Campus Minister Faith Formation and Spiritual Development

Position: Campus Minister for Faith Formation and Spiritual Development
Position Overview:

The general purpose of the Campus Minister of Faith Formation and Spiritual Development is to provide pastoral care to Merrimack College students through presence, retreats, conversation, and faith-formation programming.

Key Responsibilities:

* Provide pastoral care and spiritual direction to Merrimack College students through a ministry of presence, and through private and public conversations.

* Participate in weekly Campus Ministry Staff Meetings.

* Work with colleagues and student leaders to develop and execute on- and off-campus Retreats that are designed to create space for students to connect with each other, reflect on questions of ultimate meaning and value, worship and pray, relax and renew. Specific retreats belonging primarily to this job:
Launch Retreat (September);
Senior Retreat (Spring), Welcoming the Word Advent Retreat;
Holy Week, Lent Retreat; and additional retreats as needed.

* Plan and develop pilgrimages to foster the students' journey toward God. Specific pilgrimages include Walking with Augustine and Summer Pilgrimage.

* Participate in Orientation Presentations

* Oversee and support the different faith and spiritual student groups, including Bible Study, Emmaus, Rosary, and Shared Prayer;
Conversations Among Men and Women's Group; and foster new groups as they emerge.

* Presence and engagement with different offices' activities and programs, such as Office of Student Involvement and Multicultural Initiatives.

* Prepare and catechize students interested in pursuing the Sacraments of Baptism, Communion, and Confirmation through the Explore Program-a Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) faith exploration program that is open to members of the student body who may already have received the Sacraments.

* Cultivate, educate, and work with a group of student Liturgical Ministers and Lectors to serve at our on-campus Masses, including our Sunday evening Masses and other special campus-wide Masses (e.g., Mass of the Holy Spirit, Mass of Remembrance, Ash Wednesday services, Baccalaureate Mass).

* Meet with the director of campus ministry on a regular basis.

* Perform other duties as assigned to support the mission of the college

Skills & Qualification

* Master's degree in Divinity, Theology and Ministry, or a related field.

* Experience in pastoral care, spiritual mentoring, or ministry, preferably in higher education.

* Demonstrated ability to plan and lead retreats, faith formation programs, and pilgrimages.

* Knowledge of Catholic theology, sacramental preparation (including OCIA), and liturgical practice.

* Experience advising student groups and developing student leaders.

* Strong organizational, communication, and collaboration skills.

Application Materials Should Include:

* Resume or CV

* Cover letter stating motivation and interest in the position, citing experience relevant to the qualifications and including experience with, and commitment to, our Catholic Augustinian mission and our values.

Work Location

* This is an on-campus position as employees are essential in order to provide a fully on-campus, residential college experience for our students and the community.

This position is subject to the successful completion of a criminal background check.

Statement on Our Mission

Merrimack College is a Catholic Augustinian institution of higher education committed to building an accepting and respectful community. Our mission is to enlighten minds, engage hearts and empower lives and is inspired by our Catholic faith and the Augustinian tradition of seeking truth through inquiry and dialogue.

Merrimack College seeks candidates who understand, respect, and can contribute to Merrimack's Catholic and Augustinian mission. All candidates should describe in their application how they will foster a culture that supports our mission.

About Merrimack College|

The only Catholic, Augustinian institution of higher education in New England, Merrimack College is a private, independent, coeducational institution with more than 4,100 undergraduate, 2,500 graduate students and 50 doctoral students from 48 states and 63 countries. The College features more than 160 career-focused undergraduate, professional and graduate programs, all taught by exceptional faculty who are passionate about their subject and student success.

The College has six schools: arts and sciences, engineering and computational sciences, nursing and health sciences, education and social policy, the Girard school of business and the graduate school of counseling and social work. The College's suburban 220-acre campus is just north of Boston in North Andover, Massachusetts. Merrimack is a Master's Colleges and Universities/Larger Programs (M1) institution in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

Merrimack is one of the fastest growing educational institutions in the country and has steadily climbed up in the U.S. News & World Report's ranking of Best Colleges, ranking 38th in the Regional Universities North…