POSITION: Diocesan Outreach Assistant (part-time)
Palmerston North, NZ; Wagga Wagga and Canberra & Goulburn
Reporting to: National Outreach Coordinator
THE ORGANISATION
Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is a Pontifical Foundation dedicated to the persecuted and suffering Church. Founded in 1947 as a Catholic aid organisation for war refugees, ACN is the only international Catholic organisation today that focuses on the pastoral and spiritual support of suffering Christians. Through the offerings of over 350,000 benefactors worldwide, ACN supports over 5000 projects across 140 countries each year. ACN Australia began in 1965 and is one of 23 national offices which seeks to raise awareness and financial support for this work. The National office of ACN Australia is based in Sydney NSW.
ABOUT THE ROLE
Main Purpose:
Through parish presentation in their local area the primary tasks of the Diocesan Outreach Assistant are:
- To raise awareness of the suffering and persecuted Church by sharing the stories of our brothers and sisters who suffer or are persecuted for their faith. The DOA will encourage parishioners to sign-up to receive the ACN Newsletter.
- To invite parishioners to pray for the persecuted and suffering Church.
- To inspire parishioners to take action to support the suffering Church and to join ACN in its journey to keep the faith alive.
The Role:
The Diocesan Outreach Assistant role is a part time position which consists of delivering 12 weekends of parish presentations over the course of a year as well as attending two in-person training weekends (Dec and July) and two online meetings per month. The role also requires the capacity to undertake administrative work pertaining to booking presentations in parishes e.g. phone calls, emails, etc.
The time is spread over days, weekends and evenings as required. The Diocesan Outreach Assistant will be engaged with a 12-month contract with the opportunity to further renewal. The role is undertaken from home with local travel as required.
Presentations are arranged by the Diocesan Outreach Assistant in advance directly with the parish and take place during the weekend Masses. Following each Mass, the Diocesan Outreach Assistant encourages people to sign up for more information and sells religious items in support of ACN.
All Diocesan Outreach Assistants are given formation, training, and ongoing support around the mission of ACN, the stories of the suffering Church and the specifics around the tasks of the role.
Key Responsibilities include:
- Contact parishes in the designated Diocese or area to arrange a presentation, a list of parishes will be provided.
- Delivery of parish presentations during the weekend Masses. This involves travel to the location, setting up of banners, an information table and placing brochures on church pews.
- The sale of books and religious items at the end of each Mass.
- Encourage parishioners to sign up to receive ACN’s newsletters.
- After each weekend of presentations, the Diocesan Outreach Assistant is required to complete some administrative forms.
- Phone calls to those who have signed up to thank them and confirm their contact details.
- Monthly online team meetings and individual check in meetings, as well as in person team meetings twice a year in Sydney.
About the candidate:
- A committed and active Catholic with a knowledge and understanding of their faith
- An understanding of the mission and work of Aid to the Church Need
- A good communicator and a confident public speaker
- Physically able to cope with travel, carrying items and setting up of the information table etc
- Confident in the general use of the internet, email, Word, and Excel etc
- A current driver’s licence, and a willingness to travel within the designated area
- Friendly, respectful, and professional in manner and in approach
- All new appointments are subject to a satisfactory Working with Children Check
- Able to relate to people at all levels including parish priests and parish staff
- Ability to work under pressure and manage competing demands and priorities
- Able to be work independently and be self-motivated
