Steward for Pastoral Care Ministries

ARCHDIOCESE OF SEATTLE PAYROLL SERVICES•Olympia, WA

4d•$50,000 - $55,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Steward for Pastoral Care provides leadership, coordination, and oversight for ministries of compassion, accompaniment, responsiveness, and encouragement (C.A.R.E.) across the Saint Michael and Saint Edward Parish family. The role helps parishioners and members of the wider community receive support during illness, grief, disability, loneliness, hardship, and life transitions. Grounded in the Gospel call to love one another, the Steward develops ministries that foster dignity, belonging, healing, and connection, collaborating with parish staff, clergy, volunteers, community organizations, and ministry leaders to strengthen a culture of care and service. The position coordinates Eucharistic visits to homebound parishioners and patients at Providence Saint Peter Hospital, including volunteer formation, training, support, commissioning, communication, and pastoral follow-up with clergy. It oversees compassion and phone-call ministries, grief groups, practical assistance for homebound residents through Working Hands, and parish partnerships such as CAPS-TC and Project Rachel. The Steward also collaborates with the Steward for Community Outreach and the Pastoral Care and Community Outreach Commission on ministry development and community grant distribution. At Saint Michael Parish, the position supports faith-based groups and ministries serving people experiencing grief, illness, loss, disability, and other life challenges. These include grief support, cancer support, dementia and Alzheimer’s support, miscarriage and infant-loss support, suicide-loss support, one-to-one grief support, Faith and Light inclusion and fellowship, and the Prayer Shawl Group. Support ministries are rooted in Catholic faith, welcome people of all religious backgrounds, and do not replace professional counseling. This is a full-time position at 1.0 FTE (40 hours per week), generally Monday through Friday, with occasional Saturdays and parish events. The position is based at St. Michael Parish in Olympia, Washington, and serves the Saint Michael and Saint Edward Parish family. It reports to the Pastor.

Requirements

Strong, active Catholic faith, commitment to the mission of the Church, and desire for continued spiritual and pastoral formation.
Demonstrated empathy, patience, prayerfulness, sound judgment, and ability to accompany people through difficult and sensitive circumstances with dignity and respect.
Experience or demonstrated ability in ministry leadership, volunteer coordination, program development, and collaborative relationship-building.
Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
Effective time management and ability to manage multiple priorities, schedules, and timely follow-through.
Ability to recognize pastoral needs, respond appropriately to urgent situations, maintain confidentiality, and determine when professional, medical, counseling, or social-service referrals are appropriate.
Proficiency with standard office applications, email, calendars, spreadsheets, and digital communication tools.
Ability to work independently, adapt to changing pastoral needs, and provide timely support through visits and other ministry activities.

Nice To Haves

Relevant pastoral-care experience, ministry training, theological education, or equivalent experience.
Commitment to ongoing learning and formation.

Responsibilities

Lead, coordinate, and oversee pastoral care ministries across Saint Michael and Saint Edward parishes.
Coordinate, train, support, and provide ongoing formation and communication for Eucharistic Visitors and Eucharistic Ministers serving homebound parishioners and patients at Providence Saint Peter Hospital.
Maintain communication and collaboration with hospital spiritual-care leadership, chaplains, clergy, and other appropriate professionals; ensure pastoral follow-up regarding sacramental needs.
Supervise, train, communicate with, and assist Compassion Ministry volunteers who accompany individuals and families through serious illness, dying, death, and early grief.
Oversee a phone-call ministry that provides acknowledgement, prayer, connection, and spiritual support to parishioners.
Serve as staff contact and coordinator for parish grief ministries and gatherings, including group and individual support as needed.
Coordinate Working Hands practical assistance for homebound residents, including minor home repairs, appliance repairs, yard work, and other household needs.
Serve as staff point of contact for CAPS-TC chaplain first responders and Project Rachel, connecting people affected by abortion with confidential Catholic post-abortion healing resources.
Collaborate with the Steward for Community Outreach and represent Pastoral Care on the Pastoral Care and Community Outreach Commission; contribute pastoral insight, ministry recommendations, and coordination, including annual grant distribution initiatives.
Oversee and support Saint Michael Parish support groups and ministries, including grief, cancer, dementia and Alzheimer's, miscarriage and infant loss, suicide loss, and one-to-one grief support.
Facilitate weekly St. Elizabeth Ann Seton grief-support meetings and structured support cycles; coordinate support for people experiencing bereavement, illness, or other significant challenges.
Supervise and support group leaders, maintain contact, and occasionally attend meetings for relevant parish support groups.
Facilitate eight-week Our Lady of Lourdes Suicide Loss Support Group cycles and provide a safe, faith-based environment, accompaniment, prayer, and resources.
Provide compassionate one-to-one support to individuals and families grieving miscarriage, stillbirth, or neonatal loss.
Support the Faith and Light community and promote inclusion, friendship, and meaningful participation in parish life for individuals with disabilities, families, and friends.
Support Prayer Shawl Group volunteers, coordinate clergy blessings, and oversee distribution of shawls to people experiencing illness, grief, hardship, or significant life moments.
Recruit, train, support, and coordinate volunteers; develop ministry guidelines, resources, and programs.
Provide compassionate pastoral presence through home, hospital, hospice, and assisted-living visits as appropriate.
Maintain timely communication, appropriate follow-through, confidentiality, professional boundaries, and records; connect people with clergy, parish ministries, community resources, or professional services as needed.
Evaluate ministry effectiveness and encourage ongoing improvement; work independently and adapt to changing pastoral needs.