Associate Diaconate Director for Formation

Description

The Associate Diaconate Director for Formation oversees the implementation of the diocesan diaconate formation program. Reporting directly to the Director of the Permanent Diaconate they conduct regularly scheduled assessments, supervise and coordinate the formation team, faculty, and mentors; and maintain contact with the discerner’s pastors. The director must be familiar with the permanent diaconate—its history, theology, and practice. They must have parish experience, as well as practical skills and experience in formation, curriculum development, adult educational methodology, vocational discernment, supervision, and administration. They must be capable of providing spiritual leadership to the formation community. The director will also collaborate with the diaconate director and other diocesan secretariats to plan and coordinate diaconal retreats and continuing formation opportunities.

Job Description

SUMMARY

The Office of the Permanent Diaconate is an office of the Leadership and Parish Life Secretariat. The office is committed to serving the diverse needs of the Diocese, local parishes, and their surrounding communities. The primary purpose of this office is to provide support to the deacon's ministerial life and the proper formation of permanent deacons. The Director of the Permanent Diaconate supervises the Associate Diaconate Director for Formation, who is responsible for the administration of all aspects of the diaconate formation program for men discerning the vocation of the permanent diaconate and their wives, from application to ordination, as well as post-ordination and continuing formation programing. 

The Diocese of Orlando four core values lay the foundation for the work performed by employees.

1. Authenticity: Conviction that God has called us to reflect exteriorly our inner life of faith in our daily living.
2. Respect: Affirming each person’s God-given dignity and uniqueness.
3. Courage: Inspired by this gift of the Holy Spirit, we proclaim and live the Word of God fearlessly and devotedly.
4. Commitment: Individually and collectively, we are steadfast to the team and its purpose.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The following duties and functions, as outlined herein, is intended to be representative of the type of tasks performed within this classification. They are not listed in any order of importance. The omission of specific statements of the duties or functions does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned.

Formation Director as Person of Faith.

As a formation director, this director has responsibility to model and nurture his or her own faith and continued formation as they nurture the faith of others.

Formation Director as Professional Person

A commitment to continual professional development is a mutual responsibility in all aspects of the formation and lifelong learning to maintain a competent level of professionalism, the responsibility of the formation director includes:

• Researches, develops, and masters pertinent directives governing the formation, ministry, and life of permanent deacons.
• Pursues educational advancement in the four dimensions of formation, liturgical praxis, Sacraments, and rites.
• Keeps current with official statements and documents on the permanent diaconate and developments in the pastoral field.
• Membership in professional organizations and attendance at national and area conferences, and workshops.
• Maintains collaborative relationships with national and regional groups, including membership in NADD.

Formation Director in Vocation, Discernment, & Selection

Under the leadership of the diaconate director, the responsibility of the formation director in vocational discernment and candidate selection involves:

• Maintains relationships with parish clergy, administrators, and other local leaders, providing opportunities for ongoing dialogue regarding potential diaconal applicants and partnerships.
• Serves as a resource to the Diaconate Director and pastors in recruiting, discerning, and forming men to be deacons.
• Organizes, schedules, and advertises diaconate discernment nights.
• Coordinates the application process for entry to the permanent diaconate formation program. 
• Coordinates the applicant interview process.
• Coordinates the psychological and other formation assessments.
• Chairs the selection committee and prepares recommendations for the Diaconate Director.

Formation Director as Educator

The formation director forms diocesan men and their wives in the four-dimensional pillars of diaconal formation according to the vision and directives of the National Directory for the Formation, Ministry, and Life of Permanents Deacon in the United States and local norms and expectations. This responsibility includes:

• Maintains formation curriculum, makes recommendations for curriculum improvement, and prepares to be assigned as trainer/facilitator for dimensional workshops. 
• Recruits, indoctrinates, and coordinates trainers, facilitators and deacon mentors.
• Maintains relationship with the formation program’s intellectual dimension partner.
• Maintains regular contact with deacon mentors and pastors of those in formation. 
• Conducts and documents regularly scheduled assessments and interviews of aspirants and candidates.
• Provides resources, training, formation, and liturgical assistance for parish leaders.
• Plans and manages workshops, retreats, and seminars for continuing formation of deacons.

Formation Director as Administrator

The responsibility of the formation director as an administrator involves:

• Plans and maintains a long-range schedule for each formation cohort.
• Maintains personnel files for applicants, aspirants, and candidates in the Office of the Permanent Diaconate in accordance with the diocesan records retention policy.
• Collaborates with the diaconate director and other chancery staff in fulfilling the formation office responsibilities keeping with the overall diocesan diaconal vision and expectations.
• As directed provides leadership in areas related to diocesan liturgies and may be requested to serve as master of ceremonies. 
• Reviews and recommends diaconal policy and procedure updates or changes.
• Prepares and manages budget for the formation, retreats, and post-ordination formation elements for the diaconate office. 

SUPERVISES

• Men in Formation
• Cohort Facilitator Couples
• Dimensional Workshop Trainer/Facilitators

Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

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/or EXPERIENCE

• Master’s degree in theology, or equivalent, and five years of experience in parish ministry.
• Three to five years of work in educational planning and administration.
• Curriculum development experience, catechetical, adult faith formation, or pedagogical planning.
• Thorough knowledge of theological and catechetical competencies. 
• Extensive knowledge of catechesis and training/facilitation processes, practices, and techniques.

OTHER SKILLS and ABILITIES

• A high level of organizational and interpersonal skill is required. Attention to detail and working well with others is also required. 
• Ability to read and analyze routine correspondence and compose appropriate responses. Ability to respond effectively to common inquiries from internal and external sources. Ability to effectively present reports and information to constituents. 
• Ability to apply appropriate mathematical concepts and operations in establishing and maintaining budgets.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. 
• The Director should demonstrate the ability to:

1. Effectively present and teach.
2. Facilitate a whole person approach to adult formation.
3. Provide guidance in sensitive pastoral situations.
4. Lead and animate the community's prayer in the spoken and sung word.
5. Work in collaboration with other secretariats, departments, parishes, and support entities.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The working hours of this position are not limited to an 8-hour day. This person will need to be available in the evening and on weekends, as needed. Performs extensive computer work.  

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The ability to sit and stand for long periods of time. Must be able to reach, grasp, feel, and see up close and from afar. Must be able to use basic office computer hardware and peripherals, with or without reasonable accommodation. Must be able to communicate verbally and in written form. Tasks require the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, but which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (15 pounds). 

A review of this position has excluded the marginal functions of the position that are incidental to the performance of fundamental job duties. All duties and responsibilities are essential job functions and requirements are subject to possible modifications to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbent(s) will possess the abilities and aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently. Requirements are representative of the minimum level of knowledge, skills, and ability.