Job Title: Director of Student Discipleship
Department: Campus Ministry
Hours: Full Time
Reports to: School Chaplain
Position Summary:
The Director of Student Discipleship witnesses the joy of the Gospel message by leading the high school and middle school students of Regis Catholic School into relationship with Jesus Christ. This evangelization takes place through the director’s assistance to the chaplain in meeting the schools’ pastoral needs, developing positive relationships with students, families, faculty and staff, and otherwise working to deepen Regis’ Catholic identity. The ideal candidate for this position is someone who is energized by the challenge of building new ministries. In particular, the two areas of ministry that the department is looking to expand into are (1) offering an elective Kairos* retreat opportunity for our high school students, and (2) developing a discipleship ministry, by recruiting, training, and discipling mentors from the school and deanery community to lead small-groups of students according to the Ut Fidem** model.
Our Why:
In forming His Apostles, Jesus engaged each one of them personally, drew them together as a small community with Himself as their mentor, and thereby empowered them to advance the Gospel. Since our school exists to raise up leaders for the Church, our model of evangelization is the same. The Campus Ministry Office provides students with opportunities to encounter Jesus on a profoundly personal level, grow in community with their peers, and take on the challenge of sharing their own faith witness. In this way, we aim to raise the next generation of saints.
How will you make an impact at Regis?
- Intercede: Make intercession for our students by way of a daily prayer life.
- Give Witness: Assist students in forming their identity in Christ, especially by witnessing to your own walk of Christian discipleship and helping them discern His presence in their lives.
- Provide Retreats: Plan, lead and execute yearly class retreats for grades 6-12 as well as the elective Kairos retreat for interested high school students.
- Equip Mentors: Empower adults from the school and deanery community to have an impact on young people’s lives, especially by forming, training and supporting a team of adult volunteer mentors who will disciple students in the context of small groups.
- Organize Events: Provide opportunities for students to grow in their faith, and for the strengthening of the Regis school community (“Gold Mass,” Catholic Schools Week, Steubenville Conference, Adventure Camp, Vocation Trips etc.).
*Kairos is a 3-night, 4-day retreat model led by a leadership team of high school students and adults. It has a 60+ year history of effectively bringing students to a close encounter with Jesus Christ.
**Ut Fidem is a model of discipleship ministry developed at Dowling Catholic High School in Des Moines, Iowa. The Director will receive initial training and ongoing support from the Dowling team.
- Cultivate Discipleship: Personally mentor a group of high school students in a life of prayer, holiness and relationship with Jesus Christ.
- Support School Liturgies: Help the chaplain build and coordinate teams of servers, readers and sacristans for the weekly school Mass; schedule Eucharistic adorers for monthly Eucharistic adoration; plan Advent and Lenten penance services.
These are the qualities we are looking for in a candidate:
- Fidelity to the Church: Visible and living witness to Catholic discipleship and fidelity to Church teachings and morals.
- Skilled in Student Mentorship: Able to relate with, encourage, and coach students in a mentoring capacity, both individually and in group settings.
- Community-Minded: The inclination to initiate and develop positive relationships with community members from diverse groups (i.e. students, parents, volunteers and staff members) and the ability to discern what roles they might play in the discipleship project.
- Theological Aptitude: The ability to accurately and compassionately present Church teaching in an age-appropriate manner in the course of ministry; preferably has a bachelor’s degree or higher in Catholic theology, catechetics, or theological studies.
- Familiarity with Youth Ministry: Brings at least some experience with youth ministry principles and best practices (experience with directing small groups, Life Teen’s Edge program, RCIA, and Kairos would especially complement the department’s new initiatives).
- Administrative Skills: A thorough and efficient attention to the high volume of detail inherent to the position (e.g. timely response to emails, processing student registrations, calendaring events, budgeting, coordinating retreat logistics etc.).
- High Standard of Professionalism: A careful demonstration of reliability, discretion, and respect in interactions with others; a willingness to conform with the policies of the Diocese of La Crosse and Regis Catholic Schools; and an ability to fulfill position duties with minimal supervision.
- Heart for Evangelization: A deep desire for each student to encounter the person of Jesus Christ and respond to His invitation for them to “follow Him.”
About the School:
Our identity lies in our name: Regis. Latin for “the King’s.” As an institution, we exist for the service and glory of God, specifically by extending His Kingdom into the hearts and minds of the students and families who have been entrusted to our pastoral care. Regis is a fully accredited K-12 school system, with a rich history in the Eau Claire and Altoona area.
How to Apply:
If you think God may be calling you to be the Director of Student Discipleship at Regis, please send a cover letter or e-mail and recent resume to Regis Chaplain, Father Levi Schmitt, at lschmitt@diolclergy.org.