Parish Renewal Director

The Archdiocese of Chicago, the third largest in the United States, serves more than 2.2 million Catholics in 216 parishes in Cook County and Lake County, a geographic area of 1,411 square miles. The Archdiocese, pastored by Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, has more than 13,000 employees in its systems and ministries, including Catholic Charities, the region’s largest nonprofit social service agency. The Archdiocese also has one of the country’s largest seminaries. The Archdiocese’s 154 elementary and secondary schools comprise one of the largest U.S. private school systems. Its schools have received 96 U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Awards.

Working as a key leader of the Co-Implementation Team, the Parish Renewal Director (PRD) leads the co-implementation efforts at up to three archdiocesan parishes through strong relationship, management, and leadership skills. The PRD contributes to the Co-Implementation Team’s overall efforts to learn what drives impact in parish renewal and to systematize and scale those learnings. The PRD directs the senior co-implementation team members assigned to each parish, and is responsible for the effective implementation of the missional vision for spiritual renewal.  

Responsibilities  

Leads Co-Implementation efforts in two parishes, spending 14 hours per week in each parish.   

Directs implementation of the renewal project plan for each parish   

• Manages the overall project plan
• Supervises parish renewal ministers at each parish
• Sets periodic priorities
• Provides direction and accountability to the implementation efforts
• Organizes renewal efforts across team members, setting short-term work priorities for each member
• Tracks progress relative to the timeline
• Identifies and resolves obstacle to renewal

Aligns the parish’s pastoral priorities to the principles of spiritual renewal in areas including, evangelization, missionary discipleship, formation, liturgy and Sunday experience, service and outreach, hospitality and invitation, and healthy leadership structures and supports.

Engages in a co-laboring relationship with the parish pastor in the implementation of renewal in the parish.

• The PRL shares the decision-making responsibility with the pastor in all areas of parish life related to the work of renewal
• Communicates with parish staff and key leaders – with the pastor – on renewal progress and the vision for renewal
• Contributes to archdiocesan Co-Implementation Team’s leadership and overall learnings, as well as tool/resource development
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor

   Requirements (Education, experience, skill sets, etc.)  

• Bachelor’s degree and advanced ministry degree or equivalent professional experience
• 10+ years of parish or diocesan ministry experience leading renewal efforts
• Vision for renewal and missional parishes
• Team leadership skills to effectively implement projects and initiatives
• Project management skills
• Change management skills
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Comfort with innovation / creation

 Preferred (Education, experience, skill sets, etc.) 

• Master’s Degree in theological or pastoral studies
• Spanish language competency

The Archdiocese of Chicago offers a comprehensive total rewards package to include competitive compensation and benefit programs. Information about our benefit programs is available here.

This position has an salary range of $97,136 - $123,849. An employee’s pay within the salary range will be based on many factors including but not limited to: relevant
education, qualifications, experience, skills, geographic location, and organizational needs.