Theology and Catechesis Specialist

From its conception, the Saint John Paul II National Shrine was intended as a response to Saint John Paul II's call for a "new evangelization," echoed today by Pope Francis. It strives to be a place of genuine encounter with the living God - a place where God, who "entered history," heals and renews every dimension of human life and cultures.

The Mission and Ministry Team is seeking a candidate to primarily engage couples and families by developing and implementing various programs, materials, and special events in alignment with the pastoral and evangelizing mission of the Shrine. The successful candidate will also collaborate with parishes, apostolates, and other organizations in faith formation initiatives, in-person and online, drawing upon the Christian anthropology of Pope John Paul II and upon the rich resources of the Shrine, in particular its sacred art and permanent exhibit.

The schedule for this position requires regular weekend hours with occasional evenings and holidays in rotation with other department team members.

Core Responsibilities:

• Materials Development - Collaboratively research, draft, and review materials for the Shrine on themes related to the theology and spirituality of Saint John Paul II, with a focus on couples and families. Pastoral materials may include pamphlets, booklets, scripts, devotionals, exhibits, guides, curricula, videos, podcasts, and social media.
• Event Planning - Collaboratively develop, plan, and execute spiritual and pastoral programming that fulfills the mandate of a national shrine and properly integrates the themes and theology of Saint John Paull II for today.
• Public Presentations - Prepare and deliver talks and workshops on subjects pertinent to the pastoral and evangelical outreach of the Shrine, including presentations in small pastoral settings and in larger public gatherings.
• Relationship Development - Develop and maintain a network of relationships with relevant church associations, educational institutions, faculty, lecturers, leaders, groups, and diocesan offices.
• Volunteer Coordination - Coordinate and manage Shrine volunteers.
• Witness to a spirit animated by the Gospel, Catholic principles, and John Paul II's understanding of human dignity and encounter.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Essential Competencies:

Professionalism/Personal Accountability, Collaboration and Teamwork, Communication, Flexible and Adapts to Change, Service to Customers and Clients

Skill Qualifications:

• Knowledge, skills, and abilities for this position include an ability to function at a high level within a religious setting and a dynamic multicultural environment.
• Extensive knowledge of the Catholic Faith and Church Teachings
• Knowledge of the life and legacy of John Paul II preferred
• Strong written, editorial, and verbal communication skills
• Ability to explain and relate theology to a multi-generational and intercultural general audience
• Proven experience in curriculum development, with publishing experienced preferred
• Experience directing, managing, and implementing research projects related to exhibits, evangelization, and education
• Knowledge of museum educational programs, including docent programs, strongly preferred
• Experience working with diverse groups of people and providing exceptional customer service in a highly professional environment
• Strong public speaking ability
• Ability to work independently
• Supervisory ability
• Strong time management and organizational skills; ability to handle deadlines
• Ability to combine creative overall planning with attention to detail
• Fluency in Spanish or other languages highly desired
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• AV/IT experience a plus
• Proficiency with social media

Education and Experience Qualifications:

Education: Degree in Theology, Catechetics, Education, or other related field of study. Ph.D. preferred.

Experience: 7-10 years of relevant experience OR equivalent combination of training and experience, with publishing experience a plus.

Physical Demands

Must be able to remain in a stationary position for a majority of the workday.