways through which parishioners encounter Christ, engage in lifelong faith formation, deepen their discipleship, embrace the teachings of the Church, discern their vocation, and actively participate in the life and mission of the Church.

The Pastoral Associate for Parish Ministry works closely with the Pastor;
Pastoral Associate for Parish Life;
Pastoral Associate for Financial Administration, Pastoral Associate for Parish Family Resources;
School Principal; parish staff; ministry leaders; catechists; and volunteers to foster a vibrant, mission-driven parish community. The Pastoral Associate for Parish Ministry is a person who has a strong faith, witnesses to the Good News of Jesus Christ, blessed with a deep love of the people of God, and of the Catholic Church. They are knowledgeable about the church's teachings and committed to its mission.

By their lives, their attitudes and their ministry, they enrich the parish even as they are themselves enriched through the gifts of those with whom they minister or to whom they serve.

• Mission Vision and Leadership
• Promote and advance the parish mission in all parish ministry initiatives.
• Collaborate with the Pastor and parish leadership in developing and implementing parish vision and strategic priorities including parish mission, vision, priorities, staffing, and ministry development.
• Work with the Pastoral Associate for Parish Life to align engagement, evangelization, formation, and discipleship efforts.
• Collaborate with the Pastoral Associate for Parish Family Finances regarding ministry budgets and financial stewardship.
• Work with the Pastoral Associate for Parish Family Resources regarding facilities, technology, and operational support.
• Collaborate with the School Principal to strengthen parish-school faith formation and family engagement.
• Ensure parish values are reflected throughout formation programs, sacramental preparation, liturgical life, and pastoral ministries.
• Provide leadership that fosters engagement, formation, catechesis, discipleship, and vocational discernment.
• Develop systems and structures that help parishioners grow from initial engagement to mature Christian discipleship.

• Faith Formation and Catechesis
• Ensure consistency in prayer, curriculum, and ministry effectiveness throughout all formation programs.
• Provide oversight for parish catechetical ministries, ensure fidelity to Catholic doctrine and reflect the mission, vision and values of the parish.
• Provide leadership and foster collaboration among ministries to create seamless transitions between stages of lifelong formation
• Recruit, form, and support catechists and volunteer ministry leaders.

• Discipleship and Engagement
• Promote meaningful engagement…