Working in the church

[emom]

I would like to start working in the Church but I have no idea where to start. I am so unhappy with my current profession. I have a young family which I would find it almost impossible to take up the financial burdens of going back to college. I already have a BA in liberal arts but never did any religious ministries.

Should I start in my diocese? Most jobs that I see are looking for people with an education degree. Are there scholarships available and home study classes that I can get a degree to work in the Catholic Church? And then once I do that, how do I look for jobs?

 

[Della]

I’d start with your own parish priest. Ask him some questions and if he can recommend contacts within the diocese that could help you. I will pray for you, please pray for me.

 

[Em_in_FL]

I’m in a job crisis myself too…
And I often look at our diocesan website (that has an online job board)… but nothing seems to fit…

I recommend starting with your local parish and diocesan websites…

Let’s pray for EACH OTHER through this one!
God bless!

 

[Caesar]

A Diocesan job doesnt usually pay great money, although it is certainly an honor.

 

[plato3]

I would like to start working in the Church but I have no idea where to start. I am so unhappy with my current profession. I have a young family which I would find it almost impossible to take up the financial burdens of going back to college. I already have a BA in liberal arts but never did any religious ministries.

Should I start in my diocese? Most jobs that I see are looking for people with an education degree. Are there scholarships available and home study classes that I can get a degree to work in the Catholic Church? And then once I do that, how do I look for jobs?

You say you have a young family. Youth ministry is badly needed in most places today. We have had an opening in our diocese for director of youth ministry for a while. Also, an outreach to young married couples such as yourself is needed. These positions as was said do not pay much and some are part time, but the retirement benefits are out of this world. Your B.A. and some specialized classes could get you into social work. The ground level in the local welfare Dept. is just 2 years of college. You could serve the Lord in this capacity and work part time for your diocese.

Good luck. As we learned in formation class for the permanent diaconate, your wife and family are your first ministry.

 

[DiscerningDave]

You say you have a young family. Youth ministry is badly needed in most places today. We have had an opening in our diocese for director of youth ministry for a while. Also, an outreach to young married couples such as yourself is needed. These positions as was said do not pay much and some are part time, but the retirement benefits are out of this world. Your B.A. and some specialized classes could get you into social work. The ground level in the local welfare Dept. is just 2 years of college. You could serve the Lord in this capacity and work part time for your diocese.

Good luck. As we learned in formation class for the permanent diaconate, your wife and family are your first ministry.

I love the retirement benefits comment, that is classic!!!

You did not mention if you are currently doing any ministries for the church. If not, I would start with that and do it for a few years before you change professions to make sure that is what you really want to do. But your decision is extremely respectable and much needed in the church.

Peace

 

[StephanieC]

www.catholicjobs.com
Haven’t tried it out myself, but thought it looked like a great idea!
Scout around on your diocese’s website & see what they have.
Be forewarned, however: the pay is usually much lower than secular jobs.

 

[puzzleannie]

I would like to start working in the Church but I have no idea where to start. I am so unhappy with my current profession. I have a young family which I would find it almost impossible to take up the financial burdens of going back to college. I already have a BA in liberal arts but never did any religious ministries.

?

being unhappy in your current profession is not a reason to seek a job in the Church, and changing jobs or even changing careers will not uncover and deal with the underlying cause of your unhappiness. a better tack would be spiritual first, discerning God’s purpose for your life, your gifts, your vocation (which you have already chosen if you have a family) and how to accomplish God’s will for you. Any decision you make on career, where to live, for your family etc. should be based on this, not on emotion, sentiment, guilt etc.

number two, “working in the Church” does not necessarily entail ministry. The Church is also a human organization requiring workers in every task needed to administer an organization: financial, accounting, legal, HRD, insurance, custodial, maintenance, clerical etc. The difference in pursuing any of these careers in the Church vs in business is the same as working for any non-profit: you have a chance to expend your effort in an organization that shares your personal goals, ethics etc., but you will probably be paid a lot less for the same work.

You choose full-time ministry in the Church in some capacity suited to the laity only if that is your calling from God, not as an escape for an unsatisfactory work or life situation. If you feel a call or attraction to a certain ministry–Catholic education, social service of various kinds, missionary work, apologetics etc.–then research what academic or other preparation is needed to pursue that work and go for it.

also bear in mind that the Church, being a human organization (albeit a divinely ordained one), day to day work within her has the same pitfalls as any other job, namely, other people. The same office politics, gripes about salary and benefits, conflicts due to management styles, unrealistic expectations and all the other problems inherent in work in general arise. the people are not necessarily holier, more charitable, or easier to work with than they are anyplace else.

 

[FCEGM]

. . .
also bear in mind that the Church, being a human organization (albeit a divinely ordained one), day to day work within her has the same pitfalls as any other job, namely, other people. The same office politics, gripes about salary and benefits, conflicts due to management styles, unrealistic expectations and all the other problems inherent in work in general arise. the people are not necessarily holier, more charitable, or easier to work with than they are anyplace else.

Too true. I worked for a few years as secretary for a former parish’s CCD office; it reminded me of the adage about not wanting to know how the sausage is made.