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The Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic schools serve more than 40,000 students in 154 elementary and high schools in Cook and Lake counties. It is one of the largest private school systems in the United States. Its schools have received 96 Blue Ribbon awards from the U.S. Department of Education over the past 10 years.
St. Michael in Old Town seeks an accomplished, mission-driven, and deeply pastoral Director of Religious Education to lead a comprehensive faith formation ministry serving approximately 100 to 150 children in Kindergarten through Grade 8 and their families.
This is an opportunity for a proven leader who sees faith formation as more than a program or a series of sacramental requirements. The successful candidate will bring vision, energy, creativity, and demonstrated results to the work of forming disciples and strengthening the relationship between children, families, and the parish community.
Inspired by the Redemptorist charism of proclaiming God's abundant redemption-especially to those who may feel overlooked, disconnected, or on the margins-the Director will develop accessible and meaningful ways for families to encounter Christ and grow in faith. We seek someone willing to think beyond conventional models, meet people where they are, and remove barriers to participation without compromising the richness of Catholic teaching.
St. Michael in Old Town is a vibrant, diverse, and inclusive parish where hospitality is central to our mission: All Are Welcome, All Belong.
The Director of Religious Education (DRE) serves as a pastoral leader responsible for the vision, development, and administration and continued growth of the parishs faith formation ministry for children and families. Rooted in evangelization and discipleship, the DRE fosters lifelong Catholic formation through catechesis, sacramental preparation, prayer, service, and active participation in parish life.
The Director collaborates closely with clergy, leadership, parish staff, catechists, volunteers, parents, and Archdiocesan partners. The ideal candidate will inherit an established ministry while being expected to evaluate it thoughtfully, strengthen its effectiveness, expand participation, and develop creative approaches that respond to the realities of today's families.
A Distinctive Place to Lead and Serve
This position offers the rare opportunity to lead a growing faith formation ministry within one of Chicago's historic Catholic churches. Founded in 1852, St. Michael in Old Town has served generations of Chicagoans and remains a significant spiritual and architectural presence in the city.
Located in the heart of Chicago-yet surrounded by the tree-lined streets and neighborhood character of Old Town-St. Michael offers a setting unlike that of a typical urban parish. Its traditional church architecture, historic bell tower, sacred spaces, and enduring presence provide a remarkable environment in which children and families can encounter the beauty, history, and living tradition of the Catholic faith.
The Director will have the opportunity to connect this rich heritage with the needs of today's families-honoring what generations have built while creating a thoughtful, welcoming, and sustainable vision for the future.
Shaped by Redemptorist spirituality, St. Michael proclaims plentiful redemption, serves those most in need, and meets people wherever they are. We seek a Director who sees our diversity of cultures, backgrounds, ages, family structures, and experiences as a gift-and helps every child and family experience genuine welcome, belonging, and participation.
Primary Responsibilities
- Provide strategic, pastoral, and administrative leadership for the parish Religious Education program serving approximately 100 to 150 students in Kindergarten through Grade 8.
- Develop, implement, and continually evaluate engaging catechetical programming consistent with Catholic teaching, current best practices, and Archdiocesan policies and guidelines.
- Establish measurable goals for enrollment, family engagement, catechist development, student participation, and continued faith formation beyond sacramental preparation years.
- Coordinate sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, and the Order of Christian Initiation adapted for children for both parish Religious Education and parish families.
- Recruit, screen, train, supervise, support, and retain highly effective catechists and volunteers.
- Foster the spiritual, catechetical, and professional development of those serving in the ministry.
- Plan and oversee weekly Religious Education classes, summer intensives, retreats, seasonal programs, service opportunities, and other models of formation responsive to the needs of parish families.
- Develop family-centered and intergenerational faith formation opportunities that equip parents and guardians to serve as active partners in their children's spiritual growth.
- Identify and reduce practical, cultural, scheduling, and communication barriers that may prevent families from participating fully in parish life.
- Welcome and accompany families from different cultural backgrounds, family structures, levels of church involvement, and stages of their faith journeys.
- Collaborate with clergy and parish staff in planning liturgies, prayer services, retreats, sacramental celebrations, and adult faith formation opportunities.
- Coordinate annual registration, enrollment outreach, sacramental meetings, parent formation, program communications, and special events.
- Build meaningful relationships with children, parents, guardians, catechists, parishioners, and the Old Town community.
- Manage the Religious Education calendar, records, facilities needs, supplies, and budget in collaboration with parish leadership.
- Ensure timely, clear, and compelling communication through parish bulletins, email, newsletters, the parish website, social media, and other communication channels.
- Serve as a knowledgeable resource to parish leadership regarding the spiritual, developmental, and pastoral needs of children and families.
- Advocate for continuous faith formation throughout childhood and adolescence-not only during years of sacramental preparation.
- Maintain compliance with Archdiocesan child-protection requirements, sacramental recordkeeping standards, and applicable parish policies.
- Participate actively in parish leadership initiatives and collaborate with regional and Archdiocesan faith formation leaders.
- Perform other duties and ministries as assigned by parish leadership.
Required Qualifications
- A practicing Catholic in good standing who demonstrates a mature faith, a commitment to the teachings and sacramental life of the Catholic Church, and an ability to represent the parish's mission publicly.
- Bachelor's degree in theology, religious education, pastoral studies, ministry, education, or a closely related field.
- At least three years of successful parish, catechetical, educational, or pastoral ministry experience, including significant leadership responsibility.
- Demonstrated success developing, strengthening, or growing a faith formation program.
- Strong knowledge of Catholic doctrine, Scripture, sacred liturgy, sacramental preparation, evangelization, and age-appropriate catechetical practices.
- Proven ability to recruit, form, motivate, supervise, and retain volunteers.
- Experience building productive relationships with children, parents, guardians, clergy, educators, parishioners, and community partners.
- Excellent organizational, written communication, public-speaking, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, maintain accurate records, and lead programs from initial planning through evaluation.
- Willingness and availability to work evenings and weekends as required by classes, meetings, liturgies, retreats, and parish events.
- Proficiency with Microsoft 365, Canva, digital communication platforms, and contemporary administrative technology.
- Ability to meet all Archdiocesan safe-environment, background-check, and child-protection requirements.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master's degree in theology, religious education, pastoral studies, ministry, education, or a related discipline.
- Archdiocesan catechetical certification or comparable professional formation.
- Experience serving a culturally, economically, and generationally diverse parish community.
- Experience developing family-based, intergenerational, summer-intensive, hybrid, or other responsive models of faith formation.
- Demonstrated success increasing enrollment, family participation, volunteer engagement, or long-term program retention.
- Bilingual or multilingual ability.
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 a salary range of $41,365.00 to $69,894.00. 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.